Alternative pasture legumes in NSW Central West
Project Funder: Meat & Livestock Australia
Project Lead Organisation/Researcher: Central West Farming Systems (CWFS), Rajdeep Sandhu/Wendy Gill
Project Duration: December 2020 – June 2024
Project Locations: North Condobolin, Condobolin Agricultural Research & Advisory Station (ARAS) & Gunning Gap
MLA PDS Project Code: L.PDS.2102
Aim
To increase knowledge and adoption of alternative annual forage legume options available to meat producers in the low rainfall zone (LRZ) of central west NSW, which have not been traditionally used, by showing they can be easily integrated into existing mixed farming operations to assist in meat production and adaptation to climate variability.
Description and background
Traditional annual pasture legumes’ (subterranean clovers and medics) capacity to supply adequate nitrogen to drive pasture production and provide high quality feed to support high livestock growth rates in the LRZ of central west NSW (CW NSW) has significantly deteriorated. Reliance on traditional annual legumes and even the perennial lucerne for seasonal forage and animal production is no longer possible with climate variability, increasing acidity, changing fertility levels and more frequent dry periods and drought depleting seedbanks and persistence.
There are very few ‘continuous croppers’ remaining in the CW NSW, with most farmers now realising stock provide a very valuable risk management tool and an alternative source of income. The recent drought of 2018-19 has decimated stock numbers in the district, with typical stock numbers currently only 20–40% of the average. Rebuilding the flocks and herds will be the target of most over the next 3–5 years, with greater feedbase options critical to that expansion.
Very little demonstration of new feedbase options has occurred throughout the CWFS region of recent years, with most efforts being devoted to annual cropping options, mainly dual-purpose cereals and canola. Core producers will work with researchers and experience first-hand how alternative forage legumes can contribute to their mixed farming businesses, help reduce the impacts of climate variability, reduce risk in pasture rejuvenation, and supply flexible options for the production of forage and meat. We will focus on annual legumes that extend sowing and growing season options and can be used as an ‘on-demand’ basis in the pasture-crop rotation. There is significant capacity for these legumes in the central west of NSW, but they are yet to be widely adopted.
Reports & Media Releases
Sam Kekovich in Condobolin
On Wednesday, 30 March Central West Farming Systems hosted a Community Evening at the Condobolin Sports Club where locals had the chance to meet Australian media personality, sports commentator and Australian ‘Lambassador”, Sam Kekovich. An event that had many date changes due to COVID -19 was able to happen at last. Sam was very excited to visit Condobolin and appreciated the ‘grounded’ people making up rural communities. The evening certainly packed a punch with plenty of engagement from the crowd and lots of laughs and social commentary from both Sam and the audience.
Sam is notable for his flamboyant style and ‘rants’ on the ABC show ‘The Fat’ along with the annual advertising campaign for Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) in the lead-up to Australia Day encouraging people to eat more Australian lamb. Taking us back to the beginning, Sam talked about how this successful campaign has led to a huge increase in lamb consumption.
With Sam’s long support of the lamb industry, this was a great opportunity for CWFS to provide information on our current MLA PDS project ‘Alternative pasture legumes in NSW Central West’ as well as other projects undertaken by CWFS including: the Southern NSW Innovation Hub; the UNE node of the SQNNSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub; FRRR ‘Tapping a Natural Resource’; GRDC and Soil CRC projects.
There is no hiding Sam’s love and pride for this great country we live in and he wishes to salute the resident of Condobolin for all their hard work and continuing efforts to support each other through challenging times such as drought and COVID-19.
It was a great evening out to catch up with new and old friends, thank you to all who attended and CWFS look forward to hosting many more events this year.
If you would like any further information on any of CWFS’ projects, please contact
Diana Fear on 0427 897 530.
Image credits Kathy Parnaby and courtesy of the Condobolin Argus.
Alternative pasture legumes in NSW Central West – 2021 Webinar
PDS project code: L.PDS.2102
The CWFS MLA Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) ‘Alternative pasture legumes in NSW Central West’ is in its first year. It aims to increase knowledge and adoption of alternative annual forage legume options available to livestock producers in the low rainfall zone (LRZ) of Central West NSW that have not traditionally been used. The project will showcase how they can be easily integrated into existing mixed farming operations.
View the findings of the project over 2021 and hear insights and experiences from PDS producer, Paul Sinderberry.
Alternative pasture legumes in NSW Central West – 2021 Report
PDS project code: L.PDS.2102
Very little demonstration of new feedbase options has occurred throughout the CWFS region of recent years with most efforts being devoted to annual cropping options, mainly dual-purpose cereals and canola. There is a small minority of farmers who have tried some of the alternatives, and a few have revisited the sub clover / medic scene that proved so successful for many years. While there is significant capacity for self-regenerating hard-seeded legumes in the CW of NSW, they are yet to be widely adopted.
This is also true within our CWFS ‘footprint’ where producers have not extensively used these hard-seeded legumes although there is much interest from our members around this topic, particularly in regard to drought tolerance. This interest has been the impetus for this project which will showcase and demonstrate the most profitable and successful pastures in the low rainfall zone of central western NSW.
Alternative pasture legumes in NSW Central West – Mid year 2021 report
PDS project code: L.PDS.2102
The CWFS Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) ‘Alternative pasture legumes in NSW Central West’ is in its first year. It aims to increase knowledge and adoption of alternative annual forage legume options available to livestock producers in the low rainfall zone (LRZ) of Central West NSW that have not traditionally been used. The project will showcase how they can be easily integrated into existing mixed farming operations.
Producers in the Central West have expressed interest in increasing their capacity to expand livestock production and lessen the risks associated with high reliance on grain production. New feedbase options exist to improve current systems, including dual-purpose crops and pasture ley legume phases, which will allow for better integration of livestock with crop production.
MLA Alternative Pasture Legumes Project in NSW Central West – Pre Project Survey
CWFS has been busy sowing the MLA PDS ‘Feedbase options and alternatives for meat production in low to medium rainfall mixed farming zones of Central NSW’. Trial sites at Gunning Gap and Condobolin were sown in early May with good follow up rain.
Pictured here is Annual Medic cv. Cheetah. Photo credit: H McMillan
