Integrating livestock and timber production

Summary

The aim of this producer demonstraton site (PDS) is to demonstrate the integration of pasture under sustainably managed native forest as an opportunity for increasing beef and timber productivity due to decreased levels of competition between pasture and trees for light, water and nutrients. This project aims to evaluate the impact of tree density management of private native forest on native and improved pastures for greater beef productivity.

Objectives

By July 2023, 3 PDS sites in the Wide Bay-Burnett region will:

1. demonstrate that the integration of pastures and forest under sustainable forest management will increase:

(a) native pasture productivity by at least 30-50% in thinned forest compared to control plot (no-thinning);
(b) grass and legume pasture productivity by at least 100% in thinned forest compared to control plot (no-thinning);
(c) timber productivity (m3/ha/year) by 30% in thinned forest compared to control plot.

2. conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine the relative financial performance of establishing pasture in sustainably managed private native forest.

3. conduct field days / workshops with the aims of having 100% of core producer and 60% of observer producers with increased knowledge and skills in sustainably thinning their forest areas (e.g. appropriate methods)

4. 80% of the core group demonstrate an improvement in pasture productivity by managing the forest under sustainable practices.

5. 20% of observer producers will have adopted or be prepared to adopt new forest management practices

Progress

The implementation of sustainable forest management practices such as thinning can lead to an increase in timber and pasture productivity.

Three sites were established in the Gin Gin region of Queensland with the aim of evaluating the performance of native pasture and improved pasture in sustainably managed and un-managed native forest.

Plots with randomised block designs were established on each property, incorporating two different treatments for native forests (with and without harvesting or thinning), two treatments for pastures (native pasture and improved pasture), and six replications covering an area of ~11.5 hectares. Tree growth, pasture productivity and financial analysis were evaluated in this project. Improved grass and legume pastures were sown at two different times: two properties in March 2021, and another in September 2021. Thinning increased the biomass production of native pasture by more than 45% and improved pasture by more than double compared to unthinned forests without pasture improvement.

Financially, better outcomes are anticipated in Spotted gum forests with integrated pasture, with an estimated NPV of 2,318 $/ha, in comparison to unmanaged native forests with an NPV of 751 $/ha. Low financially performing scenarios were observed however when establishing improved pasture in unmanaged forests (695 $/ha), primarily due to the high cost of seeds and poor establishment response due to competition from trees.

The integration of sustainable forest management practices, such as thinning and the implementation of improved or native pasture systems, will significantly enhance both timber and beef productivity in Spotted gum forests.