Pasture Information Network

SUMMARY

This three-year agricultural project is supporting farmers in the Derwent catchment to manage dryland pastures – particularly on north-facing slopes. The project is using a range of approaches to provide locally relevant information to farmers including a farmer-to-farmer mentoring program, discussion groups, a pasture program and on-ground trials, with all of the learnings available through a purpose-built website.

BACKGROUND

Nestled in the centre of Tasmania, the Derwent catchment is one of our State’s driest regions. With an annual rainfall averaging less than 500mm, it’s a region that faces some unique production challenges. The low rainfall conditions are particularly relevant when managing dryland pastures which are increasingly unreliable, especially in times of drought.

North-facing slopes within this region are particularly difficult to incorporate into grazing systems without creating significant environmental impacts. These areas are highly prone to erosion, and the loss of this valuable top soil can cause significant environmental and economic issues. Losing soils can mean production losses and declining water quality from eroded soil entering waterways.

Research has shown a significant amount of soil is lost in southern Tasmania with the Derwent a key risk area.

PARTNERS

Derwent Catchment Project

FUNDING

The Australian Government’s National Landcare Program

PROJECT DURATION

2019-2023

APPROACH

Led by the DCP team the project is;

Working with six commercial farmers on demonstration sites looking at pasture persistence, grazing management and the establishment of deep-rooted forage shrubs on north-facing slopes with the aim of improving ground cover and reducing soil erosion,
Coordinating an innovative dryland pasture course (the first of its kind in Tasmania),
Hosting themed field days,
Running peer-learning discussion group events and a farmer mentor program, and
Development of the Derwent Pasture Network website – a dedicated information hub for Tasmanian dryland graziers.

Beyond the scope of the Derwent catchment region, learnings from this project will be applicable to dryland graziers in other parts of Tasmania. Over the coming years, NRM South’s Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator will play a key role in sharing relevant information and learnings from the project to the wider farming community.

PROJECT UPDATES

Demonstrating pasture persistence on north facing slopes
The Derwent Valley’s semi-arid climate presents serious management challenges for the region’s dryland graziers. Cleared north-facing slopes are a particularly fragile component of farmland in this catchment and are difficult to incorporate into grazing systems. North-facing slopes often have a shallow stony profile, are prone to erosion and are some
MEDIA RELEASE: Understand, improve, manage. A dryland grazing website for Tasmania.
Short-growing seasons, variable soil conditions and erosion prone north-facing slopes are some of the challenges facing dryland graziers in Tasmania. Thanks to a new website, they can now access an online repository of locally specific on-ground learnings that provides advice and solutions. The Pasture Network website is a knowledge sharing
Improving pasture resilience in one of Tasmania’s most drought-prone areas
Parts of the Derwent Catchment are some of the driest in Tasmania, receiving an annual average rainfall of less than 500mm. In combination with a short growing season, highly variable soils and steep terrain, this brings unique production challenges. This is particularly relevant for dryland pastures, which are increasingly unreliable
MEDIA RELEASE: Grazing time in the Derwent – Upskilling course for dryland graziers
After a successful first round of the annual ‘Grazing Time’ dryland pasture course, registrations are now open for a second round, starting in late May. Tailored to semi-arid areas in the Derwent, the course is the first of its kind in Tasmania and is ideal for farmers wanting to improve
Showcasing the benefits of drought lotting
On Friday 20 November, farmers from around the Bothwell region gathered to find out more about how sheep farmer Richard Ellis is using drought lotting to reduce pressure on his paddocks. Drought-lotting is employed to maintain ground cover, thus minimising soil and nutrient loss, that result from bare ground, and
Tackling soil erosion in the Derwent
Nestled in the centre of Tasmania, the Derwent catchment is one of our State’s driest regions. With an annual rainfall averaging less than 500mm, it’s a region that faces some unique production challenges – particularly in managing dryland pastures, which are increasingly unreliable, especially in times of drought. North-facing slopes