Producer Demonstration Site (PDS): Tamar Pasture Improvement Demonstration Project

Summary

It has been estimated that only 30 percent of farmers in the Tamar Valley had adopted appropriate practices to improve pasture production, exacerbated by the limited extension, demonstration or adoption of new pasture renovation or renewal work in the region.

This project established demonstration plots at 3 sites for pasture species, demonstrating pasture renovation based on grasses, legumes and herbs known to be local high performers, and any new varieties considered promising.

The project was successful in demonstrating to producers the value of getting key elements of the system right, and results indicate an improvement in knowledge and better understanding on pastures and pasture management.

Objectives

The main objectives of this project were to:

• present regionally relevant information on sustainable pasture management and animal nutrition/production to encourage farm practice change
• demonstrate that new pasture species/cultivars and associated grazing management practices will increase the profitability of the red meat supply chain by at least 10 percent
• present options of better adapted, persistent and productive pastures able to better cope with changing environmental conditions.

Key findings

The project was successful in that it demonstrated to producers the production of red meat is part of a system made up of four major components:

• soil
• plants
• animals
• the system manager.

It also includes many minor components and to get the maximum returns from that system, all of the components need to be "in tune'.

Future research

It was identified during the project the lack of extension services, where red meat producers can witness, for themselves, what innovative practices work in their area and discuss this with their peers. The Tamar PDS sought to address the knowledge gaps and any lack of motivation to implement practice change by applying a proven model of information delivery.

There is a need for greater extension services and discussion groups to facilitate peer to peer knowledge transfer and extending this service to smaller acreage producers as well.