Avon Region, WA

Project contact: Linda Leonard, phone 08 9690 2191, email lleonard@agric.wa.gov.au

There is renewed interest in new profitable grazing systems in response to weakening grain prices and opportunities for sheep meat production.

This project will concentrate on an integrated whole-farm approach to boost pasture production and animal production, while maintaining or improving the profitability of the cropping enterprise. The extended pasture phase is looking to find the optimum rotation for wheat/sheep farmers that will improve livestock gross margins by increasing stocking rates through better pasture management.

Three demonstration sites have been established via the Facey Group in the Wickepin area, comparing year in/year out rotations to a longer rotation.Linkages between departments and private organisations are being made to determine the optimum package for extending the pasture phase in the rotation.

The aim is to produce a best practice optimum rotation program for wheat/sheep farmers based on the findings.

The project is supported by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia Farming Systems, Pasture Group, Lifetime Wool Production and Pastures from Space, and by the Facey Group.