COPRICE PRESENTATION

PASTURE PRODUCTIVITY

CHALLENGE

2019

MARK LUCAS

KEY WORDS

• DRY TIME MANAGEMENT – WINTER

• CHALLENGE TO CONVENTION

• SEASONAL UNDERPERFORMANCE

locality and altitude

• ENTERPRISE CHANGE – sheep

• PROFIT CHALLENGE

• TIME POOR

• KNOWLEDGE – assumed level

• BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

• MENTAL CHALLENGE

• “GO TOO”, TRUST, 80:20

• WEATHER FORECAST vs PATTERNS

CHANGING FACE OF EFFECTIVE AGRONOMY

• WORKING WITH PRODUCERS

• MINDSET CHANGE NOW PROFITABLESUSTAINABLE

PAST MAXIMUM

• WINTER IS THE NEW SPRING

PASTURE PRODUCTION CHALLENGE

• SOUTH QUALITY – winter dominant rainfall

Sub clover / super

Wimmera ryegrass

Lucerne (GT)

• NORTH QUANTITY

Lucerne / medics

Native grasses

• “Only 30% usual dry matter is attained” minimal residue carryover

CROPS – effective moisture retention- cool season responsive

• Oats / wheat

• Grazing canola – big winner

• Tetraploid ryegrass

• Carryover ?

ENTERPRISE modification

• CROPPING – fodder producers

• Herbicide resistance

• Low yield, return /ha grain ($/t)?

• LIVESTOCK

• Number reduction

• Finishing system

• Containment areas (activists)

Product Adoption Curve

Innovators Early Adopters

Early Majority Late Majority Laggards

Tech Enthusiasts

Visionaries

Pragmatists

Conservatives

Skeptics

• WHAT’S ON PEOPLE’S LIPS

• DOING MORE WITH LESS

• TECHNOLOGY – Your role in delivery

WHATS CHANGED IN THE INDUSTRY

• PYSCHOLOGY

1980’S /90’S

– positive adoption of technology

- 30% - 300% production gains (rise)

- Direct profit

- Low land values

2010/20

- Established production (plateau)

- Weather cycle (key influence on income)

- Weather forecast websites

= water, methane

= activists?

= dietary challenge?

= documentation

= city – country divide

= GOOGLE information

“CREATIVITY RARELY HAPPENS IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE”

MARK LUCAS 2019

• AGRONOMY –

• ANALYSIS

• WINNING TRUST 80-20 rule

• ADOPTION

• COPING WITH CHANGE

• TECHNOLOGY

• PROFIT REALIZATION

• YOURSELF

ADOPTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY• NEW CEREAL VARIETIES

• Small incremental improvement

• Past highest on property technology embrace

• LIVESTOCK SELECTION – ebv

• NEW FEEDING SYSTEMS

• Seasonal deficits, finishing system

• Building confidence to adopt?

COPING WITH CHANGE“The new spring is winter”

• RISK ADVERSE

• ASSISTING BUSINESS - alignment/resilience

• SQUIRREL mentality

• ENTERPRISE SPECIFIC

• FEED MIXER - cattle producers

• PELLET RATIONS - sheep producers

• NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION HUB?

BEEF PRODUCER – VOLUME / RESIDUES

Rations less sensitive to accuracy

Reduced wastage

SHEEP PRODUCERS

Pellet purchase

Exacting nutritional requirement

Feedlot/ paddock supplement

• ENCOURAGE ROUGHAGE in winter diets for livestock health + performance

• SPRING OBSERVATIONS

- Forecast surplus/deficit

- Silage conservation – NOT HAY

- Late maturity ryegrass

- Stock water quality

PASTURE SOLUTIONS

1. ALTERNATE legumes to sub clover• Surface trash

• Balansae clover

• Arrowleaf

• Serradella

2. COMPANION GRASSES• Prairie grass

• Paspalum

• Mediterranean fescue

3. FERTILISER • Prescription rather than repeated

• Alternative to single super

• Alternative soil test

4. PASTURE PRESERVATION

• 1 in 5 years – reseeding / crown / root expansion

5. NUTRITIONAL BALANCE

• Grain feeders

• Creep feeders

PASTURE SOLUTIONS