Grazing BestPrac PO Box 500, INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Yeppoon Qld 4703 Best Practice Groups take Ph 0749 383919 off in CQ mob 0438 395255 Farmers need education - www.grazingbestprac.com.au not regulation Benchmarking of Soils is essential for success Dung Beetles need strategic management Resting Country is Critical In the paddock CHANGING THE CLIMATE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS.

BESTPRACTICE GROUPS TAKE OFF IN CQ An exciting new Best Practice program has just launched in cen- was a combination of the latest tral Queensland to assist primary cutting edge science of growing producers tackle the soil and plant crops and pastures and the pad- nutrition problems they have been dock inspection to see the latest facing in the past few years. equipment and technology being used. Our real aim is to help pro- and pasture growth problems, so that ducers solve their own individual they really can make the most of this problems of nutrient run down, brilliant season we are having. plant health and soil health, by The day was presented by soil and teaching the background science Russell & Matthew Moretti - Biloela, Janelle plant specialist, Bart Davidson, Moree and adapting management prac- Whatley - Regal Seeds & Campbel Hill from who explained the need to benchmark tices. He continued, the science Farmstuff soils and plant saps to enable sound being used to determine plant management decisions. Mr Davidson requirements today may not be The first farm group meeting was said, the industry has changed a lot in giving the best information to held last week at Allen Bowen’s the past few years due to drier condi- grow crops and pastures today. farm “Maloa”, Biloela with twenty tions, cost of inputs and the rundown The group model is very flexible producers from around the cen- of our soils. Plants have to expend and able to be adapted to grazing, tral Queensland region, attending. more energy to achieve the same broadacre crops or horticulture Meeting organiser, Shane Krafft growth or production that they had to as the basis for management is from “Grazing BestPrac” said the a decade ago, he said. Mr Davidson the soil first. meeting was a follow-up from the said, many of our management prac- Group members were very excit- “Soil and Plant Nutrition” work- tices burns up carbon and uses cal- ed about the first on-farm meeting shops held in Biloela, Emerald and cium as well as other nutrients. Many where they looked at the setting Rockhampton earlier in the year and of our practices cause nutrients to up of liquid injection on two plant- will be followed up again in the next be tied up or not available for plant ing rigs as well as various ways 6 weeks. uptake. We are now in a different of improving microbial break- Mr Krafft said, Participants travelled place to a decade or two ago and so down of trash, improving nutrient from Monto, Springsure, Gogango our soils require a different manage- cycling and lucerne management. and Biloela to attend the one day on ment program to be viable. In many For more information on the Best farm followup, being run as a joint situations, yield can be increased by Practice Groups program, phone venture between Grazing BestPrac managing calcium and micro-nutrients 0749 383919 or Shane on 0409 and Bio-Nutrient Solutions. He con- at a lower cost than the standard NPK 189256 or visit the websites www. tinued, our aim is to assist mem- solution, he said. grazingbestprac.com.au or www. bers to get a handle on their crop Organiser, Mr Krafft explained the day best-practicegroups.com . ANSWERS IN THE DIRT AUSTRALIAN FARMERS NEED FOOD SECURITY. FARMERS NEED EDUCATION - NOT REGULATION The grazing and farming community has a whole new paradigm from government been blamed for many problems in recent and especially many of the entrenched years, as science has lagged behind the scientific minds. Conventional thinking innovators in the industry. of yesterday is single dimensional and If producers aren’t being criticised for misman- is what has got us to this point and it will aging nutrient in streams or pushing for GM simply not achieve a balanced future. crops or mismanaging overland flow, it is some It seems our governments have not other issue. Most of the time, the producer is supported rural research well in the past being mis-represented and painted as the poor and are going to support research even manager and has to simply accept that he must less in the future. So, maybe it is up change. However, most of the time, the pro- to primary producers to be conducting ducer is following the so called best practice of research on farm and tackling the chal- the day as promoted by government agencies lenge as individuals and groups. The and this keeps changing. field of soil and plant health is probably Most primary producers are extremely smart one of the least researched areas in and adaptive to changing conditions and will- rural industry, especially subjects that ing to take on necessary strategies to be viable link microbes to nutrient management, if necesary. Every primary producer wants to soil health to livestock weight gains, conduct best