Current Recommended Practice a DIRECTORY for BROADACRE DRYLAND AGRICULTURE

Landscapes & Industries & Landscapes KNOWLEDGE Current recommended practice A DIRECTORY FOR BROADACRE DRYLAND AGRICULTURE

Craig Clifton, Camille McGregor, Roger Standen & Simon Fritsch

Current recommended practice A DIRECTORY FOR BROADACRE DRYLAND AGRICULTURE

Craig Clifton, Camille McGregor, Roger Standen & Simon Fritsch Authors: Craig Clifton, Camille McGregor, Roger Standen & Simon Fritsch

Published by: Murray-Darling Basin Commission Level 5, 15 Moore Street Canberra ACT 2600

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Email: [email protected]

Internet: http://www.mdbc.gov.au

ISBN: 1 876830 69 7

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MDBC Publication 01/04 Agroforestry Contents Animal condition management Breeding program

Business and financial planning

Introduction 1 This directory 1 Chemical contamination The Murray-Darling Basin 1 avoidance Tha Landmark project 1 Key broadacre land uses 2 Commitment to family Sustainable farming 2 Current recommended practice 3 Descriptions of current recommended practices 3 Community and industry participation 1. Agroforestry 7

2. Animal condition management 9 Crop rotation 3. Breeding program 10

4. Business and ﬁ nancial planning 11 Effective management of labour and resources 5. Chemical contamination avoidance 13 6. Commitment to family 15 Environmental monitoring and benchmarking 7. Community and industry participation 16 Identification and 8. Crop rotation 17 protective management of cultural heritage 9. Effective management of labour and resources 19 10. Environmental monitoring and benchmarking 21 Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures 11. Identiﬁ cation and protective management of cultural heritage 23

12. Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures 25 Integrated pest management 13. Integrated pest management 27 14. Knowledge and skill development 29 Knowledge and skill development 15. Management according to land capability 31 16. Managing for weather and climate variation 33 Management according to land capability 17. Nutrient budgeting 35 18. Occupational health and safety plan 37 Managing for weather and climate variation 19. Quality assurance 38

20. Retention and management of native vegetation 39 Nutrient budgeting 21. Soil conservation 41 22. Tactical grazing 43 Occupational health and safety plan 23. Tillage and stubble management 45

24. Waterway and ﬂ oodplain management 47 Quality assurance Sources used in the preparation of current recommended practice documentation 49 Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management i Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Figure 1 Map of the Murray-Darling Basin showing the Landmark Pilot regions

Breeding program

Business and financial planning

Chemical contamination avoidance

Commitment to family

Community and industry participation

Crop rotation

Effective management of labour and resources

Environmental monitoring and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and Map produced by MDBC climate variation using data supplied by AUSLIG (Geoscience Australia)

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management ii Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry Introduction Animal condition management Breeding program

