2 November 2006

As a consultant for grain growers, agronomist Michael Castor has witnessed the rise of zero till, controlled traffic and conservation farming in south west Queensland and north west NSW.

He has also seen problems emerge within that grain production system.

Until recently, he and other leading consultants recommended against running livestock on the cropping soils whose structure and fertility had improved to some extent under the new farming system.

But the build up of diseases in cropping country, combined with the ever increasing costs of fuel, fertilisers and farm chemicals and disappointing long term prospects for grain prices, have challenged Mr Castor to reconsider including livestock in his clients' farming enterprises as a way of increasing their profitability.

Recently his 10 agronomists, operating as Michael Castor and Associates, Goondiwindi, attended a special LeyGrain workshop with the objective, Mr Castor says, "of having them understand that integrated grain/livestock systems might offer an opportunity for the consultancy to improve its clients' predominantly grain businesses".

The workshop was one of 14 delivered to mostly Landcare farmer groups across southern and south western Queensland this year as Grain & Graze program activities within the Border Rivers and Maranoa/Balonne catchments.

Grain & Graze is a collaborative partnership between Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Land & Water Australia (LWA).

LeyGrain helps mixed farmers increase their profitability and simultaneously better manage natural resources through using sown pastures and forages.

It is an action learning, pasture extension, workshopping process, developed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries (QDPI&F) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries with funding from Grain & Graze partner, GRDC.

According to David Lloyd, principal pasture agronomist with QDPI&F in Toowoomba and supervisor of the GRDC LeyGrain development project team, the national Grain & Graze program sees LeyGrain as a strategic pasture extension tool for use in other parts of Australia.

"While the northern LeyGrain package is being upgraded, it is also being modified for use in the grain belts of central western and southern NSW and the Mallee and Upper Eyre Peninsula in Victoria, south-western NSW and South Australia," Mr Lloyd said.

"While LeyGrain specifically targets mixed farmers, it is adaptable and components are also being delivered to pastoralists in the project areas.

"Initially it was developed as four core workshops, but it has evolved into a resource package that allows smaller components to be workshopped at greater length.

"During 2006 we have conducted workshops dealing particularly with the benefits of pastures, species selection and establishment. The feedback from these workshops has been very positive and the activity is being translated to large areas that are being prepared for pasture sowing when the drought breaks."

Mr Castor said his company's workshop in Goondiwindi found LeyGrain was an excellent resource, with a lot of valuable information for advisers and growers.

The LeyGrain resource manual provides a broad range of information. Growers appreciate concise, detailed packages of information about specific topics. At LeyGrain workshops, additional information can be printed on the spot, and distributed to participating farmers.

For more information about LeyGrain, contact David Lloyd, QDPI&F, on 07 4688 1200.
For more information about the Grain & Graze Program, contact Stephen Ginns, Maranoa/Balonne Regional Coordinator on 07 4620 8122; Rachel Charles, Border Rivers Regional Coordinator on 07 4671 7900; Dr Richard Price, National Coordinator, on 02 6295 6300, mobile 0409 624 297; Gillian Stewart on 02 6263 6042; Lynne Sealie on 02 6263 6021, or visit www.grainandgraze.com.au

Grain & Graze Regional Coordinators

Northern Agricultural Region - Philip Barrett-Lennard - 08 94750753
Avon Region - Linda Leonard - 08 9690 2191
Border Rivers Region - Rachel Charles - 07 4671 7900
Central West/Lachlan Region - Jodie Dean - 02 6895 1015
Corangamite/Glenelg-Hopkins Region - Cam Nicholson - 03 5258 3860
Eyre Peninsula Region - Alison Frischke - 08 8680 6223
Mallee Region - Zubair Shahzad - 03 50 219 103
Murrumbidgee Region - Katrina Sait - 02 6924 4633
Maranoa/Balonne Region - Stephen Ginns - 07 4620 8122

ENDS