practice – land management, if water intake and production/ weight gain the practice is truly best practice. After all, no- and the impact of various land manage- one wants to see their land or other resources ment practices on soil biology. There less productive and less profitable. The gross is a whole new field of science which margin profits are already very slim for most will decide the future of food security in FIVE EASY WAYS enterprises and more regulations will see even Australia. TO GROW MORE more producers forced to sell up, unless the We need more farmers and graziers changes generate increased profits. The lat- conducting on-farm science, so they GRASS. est ABARE reports shows that in the past can learn on their own block, what really three years, the average beef farm business in does work. Even more importantly we northern Australia has had a business profit of need to have a benchmark as we cannot only $18,341 in 2007/08, $16,700 in 2008/09 establish best practice guidelines until • REST MOST PADDOCKS IN and -$7,300 in 2009/10 and a 1% or less return we have a starting point and a target THE FIRST 6 WEEKS AFTER on capital across 10,449 businesses. On the to aim for. Our soils carbon, nutrient RAIN TO MAXIMISE GROWTH other hand, in the same time period, cropping and microbe levels will dictate the plant enterprises in the northern cropping belt have health and production. So, how healthy on average, returned a farm business profit of are our soils and plants. • ROTATE STOCK BETWEEN $28,290 in 2007/08, $54,300 in 2008/09 and In the past few months, GBP has worked PADDOCKS - REST GRASS -$65,300 in 2009/10 or an average return on with Bio-Nutrient Solutions to develop a TO ALLOW PLANTS TO GROW capital of .2% - 2.5%. There is definitely no number of benchmarks for soil health BACK TO THE TOP OF PHASE room for more red tape in either industry. monitoring. These are actually hard 2. However, the governments continue to roll out data, numbers which can be compared more bureaucracy to reduce profits without to your actual on-farm values to assess • THE MORE PADDOCKS & - demonstrating how to manage better. The so the resource condition. These need to LARGER MOBS AND SHORTER called educated country is lagging behind the be the starting point for any best practice DURATION WILL HAVE MORE innovators in many regards. That is we have a management plan or future strategy. POWER AND MORE DAMAGE number of highly successful innovative produc- They include the calcium to magne- IF NOT WELL MANAGED ers who are working with the industries best sium ratio, cation exchange capacity, biological agronomists, economists and educa- base saturation levels, total carbon and • SOIL TEST TO ESTABLISH A tors, conducting on-farm trials each year and macro/ micro nutrients as well as fungal, BENCHMARK FOR NUTRIENTS developing genuine best practice pathways. bacterial and total microbial activity. AND SOIL BIOLOGY SAP These are the people we need to be using as a Over the following months, Grazing SAMPLE FOR NUTRIENT catalyst to help guide the industry and create a BestPrac will combine the latest science UPTAKE AND PROTEIN sustainable future. and hands on practical information to DEVELOPMENT Farmers and graziers really need the govern- enable producers to become savvy and ment focus to be on education about soil and responsible. Best Practice in the grazing • ESTABLISH ON-FARM TRIALS plant health and managing nutrients, not regu- and cropping industries has been dis- OF GRAZING MANAGEMENT lating the stewards to death. We have used cussed for many years without deciding AND NUTRIENT / BIOLOGICAL the old science for many years and it is only any basic benchmarks. and has always MANAGEMENT the last five years many have learned about been placed in the too hard basket by microbe management, nutrient balance and many organisations. Let’s get the edu- soil health. I’m sure most of our regulators cation working so that the regulations know little about this science. This may require will not be necessary. BIG PROFIT $$$$$$$ ISSUES: DUNG BEETLES & BUFFALO FLY REQUIRE A STRATEGIC APPROACH

are harmful to dung beetles to some degree. Buffalo fly causes irritation to stock, similar to a cross between a A good idea would be to ask the merchandise bushfly and a mosquitoe, irritating and sucking blood. Potential salesman which products are excreted in the losses to beef cattle production in Queensland has been measured urine as these will not impact on dung beetles. to be in the range of 15kg per animal over a 100 day period, with In the ideal situation, the strategy for managing a moderate infestation of only 200 buffalo flies per animal. This buffalo fly populations would be to aim at build- equates to a weight loss of 150 grams per head per day valued at ing dung beetle numbers by: $2.20/ kg or $33.00 per head in a 3 month season. The value of the •Treating only those stock that were affected hide is also reduced when cattle develop skin sores as a result of •Use the most friendly product that would cause buffalo fly infestation. the least damage to dung beetles Adult flies live for 2–3 weeks, and females lay eggs from 4 days after •Use