Landmark investigations are being undertaken in This directory Business and financial planning three pilot regions with contrasting land uses before This directory contains a list of land management considering their application to the whole Basin (Figure 1). practices currently advocated by industry and practised The three pilot regions are: Chemical contamination avoidance by leading farmers for the major dryland agricultural land uses (grazing and cropping). The directory is intended * Upper Goulburn-Broken catchment, Victoria – predominantly high rainfall (more than 600mm) as a reference for professionals in the fi eld: agricultural Commitment to family extension offi cers, rural educators, representatives grazing landscapes in the south and east of the of producer organisations and commodity councils, Goulburn-Broken catchment. The area includes community groups, researchers, consultants and most of the land south of the Hume Highway in Community and industry participation state agriculture and natural resource managers. The the Goulburn and Broken River catchments as well application of a recommended practice at a particular as the Kilmore and Broadford areas, north of the highway. time and place will need further information and detailed Crop rotation consideration. * Billabong Creek catchment, New South Wales – cropping and grazing landscapes of the upper The Murray-Darling Basin Effective management of labour Billabong catchment in southern New South Wales, and resources Dryland agricultural land use across the Murray-Darling between the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers. Basin is facing several major challenges: The pilot region extends downstream from the Environmental monitoring headwaters of Billabong Creek to Walbundrie. and benchmarking * continued expansion in the area affected by dryland salinity and a decline in water quality in the lower * Condamine-Central Downs region, Queensland – Identification and Murray River and some of the Basin’s other major cropping and grazing landscapes, largely within the protective management of cultural heritage river systems; middle reaches of the Condamine River catchment * an ageing farming population, with limited prospects in south-eastern Queensland. Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures for property transfer within farming families; The Landmark project is overseen by a steering * income earned by farming families, particularly in committee with membership drawn from rural industry broadacre dryland farming enterprises, is often organisations, including: Integrated pest management insuffi cient to maintain investment in the farm * Australian Forest Growers business and environmental management activities; Knowledge and skill development * most primary producers are price takers and * Australian wool industry have no mechanism to ensure prices they receive * Cattle Council of Australia for commodities refl ect costs associated with Management according to land capability sustainable management of natural resources; and * Grains Council of Australia * population drift in some rural regions, the loss * National Farmers’ Federation Managing for weather and of social and commercial infrastructure and climate variation declining development opportunities in small rural * Sheepmeat Council of Australia communities. Nutrient budgeting * Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) Without intervention, these trends are likely to continue and to result in a progressive degradation of the * Community Advisory Committee of the Murray- Occupational health and environmental, social and economic resources of the Darling Basin Ministerial Council safety plan Basin, and of the nation as a whole. * Australian Local Government Association The Landmark project Quality assurance * World Wide Fund for Nature. This directory was developed to inform the Murray- There will be three key outputs for the project as Darling Basin Commission’s (MDBC) Landmark project. Retention and management of a whole. The fi rst will be methods for assessing native vegetation Landmark is assessing the future of broadacre dryland biophysical, economic and social sustainability of current agricultural land uses in the Basin. The project will land use and management practice. The second will consider whether current land use and the application Soil conservation be a series of reports that document the results and of current recommended practice in dryland regions is implications of implementing the methods in the three sustainable – in environmental, social and economic Landmark pilot regions. The fi nal major output will be terms. It will contribute to the development of policy Tactical grazing a series of policy options that can be implemented by options to achieve more sustainable land use.

