Northern Grazing Systems: Kidman Springs Field Day

The Northern Grazing Systems and Climate Clever Beef projects have been running for the past three years to identify locally relevant and practical solutions to some of the issues facing the grazing industry. Rangeland Program Coordinator with the NT Department of Resources Dionne Walsh recently spoke about these projects at the Kidman Springs Field Day.

Pasture is an asset to the pastoral industry worth millions of dollars each year. Looking after this asset is the basis for good pastoral production.

The Department has identified four key issues around pasture management that impact the sustainability, productivity and profitability of pastoral enterprises:

1.   Managing stocking rates with a varying supply of pasture

2.   Areas of poor land condition reducing productivity

3.   Under-development of water infrastructure in areas of good pasture

4.   Woody vegetation thickening reducing grass growth

The four main solutions to these issues are:

1.   Stock close to long term carrying capacity and only adjust cattle numbers moderately between years

2.   Pasture spelling – generally, spelling for a whole wet season once every four years can improve or maintain land condition

3.   Develop water and fencing infrastructure

4.   Conduct prescribed burns to reduce woody vegetation

I will take a closer look at these options over the next month.

For one-on-one advice and assessment of carrying capacity, or advice about spelling or prescribed burning, contact the Department on 8999 5511.

For more information on the Grazing Land Management Program, click here.

You can also visit the FutureBeef website which provides producers with access to information and services around key themes including reproduction; grazing land management, nutrition and growth; and business management. Visit the Future Beef website by clicking here.

Acknowledgements: Heidi Wright, NT Dept. of Resources