Establishing Multispecies & Perennial Pastures

The use of plant diversity in the form of cover crops and multi-species plantings is receiving wide spread attention internationally as a tool for improving soil health whilst at the same time reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers.

In a cropping systems, practices being implemented include the sowing of annual cover crops in between regular crop rotations, interplanting beneficial companion species amongst commercial crops and intentionally planting mixtures of compatible annual crops that are sorted and separated at harvest. Livestock producers are also realising and taking advantage of  the benefits that multi-species pasture can bring to grazing operations.

Multi-species cover crops have been shown to have a number of benefits, including:

• Improvements in soil structure & function
• Increases in humus levels & soil carbon
• Improved soil water holding capacity
• Increases soil nutrient availability for plants
• Reduction in undesirable plant species
• Increases in plant diversity on the farm, which in turn increases food & habitat sources for beneficial insects.
• Providing a food source for a broader range of soil biology.
• Improvement in nutrition for livestock

In our Mediterranean context we look to build not only more diversity in our grazing systems, but also to include cool & warm season perennials. Once established, those perennials will ensure there are living roots in the ground over the summer to feed soil biology, and they will play a key role in helping to build soil water holding capacity over that period.

That all sounds great in theory but how do we do it? Presented by multispecies seeding specialist agronomist Jade Killoran from Healthy Farm Systems, this Talkin’ After Hours webinar will explore the steps & secrets to establishing a multispecies and perennial pasture in our challenging environment.

EVENT LOGISTICS

When? Thursday April 20th, 4.00pm to 5.30pm

Where? You can participate in this webinar from the comfort of your own home!

How? Once you register you’ll receive a confirmation with a link to the  webinar. As this is a LIVE, ONLINE webinar you’ll be able to ask questions during and after the presentation.

After the webinar we’ll send you:

• Access to the recording of the webinar
• A PDF of the presentation
• Cost? This is a free event

Or contact Kate Tarrant, Communications Officer, E. [email protected] | M. 0409203056

This webinar is delivered in partnership with the Lower South West Growers Group and is supported though funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the Augusta Margaret River Shire Environmental Management Fund, and Soil Wise. Soil Wise is funded by the National Landcare Program Smart Farms Small Grants – an Australian Government initiative. It is supported by Healthy Estuaries WA – a State Government program.