Tillage and stubble management 1 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management governments, industries and communities to achieve Table 1 Basic resources employed in broadacre more sustainable land use. It is intended that the policy dryland agriculture options will be considered by the Murray-Darling Basin Natural resources Human and social Breeding program Ministerial Council in 2004. resources Land or soil Human effort, values and Key broadacre land uses beliefs Business and financial planning Water The fi rst phase of the Landmark project identifi ed the Air and climate Knowledge, information and technology main broadacre agricultural land uses at the scale of the Sunlight or solar energy Chemical contamination Murray-Darling Basin (Figure 2). Land use in this context Financial capital and markets avoidance Natural ecosystems was identifi ed according to industry or commodity type, – native plants, animals Cultural heritage rather than to the prime use of land, and level and type and natural ecological Commitment to family of modifi cation of natural land cover, as is commonly processes 1 used . Based on both value of agricultural production Genotype of plants and and the area of land farmed, there are four main Community and industry animals participation broadacre dryland agricultural land uses in the Basin: While it is diffi cult to comprehensively defi ne the specifi c * wool growing; outcomes of a sustainable farming system or sustainable Crop rotation agricultural land use, it is possible to defi ne the goals * sheepmeat production; that such a system might be seeking to achieve. The Landmark project has defi ned seven key goals for Effective management of labour * beef production; and resources sustainable agricultural land use (Table 2). * cropping for cereal, grain legume and oilseed production. Table 2 Landmark sustainability goals Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Goal Definition It is recognised that other forms of dryland agricultural land use occur throughout the Basin, including rain- Soil health Soil health embodies biological, Identification and protective management of fed cotton growing, dairying, horticulture and forestry. physical and chemical health and protection from removal by wind or cultural heritage Although such enterprises may contribute substantially water. Soil health includes freedom to the regional gross value of agricultural production, Incorporation or retention of from induced waterlogging, soil their extent is generally limited and they are often perennial species in pastures salinisation and acidification. supported at the property level by partial irrigation. Water quality Quality considers chemical and quantity composition and sediment content. Integrated pest management Across the Basin, the four land uses listed above Quantity considers human use and are practised across almost all of the non-irrigated environmental values. Applies to both agricultural and pastoral land. The Landmark project, in surface water and groundwater. Knowledge and skill this testing phase, addresses only these main land uses development Nature The maintenance or improvement in its current work of developing and testing methods for conservation of biodiversity and ecological assessing sustainability. Management according to processes in native plant and animal land capability Sustainable farming communities. Greenhouse Reduction in emissions of greenhouse Managing for weather and A sustainable farming system may be defi ned by and air quality gases or sequestration of atmospheric climate variation resilience, in the sense that it: carbon and protection against induced climate change. Non- * ensures the long-term maintenance or improvement emission of ozone-depleting and other Nutrient budgeting in condition or quality of the basic resources chemicals harmful to the atmosphere. employed (Table 1); Financial Generation by the farm business of Occupational health and return sufficient funds for the business to safety plan * has fl exibility to allow response to the challenges be viable and for the farm owners to and opportunities presented by short-term variation meet lifestyle goals. in, for example, climate and markets; and Quality of life The capacity to achieve personal Quality assurance and family goals and participate in * is adaptive and open to continuous improvement community life. as the nature of the basic resources change (for Retention and management of Cultural The protection of heritage, comprising example, through technological improvement, native vegetation heritage places, objects, events, cultural climate change, or change in community values). practices, stories, records and intangible values which reflect Soil conservation biophysical, indigenous and non- indigenous cultural diversity. 1 Lesslie, R., Barson, M. and Randall, L. (2002) Land use mapping in the Goulburn-Broken, Upper Billabong Creek and Condamine Catchments. Tactical grazing Final report of land use mapping undertaken for the Landmark project, Murray-Darling Basin Commission. Bureau of Rural Sciences

Tillage and stubble management 2 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

These sustainability goals broadly address environmental of management practices, which differed between Animal condition management condition and the social and economic well-being of regions. As might be expected, those differences are primary producers and their communities. They are in most pronounced in practices relating to the agricultural keeping with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission’s production system and environmental management. Breeding program Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) Policy Statement. The sustainability goals apply at a range of It must be reinforced at this point that implementing Business and financial planning scales, from farm to region to nation. the appropriate management practices does not guarantee sustainable land use. Indeed, one of the critical tasks of the Landmark project is to identify Current recommended practice Chemical contamination whether combinations of location and land use within avoidance Management practices in farming systems are the tools the three pilot regions, even with full adoption of current by which basic natural, human and social resources are recommended practices, would lead to the economic, employed to achieve the goals desired by the landowner social and environmental sustainability sought by Basin Commitment to family or manager. One of the core activities of the Landmark communities. project has been to defi ne a comprehensive suite of Community and industry management practices for the key broadacre agricultural Descriptions of current participation land uses in the Murray-Darling Basin. Specifi c current recommended practices recommended practices, across 24 broad areas of management practice, have been defi ned. They are the: This section provides broad descriptions of each of the Crop rotation 24 management practices for sustainable broadacre specifi c management practices that are dryland agricultural land use. The description of each recommended by industry and adopted by at least Effective management of labour management practice provides the following information: and resources some leading producers to achieve land use that is more sustainable from economic, social and/or * a short defi nition of the practice; Environmental monitoring environmental perspectives. * a brief description of the major elements associated and benchmarking with the practice; For the purposes of the project, industry has been very Identification and broadly defi ned. It includes, for example, producer * details of implementing the practice; protective management of cultural heritage organisations, commodity councils, research and * a list of the benefi ts of implementation; development corporations, consultants and state * a graphic showing the links between the Incorporation or retention of agriculture and natural resource management agencies perennial species in pastures and research institutes. management practice and sustainability goals; and * further information. The term current recommended practice avoids some Integrated pest management of the unnecessary connotations associated with best A management practice may relate to one or more practice or best management practice by explicitly sustainability goals. Sustainability goals are labelled recognising that farming practice operates in a changing Knowledge and skill as either primary or secondary drivers. Primary drivers development biophysical, social, fi nancial and technological context. are those for which achieving the sustainability goal is In this operating environment, what is regarded to be a primary reason behind implementing the particular best management practice is likely to change over time Management according to management practice. Secondary drivers are those land capability and space. While the management practices described goals that would benefi t from the implementation of in this report are intended to improve the sustainability the management practice undertaken for some other of land use, their recognition as current recommended Managing for weather and reason. climate variation practice is not intended to imply that this will always be the case. A consolidated listing of the relationships between management practices and sustainability goals is given Nutrient budgeting Current recommended practices were defi ned through in Table 3 overleaf. literature survey, consultation with industry (defi ned above) and the expertise of project team members. It is Occupational health and safety plan presented in this document at a generic level, as it might apply across the major agro-ecological zones of the Basin and at a whole-of-industry level. Quality assurance

