The big push in the Murrumbidgee is on grazing wheats to fill a feed gap in May June and July. Cereals have higher winter growth rates and  feed quality, and  the crop can recover after grazing as long as the stock are removed in time.

Oversowing grazing oats into established lucerne on raised beds could be an answer to the winter feed gap in south west Victoria if this year's experience on Yaloak Estate near Ballarat is any guide. The total extra livestock value was $142.40 per hectare in a very dry year.

The Northern Agricultural Region, WA Grain Graze program is looking at the  value of perennial subtropical grasses to fill feed gaps in traditional annual pasture systems, essentially extending the growing season.

Workshops organised by Grain Graze in the Avon region of WA should make managing sheep easier for farmers, looking at how stock can be run effectively in dry seasons; optimising whole farm feed supply and managing risk.

Update on the progress of Grain Graze research across the regions.

With the build up of diseases in cropping country, combined with the ever increasing costs and disappointing long term prospects for grain prices, agronomist Michael Castor  is reconsidering including livestock in his clients' farming enterprises as a way of increasing their profitability.

"Back in 1992 we were grazing about a 1 to 15 dry sheep equivalent per acre but through actively grazing parts of the property covered in native grasses we are getting 25dse per acre easily," Mr Calvert said.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can lower spraying costs, achieve higher yields and restore the natural balance of insects. IPM requires more monitoring of crops and knowledge of insects, parasites and pathogens.

Reducing their sheep flock by 20% has improved lambing percentages and wool production for the Matthews family on their mixed farming property in the Victorian Mallee.