PDS: Integrated Legume Pastures-Cropping System
| Project start date: | 15 March 2026 |
| Project end date: | 30 November 2029 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep |
| Relevant regions: | NSW, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland |
| Site location: | WA Wheatbelt: |
Summary
Mixed farming businesses across Western Australia’s Wheatbelt are facing increasing challenges from autumn feed gaps, declining soil fertility, rising fertiliser costs and reduced pasture availability as cropping intensity increases. This MLA–GRDC Partnership Producer Demonstration Site aims to demonstrate how integrating HALO aerial-seeded legume pastures into mixed farming systems can improve livestock productivity, increase feed availability, enhance soil nitrogen levels and boost the profitability of subsequent cropping phases. Through paddock-scale demonstrations in the Lake Grace and Yealering regions, the project will provide locally relevant, producer-led evidence on the role of legume pastures within livestock and cropping rotations.
The project will compare legume-based pasture systems with current producer practice, measuring impacts on pasture quality and quantity, livestock performance, stocking rates, nitrogen fixation, grain yield, grain protein and whole-farm profitability. Participants will gain practical skills in establishing and managing legume pastures, integrating grazing and cropping enterprises, and assessing the economic value of pasture-cropping rotations. Through workshops, field days, case studies, podcasts and peer-to-peer learning, the project will support greater adoption of integrated pasture-cropping systems that reduce reliance on purchased feed and fertiliser while improving productivity, resilience and profitability across mixed farming businesses
Objectives
By March 2029, in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia, in the Lake Grace and Yealering areas. The project will establish 3 demonstration sites, engaging at least 13 core producers and 120 observer producers, to:
1) Demonstrate and assess integrated pasture–cropping systems (legume–cereal mixes) on livestock and subsequent crop performance by increasing:
a) Stocking rate capacity by 10% ,
b) grain yield by 0.3 t/ha
c) grain protein by 0.5%
d) fertiliser savings ($/ha) relative to current practice.
e) Pasture quality and quantity
2) Conduct a cost–benefit analysis of integrated legume–cereal pastures showing a positive return on investment, with increased Feed on Offer and cropping performance ($/ha) compared with standard systems.
3) Implement a series of skills and training development activities to increase the knowledge, skills, and confidence of 70% of core producers and 40% of observer producers, to plan, implement, and manage legume–cereal pasture systems within mixed farming enterprises.
4) Achieve 70% adoption among core producers and 25% intended adoption among observer producers of improved pasture–cropping systems (optimised legume–cereal ratios).
5) Conduct annual field days and other extension activities (case studies, workshops, podcasts) to showcase demonstration site results and encourage adoption among at least 120 observer producers across the Wheatbelt.