At this broad level, most of the described practices relate to all four of the major land uses studied by the Retention and management of Landmark project and are relevant across the dryland native vegetation agricultural regions of the entire Basin. Clearly they are not equally important in achieving sustainable land use. Soil conservation Within the three Landmark pilot regions, additional work has been undertaken to describe current recommended Tactical grazing practice. That work has concentrated on a subset

Tillage and stubble management 3 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management

Breeding program Water quality and quantity

Business and financial planning Soil health Chemical contamination avoidance

Commitment to family Quality of life

Community and industry participation Nature Nature conservation Sustainability goals Crop rotation Greenhouse Greenhouse and air quality Effective management of labour and resources

Environmental monitoring Financial return and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of

cultural heritage Cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance Management of trees and other woody perennials within agricultural systems for and other woody perennials Management of trees and economic objectives multiple environmental and disease stock productivity animal welfare, Sound animal husbandry to ensure to maintain stock for markets prevention quality targets, based and product that stock meet productivity to ensure Program feeding and animal health of breeding, on efficiency An operational framework for the farming enterprise that sets boundaries within management is made inputs and environmental which investment in productive purpose use of agricultural chemicals to achieve the application’s The appropriate and surface water impacts while avoiding contamination of soils, groundwater and species on non-target areas training and community leisure, A lifestyle that balances workload with time for family, and agricultural environmental Involvement and participation in local community, industry activities to and pastures crops rotating through yields and financial return Maximising crop nutrient use and rates of water leakage efficient help disease and weed control, opportunities and constraints to market and environmental to respond specialist consultants or contractors to The strategic use of supplementary labour, timeliness and quality of farm business operations ensure (soil, water and information on the natural resource Strategic monitoring to provide which underpins adaptive management systems and vegetation) condition and trend, system performance benchmarking for the agricultural production Identification of cultural heritage issues associated with sites and places, assessment of heritage significance and development implementation a management strategy for maintenance of cultural values

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing 2 Animal condition management program 3 Breeding 4 Business and financial planning 5 Chemical contamination avoidance 6 Commitment to family 7 Community and industry participation rotation 8 Crop management of 9 Effective labour and resources 10 Environmental monitoring and benchmarking 11 Identification and management of protective cultural heritage Management practice Definition Table 3 Relationship between current recommended practices and sustainability goals and sustainability practices recommended current between 3 Relationship Table 1 Agroforestry

Tillage and stubble management 4 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management

