The Perennial Question

How to establish pastures in the South West

There is a growing realisation that farming systems based solely on annual crops and pastures are not sustainable in many regions of south-western Australia. Environmental and management issues facing agriculture include: rising groundwater and the spread of salinity; herbicide resistant weeds; soil acidity and wind erosion. Perennial pastures offer a more sustainable and profitable alternative in many areas.

In some regions, perennial pastures are still a minor component of grazing systems, but in other areas have been widely adopted as a consequence of having profitable options for different parts of the landscape. By selecting species that are agronomically suited to the environment (soil, climate) and compatible with the farming enterprise, some of the least fertile and most fragile soils can be transformed into productive, sustainable areas with an increase in farm profit and reduced land degradation. 

Potential production benefits from perennial species include:

• out-of-season green feed
• increased carrying capacity as a result of reducing summer/autumn feed gap
• reduced supplementary feeding particularly in autumn
• increased production from land with a previously low carrying capacity
• ability to turn-off animals outside the traditional growing season
• higher wool staple strength, reduced vegetable matter and increased wool production per hectare
• reduced reliance on fodder conservation
• opportunity to rest annual pasture paddocks after the break of the season allowing annuals to develop adequate leaf area to drive improved growth rates.

Soil conservation benefits include:

• increased water use and reduced deep drainage to groundwater
• reduction in the frequency of waterlogging
• maintenance of plant cover in summer leading to a reduction in soil erosion
• increased perennial cover for waterways.

(Source: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)

This 1/2 day field walk provides producers with the opportunity to Q & A with our host farmer, Neville Haddon and project consultant Mark Tupman on the establishment & management of perennial pastures.

The Haddons are dedicated to improving their soil health, and are keen to explore how to extend their pasture growing season to provide nutritious feed for their dairy herd beyond the current seasons. Neville is trialling Chicory, Plantain, Lucerne, Cocksfoot, Perennial Ryegrass, Phalaris and White/Red/Strawberry Clover. Read more HERE. 

The field walk will include a look at some perennials already in place on the project demonstration site, and will include a summary of will be undertaken on the Project Demonstration Site over the next 3 year period.

This event forms part of ‘The Perennial Question’ Project. This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by South West NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel, in partnership with Lower Blackwood Landcare