Turning knowledge into practical benefit: a producer case-study increasing the return on investment in science

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 744 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
Spreadsheet Model ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Grazing Systems

The present paper addresses turning knowledge into practical benefit; acknowledging a critical emphasis of the career of John L. Black. Average efficiency of pasture use by beef enterprises in southern Australia is historically ~35%. Two projects established in 2002 showed that the efficiency of pasture use could approach 90% and the conservative rates observed were due to a low adoption of existing knowledge and the perceived risks from intensification. A risk-control management system, ‘More Beef from Pastures’, was developed from these projects, to identify management practices that had the largest impacts on productivity and profitability, the variables that needed to be measured and the upper and lower limits for those measurements to optimise enterprise performance. The principles from that system were incorporated into a productivity and economic spreadsheet model for a beef enterprise near Blayney on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. The present paper reports the effects on productivity and profitability of several management scenarios, including current practice with 180 breeding cows and progeny sold in the second year after birth; buying and selling steers; making silage; or combinations of steers and silage, to maintain pasture availability between 1200 and 2600 kg DM/ha. Simulations were conducted for rainfall and growth of a phalaris–subterranean clover pasture predicted for the Blayney climate by the Sustainable Grazing Systems model for the Years 2000–2011. The simulations covered eight consecutive years from 2002 to 2009, when mean pasture growth was only 70% of the average. Results from the simulations for current practice were similar to those observed for the enterprise. The simulations showed the importance on profitability of utilising excess pasture in years of high pasture growth. The highest average profitability across years resulted from the scenario involving purchase and sale of steers, but year-to-year fluctuations were large and significant capital was required. The silage and steer-silage scenarios were intermediate in profitability, and depended on initial silage reserves and numbers of breeding cows. The exercise demonstrated that a simple spreadsheet model based on principles of animal nutrition, pasture management and economics was needed to fully evaluate alternative management strategies for practical benefit on existing beef enterprises.

Evaluation of the impact of SGS on livestock producers and their practices

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Allan ◽  
W. K. Mason ◽  
I. J. Reeve ◽  
S. Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Red Meat ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sustainable Grazing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Improved Pasture

The Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) Program has assisted producers in the high rainfall zone (HRZ, annual rainfall >600 mm/year) of southern Australia, by developing and delivering more productive and sustainable grazing systems. It was evaluated by 2 external surveys — a benchmarking survey in 1994 before the start of SGS, and a follow-up survey of producers in 2001. The 2001 survey showed that SGS had assisted red meat and wool producers in southern Australia make significant and beneficial changes to their grazing systems. Substantial changes in grazing practices occurred between 1994 and 2001 in the HRZ. These changes included an increase in the number of producers who rotationally graze (25%), as well as those undertaking practices aimed at improved pasture management. Participants in SGS were more likely to have made changes to their grazing systems than non-participants. There were no overt differences between regions in producer demographics, or changes made to management practices. The survey confirmed SGS had achieved its goal. Sixty percent of producers in the target regions were aware of SGS (out of a total of 23 689 producers); 42% (9839) had some involvement with SGS and/or received the SGS magazine 'Prograzier'; while 26% (6141) actively participated in SGS through undertaking a PROGRAZE course, and/or by attending regional SGS activities. Of the estimated 9839 producers who participated in the program, up to 8000 made beneficial changes to enhance the productivity and sustainability of their grazing operations. Active participants (6141) attributed many of these benefits to their involvement in SGS.

Spatial variability in pH and key soil nutrients: is this an opportunity to increase fertiliser and lime-use efficiency in grazing systems?

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Trotter ◽  
Chris Guppy ◽  
Rebecca Haling ◽  
Tieneke Trotter ◽  
Clare Edwards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Critical Values ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Nutrient Use ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Fertiliser Use

Nutrient-use efficiency is a key issue for grazing systems in Australia. Spatial variability in soil pH and nutrients at the sub-paddock scale may affect the efficiency of utilisation of, and provide an opportunity for, site-specific management (SSM) of fertiliser and soil ameliorants. However, there has been little research exploring the potential for SSM in grazing systems. This study examines the spatial variability of soil test pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) in two typical pasture fields (a native and an improved) on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales and evaluates the potential for SSM based on a comparison with critical values. In both fields, the overall paddock mean from a grid survey containing >80 samples for pH, P, K and S (0–10 cm) exceeded the critical values, suggesting that the addition of fertiliser or lime was not required. However, considerable sub-paddock-scale variability was observed, with CV ranging from 35% to 66% for the key nutrients (P, K and S). The Sprengel–Liebig Law of the Minimum was applied to evaluate the proportion of each field constrained by one or more soil characteristics. Up to 55% of the improved paddock and 78% of the native pasture was potentially responsive to amendments. The results of this study suggest that SSM of fertilisers and ameliorants could provide substantial improvements in productivity and possibly reductions in fertiliser use. The development and application of appropriate systems and tools to effectively quantify this spatial variability remain a challenge, coupled with management strategies that optimise the placement of amendments and account for the variability in other production limiting factors.