Breeding program

Business and financial planning

Chemical contamination avoidance

Commitment to family

Community and industry participation

Crop rotation

Effective management of labour and resources

Environmental monitoring and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance The establishment or retention of existing native or sown introduced deep- of existing native or sown introduced The establishment or retention to soil type, in permanent grasses or legumes, as appropriate perennial rooted environmental for the purpose of maintaining feed and improving or ley pastures management using a combination of chemical, cultural, pest plant and animal control Coordinated measures biological and genetic control on the farm enterprise that leads to Planning, acting, observing and reflecting and long-term sustainability profitability continual adjustment, improving various types of landscape Land management based on whole farm planning, where to the limitations or opportunities they offer identified and managed according are opportunities risk management to avoid operating losses and ensure Environmental variable climate and weather maximised from are of soil fertility based on and plant monitoring, The maintenance or improvement budgeting of inputs and outputs nutrient use efficiency The development and implementation of a plan to mitigate risks associated with farm to dust and noise agricultural chemicals, storage bins and exposure machinery, of the farm family and workers so enhancing health and safety awareness food or that ensure Establishment and implementation of documented procedures safety and quality product and maintaining the integrity of ecological functions protecting Preserving, native vegetation biodiversity in retained of physical and chemical degradation soil the active The prevention of land degraded by salinisation, acidification, sodicity, or restoration rehabilitation and vegetation loss waterlogging, hydrophobicity erosion, to meet the needs The development and implementation of specific grazing regimes soil and stock of pasture, and management system that minimises the impacts of vehicle traffic A cropping avoiding or minimising and biological health through cultivation on soil structure residues crop tillage and retaining of waterways and floodplains maintenance their natural function Protection without further degradation

Retention and management of secondary driver native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing primary driver 13 Integrated pest management 14 Knowledge and skill development 15 Management according to land capability 16 Managing for weather and climate variation 17 Nutrient budgeting 18 Occupational health and safety plan 19 Quality assurance 20 Retention and management of native vegetation 21 Soil conservation grazing 22 Tactical 23 Tillage and stubble management 24 Waterway and floodplain management 12 Incorporation or of perennial retention species in pastures

Tillage and stubble management 5 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Figure 2 Dominant land use class, by gross value of agricultural production for statistical local areas in the Murray-Darling Basin

Breeding program

Business and financial planning

Chemical contamination avoidance

Commitment to family

Community and industry participation

Crop rotation

Effective management of labour and resources

Environmental monitoring and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 6 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 1. Agroforestry Animal condition management Breeding program

recharge zones). Large scale afforestation may affect the Defi nition Business and financial planning catchment water yield, reduce stream fl ow and reduce Agroforestry is the management of trees and other total salt load (although seasonal concentration may woody perennials within agricultural systems for multiple be increased) and change the proportion of rainfall that Chemical contamination avoidance environmental and economic benefi ts. infi ltrates the soil profi le.

