PDS: Extreme pastures for extreme times
| Project start date: | 02 February 2026 |
| Project end date: | 01 September 2029 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep |
| Relevant regions: | Southern Australia, Victoria |
| Site location: | Central Victoria: Yarck, Gobur, Alexandra, Molesworth, Highlands, Whanregarwen |
Summary
The ‘Extreme pastures for extreme times’, PDS responds to the growing challenge facing beef producers across north-east and central Victoria: how to rebuild and future‑proof pasture systems after repeated extreme weather. In recent years, many properties along the Goulburn River have endured severe floods followed by one of the worst droughts in memory, leaving degraded pastures, reduced carrying capacity and costly reliance on purchased feed. With more than 30,000–50,000 hectares affected in this region alone during the 2022–23 floods, producers are seeking clear, practical guidance on how to restore resilience and feedbase security.
The aim is to give producers the confidence and know‑how to make timely, cost‑effective decisions following drought or flood. Across three years, the project will measure recovery through dry matter production, groundcover, species composition and the quality of conserved fodder, while demonstrating how well‑timed hay and silage production can dramatically improve feed value. Field days, in‑paddock learning sessions, workshops, webinars and a final seminar will ensure findings are widely shared with over 70 participating producers and the broader south‑east Australian red meat community.
Objectives
By December 2028, in the Yarck district of North Central Victoria the project will:
1. Demonstrate to over 70 core and observer producers across six demonstration sites the value of restoring pastures affected by drought or flood compared to a “do nothing” control.
2. Compare and demonstrate four pasture recovery strategies—including oversowing, full renovation, multi-species annual mixes, and an untreated control—to improve productivity following extreme weather events.
3. Improve the knowledge, skills, and confidence of 100% of core producers and at least 75% of observer producers in monitoring pasture recovery using standardised data collection techniques during site visits.
4. Demonstrate best-practice hay and silage production by comparing yield, quality, and economic returns of optimally timed conservation with delayed or poorly managed fodder conservation.
5. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of all pasture renovation treatments, measuring input costs, feed output value, and gross margin ($/ha) relative to the untreated control.
6. Build producer capacity and confidence through targeted extension including:
a. Three public field days (one per year) and six in-paddock learning sessions (two per year) and one trip to another area to share learnings from the demonstrations or experience how other areas have recovered from ‘Extreme’ events.
b. Seasonal updates, a final case study, and short videos/social media content
c. KASA and practice change surveys to measure learning and adoption
7. Achieve adoption of integrated pasture renovation approaches in 100% of core producers and 75% of observer producers, with a demonstrated shift in mindset around timely fodder conservation.
8. Host a final seminar and publish a legacy factsheet to summarise project outcomes, promote best-practice recovery strategies, and reinforce the importance of producing quality conserved fodder post-extreme events.