scholarly journals Management Strategies and Landscape Diversity in Commonly Governed Mountain Pastures: A Case Study from Austrian Alps

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-231
Author(s):  
Peter Kurz
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Landscape Patterns ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Alpine Pasture ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Limestone Alps ◽  
Landscape Ecosystems

AbstractThe paper explores the relationships between alpine pasture management and pastoral landscape ecosystems, based on research set in the Austrian limestone Alps. The focus of inquiry is laid upon the different management practices employed by pasturing communities. Therefore, the concept of “farming styles”, as introduced by Ploeg (1994) is adapted. Five different types of alpine pasture management could be identified. Those types are investigated further on their impacts on natural environments of vegetation- and landscape patterns, taking diversity of plant communities as an indicator. It is figured out that management strategies as a central factor shaping diversity in mountain pastureland shall be considered in the design of agro-environmental policies and in nature conservation.

scholarly journals Naturalness Assessment of Forest Management Scenarios in Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera Forests

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 601
Author(s):  
Sylvie Côté ◽  
Louis Bélanger ◽  
Robert Beauregard ◽  
Évelyne Thiffault ◽  
Manuele Margni
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Betula Papyrifera ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Ecosystem Quality ◽  
Forestry Practices

Research Highlights: This research provides an application of a model assessing the naturalness of the forest ecosystem to demonstrate its capacity to assess either the deterioration or the rehabilitation of the ecosystem through different forest management scenarios. Background and Objectives: The model allows the assessment of the quality of ecosystems at the landscape level based on the condition of the forest and the proportion of different forest management practices to precisely characterize a given strategy. The present work aims to: (1) verify the capacity of the Naturalness Assessment Model to perform bi-directional assessments, allowing not only the evaluation of the deterioration of naturalness characteristics, but also its improvement related to enhanced ecological management or restoration strategies; (2) identify forest management strategies prone to improving ecosystem quality; (3) analyze the model’s capacity to summarize the effect of different practices along a single alteration gradient. Materials and Methods: The Naturalness Assessment Model was adapted to the Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera forest of Quebec (Canada), and a naturalness assessment of two sectors with different historical management strategies was performed. Fictive forest management scenarios were evaluated using different mixes of forestry practices. The sensitivity of the reference data set used for the naturalness assessment has been evaluated by comparing the results using data from old management plans with those based on Quebec’s reference state registry. Results: The model makes it possible to identify forest management strategies capable of improving ecosystem quality compared to the current situation. The model’s most sensitive variables are regeneration process, dead wood, closed forest and cover type. Conclusions: In the Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera forest, scenarios with enhanced protection and inclusion of irregular shelterwood cuttings could play an important role in improving ecosystem quality. Conversely, scenarios with short rotation (50 years) could lead to further degradation of the ecosystem quality.

scholarly journals Watershed-level analysis of exceedance frequencies for different management strategies

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Yang ◽  
Glenn Benoy ◽  
Zhengyong Zhao ◽  
Thien Lien Chow ◽  
Charles P.-A. Bourque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Performance Standards ◽  
Suspended Sediments ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Canadian Council

Exceedance of water-quality standards is important in assessing water quality. The effectiveness of soil conservation Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) should be measured according to the BMPs' impact on exceedance frequencies. However, estimating exceedance frequencies for different management scenarios with field measurements is practically impossible due to difficulties in obtaining adequate data for analysing different combinations of BMPs. The objective of this modeling research was to analyse exceedance frequencies for different management strategies applied in the Black Brook Watershed (BBW). Daily concentrations of total suspended sediments (TSS) and soluble phosphorous (sol-P) were predicted with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and assessed against water-quality standards from the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) and National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative-Ideal Performance Standards (NAESI-IPS). The investigated BMPs included conservation tillage, reduced fertilizer application, crop rotation, flow diversion terraces (FDT) and the combination of all four BMPs. The results indicated that FDT was the most effective at reducing exceedance frequencies of TSS and sol-P. Under the different management scenarios, we calculated the annual exceedance frequencies of TSS and sol-P concentrations above the CCME (20–45% and 10–26%) and NAESI-IPS (32–55% and 20–38%).

Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands, New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 861 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Michalk ◽  
P. M. Dowling ◽  
D. R. Kemp ◽  
W. McG. King ◽  
I. J. Packer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
New South ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sustainable Grazing ◽  
Water Use Patterns

Pasture degradation is a major issue in the high rainfall zone (>600 mm) of temperate Australia. Characterised by a decline in the perennial grass component, this degradation is responsible for reduced livestock production and implicated in environmental problems, such as dryland salinity, through changed water-use patterns. This paper reports on a multi-disciplinary research program conducted at Carcoar in central New South Wales, one of 6 sites that comprised the Sustainable Grazing Systems National Experiment. The aim of the experiment was to develop more profitable and sustainable pasture systems by evaluating the impact of changes in the perennial grass component on animal production and water-use patterns. Tactical management strategies were evaluated on naturalised and sown perennial grass pastures and on chicory (Cichorium intybus), using a Merino ewe-based first cross lamb enterprise. Data presented showed that grazing deferment over summer, combined with reduced stocking rate, increased perenniality and reduced annual grass weeds compared with continuous grazing. Livestock performance, however, did not always follow trends in available perennial herbage mass. Naturalised and sown pastures were suitable for raising prime lambs, but only chicory had the capacity to finish lambs to market specification without supplementation. With respect to water-use patterns, sown perennial pastures were more successful than naturalised pastures in reducing leakage of water from the root zone, although this seemed to be related mostly to the abundance of the perennial grass in the pasture. From a sustainability perspective, continuously grazed pastures generated higher net cash flows, but had negative environmental impacts, whereas tactically grazed pastures had positive on- and off-farm impacts but lower net cash flows. The implications of these findings for incorporation into future management strategies for sustainable production in high rainfall environments are discussed.

Effect of pasture management on the contributions of fixed N to the N economy of ley-farming systems

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 459 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
R. R. Gault ◽  
G. J. Scammell ◽  
B. S. Dear ◽  
J. Virgona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
Ley Farming Systems

The effects of different management regimes on N2 fixation by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) in annual pastures and lucerne (Medicago sativa) in perennial-based pastures were examined in 5 experiments and 55 commercial paddocks, in which the pastures were grown in phased rotation with crops. The objectives were to quantify the inputs of fixed N2 and to determine ways of increasing nitrogen (N) inputs into ley-farming systems of southern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria. Estimates of annual amounts of N2 fixed, based on above-ground herbage production in grazed pastures, ranged from 5 to 238 kg N/ha for subterranean clover and from 47 to 167 kg N/ha for lucerne. Legume reliance upon N2 fixation for growth (Pfix) was high (>65%) in most annual and perennial pastures examined. The levels of Pfix were generally unaffected by management treatments. As a consequence the amounts of N2 fixed were predominantly regulated by the legume content and herbage yield of pastures rather than by any marked differences in the ability of the legume to fix N. When all experimental results were combined with on-farm measurements of N2 fixation, the data indicated that lucerne and subterranean clover fixed 22-25 kg N for every tonne of legume dry matter produced. Management inputs to annual pastures which improved the productivity of subterranean clover and the amounts of N2 fixed included applications of superphosphate and the removal of grass species with herbicide, although the response to these treatments was not consistent across all sites in all years. Potential inputs from N2 fixation were high in annual pastures, and improved management during a good clover season enhanced the levels of mineral N detected in the soil profile (0-200 cm) the following autumn by 100-200 kg N/ha. However, year-to-year variability in annual pasture productivity and clover content resulted in large fluctuations in amounts of N2 fixed. Perennial pastures containing lucerne provided consistently greater annual herbage production, had more stable legume contents, and fixed on average 90-150% more N2 than neighbouring subterranean clover-based pastures. Even during the 1994 drought when annual pastures failed, lucerne still managed to fix >70 kg N/ha. It is proposed that lucerne-based pastures could represent a more reliable means of improving soil fertility for subsequent crops than annual pastures.