a dung beetle trap and tunnel trap when they commence sucking blood, and continue to lay eggs until they possible die. Eggs hatch in 15–24 hours. The life cycle from egg to adult fly •Cull for susceptible animals takes only 9–11 days. •Source an organic product or one which is Potential losses to beef cattle There are several methods for controlling Buffalo Fly, including: excreted in the urine production in Queensland has •Increase dung Beetle populations to bury the fly larvae and pupae Many chemical products used to treat buffalo been measured to be in the •Parasiticides (chemicals to treat the cattle) flies result in residues in meat. Therefore, cattle •Buffalo Fly Trap range of 15kg per animal over must be withheld from sale for considerable •Organic and approved products (cattle coat/ Bimrose) a 100 day period, with a mod- periods after treatment in order to ensure that To control buffalo fly, the most effective method is to reduce the there are no residues present in meat products. erate infestation of only 200 habitat and stop the flies from finishing their growth cycle in the dung Minimising the use of chemicals is good for the buffalo flies per animal. This pat. The only successful method of achieving this is to build the animal, our food chain and the environment. equates to a weight loss of introduced dung beetle populations to a level where they are able Many organic producers have been searching bury and shred the dung before flies hatch out. Although our industry 150 grams per head per day for alternatives to chemicals. In past years, bodies and governments spent more than $24M to introduce the valued at $2.20/ kg or $33.00 many producers have used sulphur and more dung beetles from Africa and Europe in the 1960’s and 70’s, dung recently a registered organically certified prod- per head in a 3 month season beetles are still being harmed with inappropriate management. This uct called Cattle Coat and an approved Bimrose is often due to lack of education about chemicals and their potential oil. These more natural products may be part hazards. Most chemicals which are excreted from cattle in the dung of the solution along with a combination of the above strategies. Dung beetle management will be one of the topics discussed in the coming “Technology THE 2% of Growing Grass” workshops to be held at Emerald on the 2nd and 3rd December and SOLUTION Moura on the 7th and 8th December. SCIENTISTS SAY, IF FARMERS CAN IMPROVE THE SOIL CARBON BY 0.5% ORGANIC CARBON ACROSS 2% OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN AUSTRALIA, WE WILL BE CARBON NUETRAL - THE HEALTH OF OUR NATION IS UP TO FARMERS AND GRAZIERS

In the 1980’s, we were told that double cropping (two crops in the same paddock in a year) is bad for our soil structure and would destroy our soils. Today growing more than one crop a year is good if not best practice if the moisture is available as this is now known as the only way to build higher soil carbon levels. The well known pasture cropping concept was developed from a double cropping mentality where a perennial pasture is grown in the summer and a winter cereal BENCHMARKING OF SOILS IS is planted directly into the pasture in the off season. The science behind farming systems has been revolutionised to a point where zero-till is the only acceptable model for a farming system. ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS Fertilisers have been used and even overused to a point where excessive amounts of nutrients Much of the science we were taught have been washed into dams, creeks and the river systems. This has primarily been preicated by in past years was correct for past the fact that farmers were told to apply higher amounts of nutrients to ensure a high yield (just in years when our soils were healthy case). Years ago, the system required small amounts of nutrients and today it requires significantly and balanced but may not be right more, because of the imbalance as well as rundown. However, due to the soils being unbalanced today and not having enough energy (microbial and chemical reactions) in the system to make the for our soils today. nutrients available to the plants, the nutrients were leached and, or washed into streams. And the As an example when the major nutrients such as Calcium and Magnesium are balanced and in the microbes (life in the soil) were not even mentioned, even though they are essential in all systems. correct ratios for the soil type, and other factors The old science just does not work in the agricultural systems today. We require a new paradigm such as Sodium are low, then generally it takes and a new method of application. less energy for nutrients to be cycled throughout Our grazing and cropping lands are not healthy like they were 50 or 100 years ago. Pastures that the plant and soil structure. However, once the once required no inputs to run a 400 kg steer to 3 ha and produce 85 kg beef per hectare (ADG balance is interrupted, calcium levels fall (in rela- of .7 kg/hd/yr), now takes 4 or 5 ha to run the same animal or can only produce 60 kg beef per tion to the magnesium) it becomes more difficult hectare (ADG of .5 kg/hd/yr). Overall