Pasture Monitoring in the Rangelands

Summary

The aim of this Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project is to demonstrate that using routine monitoring and managing key species in rangeland pastures can increase productivity of livestock businesses. 

Objectives

By January 2027 in the Oxley/Booligal area of Western NSW:  

1. Demonstration trials across 5 core sites will have increased understating of how feed quality changes at various stages in the plant lifecycle and how this influences livestock production.   

2. Conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits using pasture monitoring to inform tactical and strategic decision making to show a positive return on investment (estimated) for livestock businesses.  

3. 100% of core producers and 80% of observer producers will have improved their knowledge, skills, confidence and understanding of key pasture species and their management on their property.  

4. 75% of core producers and 40% of observer producers will have adopted (or intend to adopt) the use of routine pasture monitoring to guide their management objectives and grazing strategies.  

5. The results of the PDS will be widely disseminated with targeted extension and adoption activities including 5 webinars, 5 field days, 10 key pasture species profiles and a producer guide to improving tactical decision making in rangeland pastures. 

6. Ground cover percentage will be maintained above 50% at demonstration sites and the number of key perennial species will increase from the baseline measured at the commencement of the project, at each site. 

Progress

The Pasture Monitoring in the Rangelands project, initiated in 2022, aims to enhance livestock productivity in southern rangelands of NSW by integrating routine pasture monitoring with targeted grazing management. It tracks pasture production and groundcover at six producer sites over 198,699 hectares, using both on-ground observations and remote sensing tools. Biannual assessments of key pasture species, such as Burr Medic and Bladder Saltbush, are taken by group facilitator, Christine Plummer, to provide data on crude protein, digestibility, and metabolisable energy content. This information assists producers make informed decisions on feed supplementation, stocking rates, and grazing strategies. Early results show seasonal shifts in pasture quality, with annual plants often surpassing perennial species in nutritional value. The project emphasises peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, enabling producers to share insights and make data-driven decisions. By combining remote sensing, feed testing, and field assessments, the project aims to build pasture resilience and improve livestock productivity in response to the region's variable climate. The project will continue through to 2027.