Description Implementing the practice Commitment to family

Agroforestry may be carried out with trees in a number * Thoroughly research options (seeking expert advice) of confi gurations, including plantations, alley farming, before making investment in agroforestry. Community and industry shelterbelts, spaced plantings and management of participation * Understand market requirements of species, wood remnant native forest on farms. quality, processing, capital costs, changing land use Plantations comprise distinct areas of merchantable tree costs, labour availability, integration with other crops Crop rotation species that may be used for sawn timber, pulpwood, and livestock. fi rewood, posts and poles or other forest products, * Develop a business and marketing plan to include Effective management of labour including non-wood products. Plantations are harvested harvesting plans, silvicultural management regimes, and resources periodically and require silvicultural management input and maintenance costs. systems and harvesting plans. Environmental monitoring * Where the focus is on economic benefi ts, manage and benchmarking Alley farming, shelter belts and spaced plantings are plantations as a monoculture and establish used in agricultural systems where crops or pasture substantial areas (greater than 20 ha). Identification and are grown between (generally parallel) belts of trees or protective management of * In some landscapes, design plantations (combining cultural heritage perennial shrubs (for example, Tagasaste – tree lucerne, location in landscape and confi guration) to maximise a type of fodder shrub – and saltbush), along existing access to water (for example, location at the break Incorporation or retention of fence lines or between spaced trees. Agroforestry in perennial species in pastures of slope) and/or their impact on salinity processes this confi guration may provide shelter for crops and (for example, in preferential recharge zones). livestock, forest products (for example, honey, seeds, Integrated pest management foliage, timber, fi rewood, posts, pulpwood) or ecosystem Benefi ts of implementation services (for example, salinity control, water balance, wind control and water erosion control). It may be Agroforestry: Knowledge and skill designed specifi cally for shelter, for convenience, to development reduce cost or to maximise environmental services. * diversifi es of the farm enterprise, improving resilience and providing an added income source; Management according to Native forest management parallels plantation land capability * improves property values and repairs degraded management, except that the trees are in a natural or landscapes; semi-natural setting. Trees are managed for various Managing for weather and forest products, but may also provide secondary * reduces groundwater recharge and risk of dryland climate variation benefi ts including biodiversity conservation and other salinity; environmental services, as well as grazing. Management * reduces the threat of soil erosion (by water or wind) may include grazing, burning to manage fuel loads and Nutrient budgeting and improves water quality; and thinning, pruning or harvesting. * provides shade and shelter for stock and increases Occupational health and Trees in some landscapes may be designed to crop or pasture production. safety plan maximise water use (for example, break of slope) or to affect salinity processes (for example, high potential Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Links to sustainability goals Soil conservation Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity Tactical grazing primary driver secondary driver

Tillage and stubble management 7 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

Guijt, I. and Race, D. (1998) Growing Successfully: Breeding program Australian Experiences with Farm Forestry. Greening Australia Ltd., Canberra.

Business and financial planning Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (1997) Design Principles for Farm Forestry: A Guide to Assist Farmers to Decide Where to Place Trees and Chemical contamination avoidance Farm Plantations on Farms. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra. ISBN: 0 642 24655 6. Commitment to family Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (2000) Trees, Water and Salt: An Australian Guide to Community and industry participation Using Trees for Healthy Catchments and Productive Farms – Research Update. RIRDC Publication No. 00/170, Canberra. ISBN: 0 642 58201 7. Crop rotation Virtual Consulting Group (1999) Farm Forestry Feasibility Study for North-Central and Wimmera Catchment Effective management of labour Authority Areas and Buloke Shire. Department of Natural and resources Resources and Environment, Bendigo.

Environmental monitoring and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 8 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 2. Animal condition management Animal condition management Breeding program

* Provide shelter to protect stock from climatic Deﬁ nition Business and financial planning conditions that diminish productivity. Animal condition management is a part of sound animal * Include procedures for safe handling of disease husbandry to ensure animal welfare, stock productivity Chemical contamination control chemicals in occupational health and safety avoidance and disease prevention to maintain stock for markets. plan.