our production may have been halved while inputs have for the plant to cycle nutrients. Therefore, what increased significantly. we did to manage our soils when they were 10 We need to rethink the science we have been using for the past decades as it simply does not years old is totally different when they are 30 years old. work as well anymore. Maybe, we simply need to get back to the soil basics and understand that Topping up the NPK just does not work like it soils are made of nutrients, microbes and physical structures. The most appropriate way forward used to. Now the innovators of our industry are for any serious agricultural business today is to benchmark the best, worst and average soils for balancing the calcium, before managing NPK, nutrient levels, microbial balance and soil health. This first step will guide you as to the neces- then managing micro-nutrients as well for maxi- sary actions in the future. Soil and sap testing methods, analysis and recommendations will be mum yield. After all, calcium is often the most lim- discussed at the next Best-Practice Field Days and workshops being held in central Queensland. iting factor when it comes to cell integrity, disease For more information, contact Mick Alexander, principal of Grazing BestPrac based in Yeppoon suppression and plant health. – 0749 383919.. Rotational Grazing Field Day “Albeni” Springsure Mick Alexander 25th November ATTEND A (Catering - $20/ person) TECHNOLOGY OF GROWING Resting and rotating country – GRASS WORKSHOP.(TOGG) now more critical. Many graziers in Qeensland and NSW have just come EMERALD - 2 & 3 DECEMBER out of the best winter in living memory and so are fairly relaxed about grazing management for summer. But, the MOURA - 7 & 8 DECEMBER test will be to capitalise on the brilliant start and to take the opportunities being offered. Now more than ever, it is GOONDIWINDI - 15 & 16 DECEMBER a critical period for managing pasture to ensure pasture growth is maximised. The first six weeks after the green Comments from season begins (guided by moisture and temperature) is Bruce Picone - Tallawanta, Moree critical for grass growth. Normally the growing season would not begin until late November or early December in many raeas of Queensland and NSW. This year, it has It is important for all primary producers to already begun with excellent soil moisture and ground attend this workshop as it empowers people to temperatures increasing daily. make decisions and to be able to ask the right In a set stocking or conventional grazing system, it is questions of agronomists and grazing spe- impossible to rest pasture as the stock are constantly exposed to grazing the more palatable, sweet plants. cialists. We realise the farm is a living system Cattle will actually go back, over and over again to patch- and this course helped me to understand how es they have already been grazing as grazed plants con- to get the most out of my resources while also tain younger leaves with higher protein levels and lower energy than older plants. And just like a group of children, building soil health. The TOGG workshop has cattle are attracted to the sweetest more tasty treats first. really helped me to understand how to man- However, in a rotational grazing system, it is possible to age the pasture to grow more grass, improve rest the majority of your plants until they are fully recov- ered and re-grown to the top of phase two. This wil give nutrient cycling and make our soils healthier. a higher yield and higher weight gain if well managed. There are huge opportunities to improve our However, even in a rotation, it is necessary to sacrifice pasture growth and business profits. some of your recovering pasture at the beginning of the season. This is called your sacrifice paddock or paddocks. As an example, if the rotation contained five paddocks in total, SOIL AND PLANT NUTRITION then it would be important to choose the paddock in the WORKSHOP.(SPN) most forward condition at the start of the green season. This paddock may be utilized for the 4- 6 week period and FORBES - 11 & 12 NOVEMBER then rested for an extended period until fully recovered. Therefore the actual rotation for much of summer may be GOONDIWINDI - 25 & 26 NOVEMBER just the four paddocks. The most important point about grazing management is BILOELA - 1 & 2 DECEMBER to have a goal of looking after the pasture. Remember, healthy soils leads to healthy pasture, healthy animals and healthy business. For without the pasture, it is impos- sible to run a cattle business. The ideal plan may be to simply rest some of your country at all times, whether it be 20%, 50% or 95% of your land. In a 5 paddock rotation you may be resting 80% at any one time or in a twenty paddock rotation, you may be resting as much as 95% of your land at any one time. Another way of looking at the concept is that a 5 paddock rotation of equal size paddocks may mean that each paddock is only grazed for 73 days of the year. The other 292 days the paddock is in rest. For more information, CHRRUP and Grazing BestPrac are running a Rotational Grazing Field Day at “Albeni”, Springsure on the 25th November. Phone 0749 383919.