L.PGS.2034 - PGS Package Development PayDirt Qld Southern Inland

Summary

This Profitable Grazing Systems (PGS) project was undertaken to customise the southern, temperate pasture focused PayDirt supported learning package for northern red meat producers managing dryland sown tropical pastures in the Brigalow Belt Region of Queensland. The customisation involved adapting the producer and trainer manual to include best practice grazing and pasture management for the region, relevant local technical data and key considerations that should be made before investing in a fertiliser program in the region.

Material produced during the customisation included a trainer manual, producer manual, four demonstration videos, PowerPoint slides, cost benefit calculator and a Knowledge and Skills Assessment as part of the Monitoring and Evaluation requirements stipulated by MLA. A technical reference panel reviewed the content and provided input into the final publications.

A pilot program was delivered to a group of producers in the Western Downs region of Queensland. It was delivered using a ‘flipped learning’ approach where an e-learning and face-to-face delivery were combined to optimise uptake and application of the concepts presented. All participants embraced the methodology and feedback from the group was very positive. A webinar to overview the program was well attended by over twenty extension providers, with one expressing interest in delivering the program.

Objectives

This Profitable Grazing Systems (PGS) project was undertaken to customise the southern, temperate pasture focused PayDirt supported learning package for northern red meat producers managing dryland sown tropical pastures in the Brigalow Belt Region of Queensland. The customisation involved adapting the producer and trainer manual to include best practice grazing and pasture management for the region, relevant local technical data and key considerations that should be made before investing in a fertiliser program in the region.

Material produced during the customisation included a trainer manual, producer manual, four demonstration videos, PowerPoint slides, cost benefit calculator and a Knowledge and Skills Assessment as part of the Monitoring and Evaluation requirements stipulated by MLA. A technical reference panel reviewed the content and provided input into the final publications.

A pilot program was delivered to a group of producers in the Western Downs region of Queensland. It was delivered using a ‘flipped learning’ approach where an e-learning and face-to-face delivery were combined to optimise uptake and application of the concepts presented. All participants embraced the methodology and feedback from the group was very positive. A webinar to overview the program was well attended by over twenty extension providers, however only one expressed interest in delivering the program.

Key findings

The program is best delivered over multiple, spread-out sessions to give participants time to reflect on learnings and gather information to make improve their decision-making capacity as the program progresses. Twenty professionals participated in an introductory webinar to the PayDirt North PGS package.

Benefits to industry

The routine use of soil testing and strategic fertiliser application on sown tropical pastures has the potential to significantly improve paddock carrying capacities and turnoff rates. Increasing the knowledge, skills and confidence of graziers in soil testing and strategic fertiliser application will be beneficial economically and environmentally.

MLA action

MLA continues to support the delivery of the supported learning package PayDirt North in Queensland.

Future research

There is need to improve pasture production data to develop nutrient response models relating to fertiliser application on dryland tropical sown pastures. Without this information the reliability of fertiliser recommendations and economic modelling will be limited.