Description * Use external contract labour to assist with bulk Commitment to family animal handling. This practice involves monitoring of stock for various parasites and disease agents to identify health issues Benefi ts of implementation Community and industry and treatments before major intervention is required. participation Regularly checking animal condition, when linked with Monitoring records and evaluation: monitoring of pasture availability, supplementary feeding * helps identify resistance to particular methods of Crop rotation and general animal husbandry helps provide feedback parasite control, assess effi cacy of drenching and on the effectiveness of the production system. The chemical controls, and ensure appropriate and cost- practice also includes risk management stategies to Effective management of labour effective control measures are implemented. facilitate a strategic and effective response to parasite and resources and disease outbreaks. Animal condition management: Environmental monitoring Monitoring of animal condition is an adaptive * ensures stock are healthy and more able to meet and benchmarking management process that helps to ensure effi cient production and quality targets; and production and suitability of stock to meet market Identification and protective management of requirements. * assists with general farm management, feed cultural heritage budgeting, planning and product marketing Implementing the practice decisions. Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures * As part of the farm business plan, outline measures, Risk management strategies: input costs, monitoring and goals for maintaining animal condition. * may help prevent large scale disease outbreak, Integrated pest management cross contamination of herds or fl ocks between * Develop and implement risk management strategies properties and regions, and their social and for prevention or treatment of parasites and Knowledge and skill economic consequences. diseases – vaccination and drenching through to development quarantine and animal destruction in the case of Further information highly contagious diseases (for example, Johne’s Management according to land capability disease) and address threats of infection, risks of Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (undated) cross infection, impacts of disease and effi cacy of Production and Marketing of Large, Lean Lambs. control measures. Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation. ISBN 0 642 Managing for weather and climate variation * Keep record books for disease and parasite 25 207 6. controls including use of chemicals. Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2002), Nutrient budgeting * Regularly monitor for parasites and diseases (for Prograzier: Animals Edition, Summer 2002. example, fl ies, foot-rot, worms, ticks, lice, ovine and bovine Johne’s disease, bloat, grass tetany, http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au Occupational health and staggers). http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au safety plan http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au * Regularly monitor and record animal condition and http://www.dse.vic.gov.au Quality assurance weight in association with pasture quantity and http://www.pir.sa.gov.au quality and supplementary feeding rates.

Retention and management of native vegetation

Tillage and stubble management 9 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry Animal condition management 3. Breeding program Breeding program

Business and financial planning Deﬁ nition Beneﬁ ts of implementation

A breeding program ensures that stock meet productivity A breeding program: Chemical contamination and product quality targets, based on efﬁ ciency of avoidance breeding, feeding and animal health. * ensures stock are bred to suit local conditions and meet production and product quality targets; Description Commitment to family * provides for better utilisation of available feed and Breeding programs are traditionally aimed at selecting greater stocking rates; progeny on the basis of characteristics which determine Community and industry * reduces need for supplementary feeding; participation the market value of the end product (for example, weight for age, wool yield and micron). A breeding or bloodline * increases lambing and calving percentages; strategy is developed to ensure that stock are ﬁ t for the Crop rotation purpose and not necessarily for premium markets only. * achieves higher market prices for niche breeds.

Benchmarking and the farm business plan: Effective management of labour Implementing the practice and resources * Develop and implement a farm business plan * shows strengths and weaknesses of breeding incorporating goals and actions for breeding goals; and Environmental monitoring and benchmarking programs. * highlights areas for improvement in performance; and * Develop and implement a marketing plan to ensure opportunities for ﬁ ne tuning the breeding program. Identification and protective management of results of program are consistent with market cultural heritage requirements. Further information

Incorporation or retention of * Develop a breeding program monitoring and Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (undated) perennial species in pastures Production and Marketing of Large, Lean Lambs. benchmarking system to include input costs, operating costs as a proportion of income, Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation. ISBN 0 642 25 207 6. Integrated pest management monitoring and recording of animal condition statistics (feeding rates, weight gain and http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au maintenance costs). http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au Knowledge and skill development * Select breeds based on heritable traits, which refl ect http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au effi cient feed conversion into the end product. http://www.dse.vic.gov.au Management according to http://www.pir.sa.gov.au land capability * Wool industry breeding generally targets production of the fi ne (less than 20 micron) wools that comprise Managing for weather and the bulk of global demand. climate variation * Beef and sheepmeat industry breeding targets specifi cations for carcase weight and fat depth. Nutrient budgeting Specifi cations vary according to domestic or international market at which production is aimed.

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Tillage and stubble management 10 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 4. Business and ﬁ nancial planning Animal condition management Breeding program

* farm profi t (operating surplus after family labour and Defi nition Business and financial planning machinery depreciation); Business and fi nancial planning provides an operational framework for the farming enterprise that sets the * land productivity (operating surplus/land value); Chemical contamination avoidance boundaries within which investment in productive inputs * machinery productivity (machinery market value/ and environmental management is made. income); and Commitment to family Description * land capital per family member.

