Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management manages insect pests by monitoring populations and replacing hard, broad spectrum insecticides with a combination of more selective insecticides and strategies such as baiting and seed dressings.
By using an IPM approach, crop and pasture pests are controlled by beneficial insects before they cause economic
damage.
Download or Order » Integrated Pest Management Fact Sheet
Biodiversity and Productivity
The biodiversity research in Grain & Graze focuses on the relationships between biodiversity (plants, animals, insects and microorganisms) and on-farm production. Over many years, monitoring four paddocks with different land uses on 47 mixed farms, the project will contribute to answering the following questions:
- Does enterprise diversity on-farm lead to increased biodiversity?
- Is there a relationship between site conditions, land use, landscape, terrain and biodiversity?
Results of the long term research should inform farmers about what can be done to maintain and enhance biodiversity in mixed farming systems.
Download or Order » Biodiversity and Productivity Fact Sheet
Feedbase Management
A farm's 'feedbase' is all livestock feed grown within the property, such as permanent and ley pastures, dual-purpose
crops and crop stubbles.
By comparing feed supply with livestock demand, a CSIRO team is working to quantify the size and timing of 'feed gaps' in
mixed farming systems. Feed gaps occur when the amount or quality of feed is insufficient to meet livestock requirements.
Closing feed gaps will provide an opportunity to improve the productivity of mixed farming systems.
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Grazing Cereals
Cereal grain crops are grazed in many different farming systems. The most common ways of using cereal grain crops
are to either graze the stubbles or graze during the vegetative phase with little effect on grain yield.
Testing local varieties across six regions with long term pasture trials suggests there is a substantial and untapped store
of early winter grazing in paddocks of wheat, barley and triticale sown for grain.
Download or Order » Grazing Cereals Fact Sheet