P.PSH.0730 - DAFWA Mosaic Agriculture Project Overview

Summary

The project produced a comprehensive guide for pastoralists, agronomists, agribusiness and the broader community on the growing of irrigated crops and pastures within a rangeland pastoral setting.

The project represents a series of co-investments with DAFWA within the Northern Beef Futures Program. A component of the ‘Northern Beef Futures’ program is to explore opportunities for the expansion of mosaic agriculture around irrigation precincts and improved rain-fed forage systems to transform beef production systems. Irrigated fodder production and introduction of improved forage plants (dryland) can broaden the feed base of rangeland grazing systems.

This project conducted work in key locations in northern WA to test on-ground conditions and various non-indigenous plant species to develop a strong evidence base to support future mosaic agriculture proposals and diversification policies.

Objectives

Develop and field test a rigorous, site specific system for assessing the weed risk of growing non-indigenous plants on pastoral land for irrigated and dryland mosaic agriculture.

Quantify the production potential and feed quality for a range of pasture, fodder and crop options for both irrigated and dryland (cleared) mosaic agriculture.

Key findings

Irrigation enables more intensification of agricultural production and each farming system will have its own design requirements.
Two important considerations for beef production are matching the class of cattle with the type of feed they require and deciding whether to focus on a standand-graze (direct grazing) system or a cut-and-carry system.

The opportunity for broadacre cash crops is currently limited and opportunities in horticulture will depend on individual businesses identifying market opportunities.

Producers developing an investment plan must ensure the production targets are realistic and explore the sensitivity of different cost and production scenarios on financial performance.

Benefits to industry

Expansion of mosaic agricultural development in northern WA utilising pasture species that are matched to the environment and animal production system will benefit northern pastoral businesses through benefits such as self-supply forage removing freight costs which are amplified following failed wet seasons where the supply of fodder may be in high demand and limited to a higher price.

MLA action

The project learnings will be disseminated amongst relevant stakeholders interested in investigating and developing irrigated crop and forage production

Future research

It was identified that pastoralists should be provided with local information sources in order to guide decision making when considering whether to invest in an irrigation development.

MLA is continuing research in irrigated crop and forage production in Northern WA with Pardoo Beef Corporation through a co-innovation program.