Navigating through the drought
When mlaPrograzier visited the Horsleys near Adelong back in 2005, no one could have anticipated how the drought would affect their farm business – or that it would successfully test a farming philosophy that has been a staple of the business for over 40 years. Decision making during drought can be an emotional crossroad, particularly when choosing which stock to sell and when, but Ian and Fiona approached it as strategically as they could.
Read the full article: Navigating through the drought (PDF, 221KB)
More information: drought resources for livestock producers
Carefully managing native pastures
Tasmanian grazier, Matt Dunbabin, lives in an area with a normally reliable rainfall. While it’s not unusual to get one failed spring, three consecutive drought years is unheard of. Native pastures make up 85% of their property, ‘Bangor’, and are predominantly comprised of kangaroo grass, with some minor species like wallaby grass and weeping grass, on a range of different soil types.
Read the full article: Carefully managing native pastures (PDF, 120KB)
More information: managing native pasture species
The soil comes first
In the wake of recent drought, NSW brothers Ken and Charlie Baldry have modified their sheep production system to protect their most precious farm resource – the soil. The Wallendbeen graziers have long been committed to implementing natural resource management (NRM) practices on their farm and their business strategy is focused on sustainably merging productivity, profits and the environment.
Read the full article: The soil comes first (PDF, 130KB)
More information and tips and tools: managing soil
The customer is still king
Even during prolonged dry periods, when cows were supplementary fed and young stock had to be offloaded earlier than anticipated to spell improved pastures, Armidale producer, Cye Travers, never lost sight of what his customer wanted – feeder steers that would consistently perform well in feedlots and finishing systems. With a heavy emphasis on genetics, Cye explained that during drought their overriding stock management policy is to keep the cattle rather than sell.
Read the full article: The customer is still king (PDF, 140KB)