Sustainable Long Term Leucaena Grass Producer in Northern Australia
| Project start date: | 01 August 2019 |
| Project end date: | 15 August 2022 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | Northern Australia |
| Site location: | Northern Territory |
Summary
The aim of this project is to demonstrate the most suitable leucaena – grass pasture system for northern Australia including optimal row spacing’s for both dryland and irrigated leucaena planting, cultivar choice and long term management strategies that will support long term, sustainable, high value beef production.
Objectives
By August 2022 the PDS activities will:
1. Demonstrate the most suitable leucaena-grass pasture system for northern Australia across 4 to 6 sites in NT by:
a. Assessing optimal row spacing 6 m to 18 m for dryland and 3.6m or 7.4m for irrigated Leucaena-grass pastures for long term success and
viability.
b. Assessing the most suitable leucaena cultivar for each trial site
c. Determining and documenting effective management strategies to address seasonal growth issues of leucaena-grass pastures
2. Quantify the benefits of leucaena-grass pasture system through a minimum of one round of grazing trials at each site. The trials will be based on 1 AE/ha for a twelve month period with live weight gain assessed at induction, at the conclusion of the wet season, conclusion of the dry season and at turn of ≥350 kg (LW).
3. Promote best management practice to 100 other producers and graziers across a minimum of four field days throughout the three year period.
4. Increase the adoption of best practice leucaena-grass pastures by 10% of the observer producers by the end of the three-year period. This will be assessed through an annual electronic survey of all field day or activity attendees.
5. Provide capacity building through upskilling of local agronomy services in Leucaena best practice through the provision of two Leucaena 101 workshops focussing on advisory and extension knowledge.
6. Development of case studies on each producer site (4 to 6) documenting trial processes, outcomes and feedback for dissemination through The Leucaena Network channels, NTDPIR, NTCA, NT Farmers, Future Beef and MLA media.
Progress
The Sustainable Long Term Leucaena Grass Production in Northern Australia project aimed to successfully establish up to six producer-based leucaena trial plantings to determine the most suitable variety and row spacings suitable for Northern Territory conditions.
Three sites were successfully established however fire resulted in the withdrawal of one of these sites. A fourth site was unable to undertake establishment activities within the project due to alternative diversification, however, remains committed to the inclusion of leucaena in their grazing system in the future. The two remaining sites demonstrated successful establishment and improved productivity through one live weight gain trial on each site, demonstrating the potential benefit to the Northern Territory grazing industry.
Extension activities were directly provided to more than 190 observer producers across six field days and workshops. Project progress and periodic outcomes were also promoted through other Network activities, at www.leucaena.net, and in project case studies for dissemination to the grazing industry.
Complementary to the Sustainable Long Term Leucaena Grass Production in Northern Australia project was the development of the Northern Best Management Code of Practice, a collaborative outcome from the Northern Territory Government, The Leucaena Network, Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, NT Farmers, and project producers.
Interest from Northern Territory graziers to improve productivity and profitability with leucaena remains high, however, due to alternative opportunities for high-value enterprise diversification with the developing cotton and horticultural industries, the propensity to undertake leucaena plantings in the near future has reduced from the initial levels experienced at the commencement of this project. However, it is envisaged that interest in pasture development with Leucaena increase over the next three to five years as the increased profitability provided by diversification will provide the financial wherewithal for property development, or there will be a percentage of natural attrition out of the new industries and a return to a focus on grazing. The activities undertaken within this project and the continued presence of The Leucana Network in the Northern Territory grazing industry will continue to provide ongoing support for those graziers.
The final report for this project will be published on the MLA website in the near future.
