National Landcare Awards: NT's Primary Producer Nominee

Midway Station

In 2011, Midway Station won the Rural Press Primary Producer category at the NT Landcare Awards, and is now in the running for the National Award to be announced on 4 September 2012. Below is a summary of Midway's submission. You can read about other nominees and vote here. Voting closes on 4 September at 3:30pm NT time.

Chris Muldoon moving a cell grazing mob

Chris and Marie Muldoon manage Midway Station, a 3,000ha cattle enterprise in the Douglas Daly region, where they practice cell grazing, conservation tillage and the use of legume browse shrubs.

Cell grazing is a system of continuously rotating large numbers of stock through 20-40 small paddocks for short grazing periods. The system enables non-selective grazing followed by 30-day rest/recovery periods over the growing season.

A good cover of healthy pasture with the ability to capture run-off and respond quickly to rainfall events has increased animal performance and reduced the risk of soil erosion and weed invasion. Herbicide use has been reduced and build-up of soil organic matter has increased water holding capacity of the soil. 

The risk of erosion has also been minimised by using minimum tillage. This practice allows pasture to be established without removing existing groundcover and exposing the soil to a high risk of erosion.

Strips of the legume shrub Leuceana have been planted in some paddocks to provide a high protein fodder and increase nitrogen availability for companion grasses. In addition to dung and urine provided by cattle, this has led to a reduction in fertiliser use.

Midway station has been regularly used for demonstrations and workshops to share information on animal behaviour, grazing systems, pasture management and soil health.

The Muldoons hope to pass on their passion of caring for the land to their young family.