PDS: Integrated Legume Pastures-Cropping System

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.

Progress

MS1 AgPro Management is partnering with MLA and GRDC to deliver the Integrated Legume Pastures-Cropping System PDS across the Lake Grace and Yealering regions of Western Australia's Wheatbelt. Working alongside local producers, the project will demonstrate how aerial-seeded HALO legumes can be integrated into mixed farming systems to improve feed availability, livestock performance, soil nitrogen levels and the productivity of subsequent cropping phases.

Following a project establishment phase focused on producer engagement, demonstration planning and approvals, paddock-scale demonstrations will commence from 2027. The project will compare integrated legume pasture systems with current producer practice, generating practical insights into pasture quantity and quality, stocking rates, livestock performance, grain yield, grain protein and whole-farm profitability. The aim is to provide producers with real-world examples of how legumes can fit into mixed farming rotations and contribute to both livestock and cropping enterprises.

Over the life of the project, producers will have opportunities to get involved through field days, workshops, producer case studies, podcasts and peer-to-peer learning activities. If you're farming in the Wheatbelt and interested in improving feed supply, building soil fertility, reducing fertiliser inputs or strengthening the integration between livestock and cropping enterprises, keep an eye out for upcoming project events and updates. 

The project team is keen to connect with producers interested in seeing these systems in action and learning from local demonstration sites.