Northern Agricultural Region, WA

Project contact: Tim Wiley, phone (08) 9956 8555, email twiley@agric.wa.gov.au

Following the successful growth of a range of sub-tropical perennial pastures in high rainfall sand plain regions, the next step is to test a variety of perennial pastures across the whole of the Northern Agricultural region.

Three plot trials have been established to determine feed profiles (quality and quantity) for 10 perennial species and five annual species. These trials will identify perennial pasture species suitable for the environments across the region and, in particular, should identify species suitable for the low rainfall regions.

The trials will be evaluated throughout the project and a range of perennial pastures on 20 demonstration farms will also be monitored for the density and persistence at a paddock scale.

To develop agronomic packages, trials will be conducted over the life of the project examining time of sowing, establishment methods, fertiliser responses, companion legumes and herbicide tolerance.

The 20 demonstration farms will also be used to document farmer best practice.

The Evergreen group, Liebe group, Mingenew Irwin group, Victoria Plains Local Conservation District and the Department of Agriculture & Food, Western Australia are providing support to this project.