The paired-paddock model as an agent for change on grazing properties across south-east Australia

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Trompf ◽  
P. W. G. Sale
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
South Wales ◽  
P Application ◽  
Fertiliser Use ◽  
Gross Margins

A detailed study was undertaken on the pasture management practices of 146 producers across south-east Australia who participated in the Grassland’s Productivity Program (GPP) for 3 years between 1993 and 1997. The GPP was an extension program to assist wool producers to develop skills and gain confidence in their ability to manage more productive pastures on their farms. The program consisted of 50 farmer groups (200 farmers participating) spread across the 4 states of South Australia, southern New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Each farmer established paired-paddocks on their own property to compare productive pastures with existing pastures. Productive pastures involve increased rates of fertiliser on pastures containing productive species, with stocking rate adjusted to consume available pasture. After 3 years of involvement in the GPP, there was a whole-farm increase in P fertiliser use by 6.3 kg P/ha, stocking rates by 2.6 dse/ha and annual pasture resowing by 0.9% of the farm, when averaged across the 146 participants. The participants were applying the productive pasture technology to almost a third of their properties in 1997 and the intention was to increase this to over half of their properties by 2000. The participants also changed farm management practices as the program effectively developed management skills. There were increases in the ability to assess pasture quality and quantity, livestock by weighing or physical assessment, and the ability to calculate per hectare production and per hectare gross margins. A high proportion of GPP participants were soil testing (0.92) and spring lambing (0.72) at the completion of the program. The results indicated that the adoption of productive pastures was generally consistent across south-east Australia for pastoral producers who participated in this program, although south-west Victorian and south-east South Australian GPP participants did increase whole-farm P application by more than GPP participants from outside that region. The widespread change in farming practice was attributed to the additive and interactive effect of the paired-paddock comparison, the guidance provided by the facilitator, the group interaction and the skills training. Each of these components of the paired-paddock model combined to form an effective agent for change to increase pasture productivity on these grazing properties.

Integrated parasite management for sheep reduces the effects of gastrointestinal nematodes on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Kelly ◽  
L. P. Kahn ◽  
S. W. Walkden-Brown
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
New South ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematode ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
South Wales

An experiment was conducted over 2 years on six commercial farms to quantify the costs of gastrointestinal nematode parasitism on grazing Merino ewes on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. To determine the effect of worm management practices, three farms implemented integrated parasite management (IPM) strategies and three farms continued to implement regionally typical industry practice (TYP). On each farm, 120 ewes born in 2006 and 120 mature age ewes were selected at shearing in 2007. Of these, 60 in each flock were serially treated with anthelmintics (CAP treatment) to suppress worm populations and the other 60 ewes were managed according to their respective farm management strategies (NOCAP treatment). Among NOCAP ewes, worm egg counts were significantly reduced over both years by IPM compared with TYP despite IPM farms requiring fewer anthelmintic treatments (3.5 vs 4.5 per year). In Year 1, mortality of sheep because of worms (CAP vs NOCAP) was significant on TYP farms (10.5%, P < 0.01) but was not apparent on IPM farms. Throughout the study, NOCAP ewes had significantly lower growth rates (–2.8 ± 0.1 kg/year, P < 0.01), produced less greasy wool (–170 ± 20 g, P < 0.01) and had reduced fibre diameter (–0.28 ± 0.05 μm, P < 0.01) when compared with CAP ewes. These effects were apparent for both TYP and IPM management. The results confirm the significant production loss caused by worms in a northern, summer rainfall region and show that IPM reduces the effect of worms and frequency of anthelmintic treatment compared with typical methods currently used by the industry.

Reproductive Development and Seedling Establishment of Aristida ramosa R.Br. in Northern New South Wales.

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
AR Harradine ◽  
RDB Whalley
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
High Probability ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
New South ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Reproductive Development ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
South Wales

The reproductive development and seedling recruitment of Aristida rarnosa R.Br. \vas studied under field conditions at six sites on the Northern Tablelands and Northwestern Slopes of New South Wales. A. rarnosu is an undesirable species in pastures because of its low palatability and the propensity of its seeds for causing fleece contamination and mechanical injury to stock. All tillers ofA. vanlosa plants appear to be potentially reproductive and the extensive tiller branching means that each tiller has a high probability of completing the reproductive cycle. Individual plants, therefore, have a high potential for seed production. 'The majority of the seed production occurred in March averaged over all sis sites. Seedlings appeared in each one of the 20 months of observation when the results from all sites were added together, with the majority of seedlings appearing in the spring and autumn. Autumn seedlings had the greatest chance of becoming established at the lower, more western sites while spring seedlings survived best on the Tablelands. The results are discussed with respect to devising pasture management strategies aimed at reducing the abundance of A. wrnosa.

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