The business and fi nancial plan is a way of clearly Environmental benchmarking may be used to provide Community and industry participation defi ning family goals and business objectives and a guide to the effi ciency with which the production identifying the strategies and actions by which they might system is making use of natural resources, indicating be achieved. It includes basic farm accounting practices trends in condition that may have long-term implications Crop rotation such as annual budget and investment planning. It for production systems and investment decisions. reviews the current situation of the farm business, its Criteria include water use effi ciency, soil health and strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and fertility, groundcover, groundwater levels, and waste Effective management of labour and resources threats it faces. Monitoring of expenditure against the management and disposal. Monitoring also provides budget is required for the process to be effective, insight into natural processes that may be incorporated particularly in areas or enterprises where revenue into farm management systems. Environmental monitoring forecasts can change rapidly. and benchmarking Innovation and continuous improvement represent Elements contributing to the business plan include actions where farmers seek new information and test Identification and protective management of market planning, enterprise diversifi cation opportunities, different methods to suit their business objectives cultural heritage farm business and environmental benchmarking, and goals. They build skills, knowledge and capacity innovation and continuous improvement processes, risk to change and lead to consolidation of management Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures management and succession planning. practices into farming systems and farm business operation. Decision support tools may be used to assess fi nancial Integrated pest management risks due to uncertainty associated with factors such Continual fi ne-tuning in the following six areas of as climate. Experience and knowledge has traditionally management also need to be undertaken in order to guided on-farm decision-making, though more elaborate manage change and ensure a profi t: Knowledge and skill tools, ranging from graphs and decision trees to development complex crop simulation models (for example, APSIM, * optimum enterprise mix; WHOPPA, Grazfeed) and herd recording systems, are Management according to becoming widely available. * optimum yields and production; land capability

Farm business benchmarking is a way of monitoring * cost effi ciency; Managing for weather and farm business performance, highlighting where the * marketing; climate variation business is strong and providing insight as to where performance can be improved. Common farm business * risk management; and benchmarking critieria include: Nutrient budgeting * operation control and timeliness. * farm cash surplus; Enterprise diversifi cation involves diversifying the Occupational health and safety plan * disposable income; farm business to reduce the risks associated with production of single bulk commodities and issues of * labour productivity; disease, pesticide resistance, climatic variability, and Quality assurance * farm equity; changing demand and market specifi cations. The production system should aim to produce at least some commodities which attract premium prices or for which Retention and management of * rate of return on capital; native vegetation the market outlook is more stable. Diversify through * operating costs as a proportion of income; production of a combination of wool, sheep meat, beef or niche market commodities or services such as Soil conservation * off-farm income; horticulture, timber and tourism. * debt to income ratio; Market planning involves understanding agricultural Tactical grazing * crop yields or livestock production; commodity prices and product specifi cations to guide

Tillage and stubble management 11 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management the cropping regime, fertiliser practice, breeding * helps consider off-farm investments such as shares programs and lambing or calving times so that and property; production refl ects higher value niches within the market. Breeding program * improves the business success of the farm and so Risk management for farming enterprises is about the lifestyle of the operators; developing and implementing effective, and suffi ciently Business and financial planning fl exible strategies for coping with and reducing risks * may improve the quality of decisions about crop associated with climate variations (drought, frost, selection and management practices resulting in fl ooding), market variability, and workplace health and more consistent grain yields and product prices; Chemical contamination safety. Methods include income and general insurance, avoidance * improves farmer insight into the factors that infl uence fi xed interest rates and forward selling. their production system; Commitment to family Future ownership is part of maintaining a family farming * may improve the economic (or environmental) business. Succession planning needs to consider the resilience and performance of the farm enterprise three key areas of viability, management and ownership. Community and industry against adverse markets (commodity prices), climate participation Implementing the practice or environmental variability; * encourages production systems to target higher * Be prepared to repeat a cycle of planning, acting, Crop rotation value markets; observing and refl ecting (learning) to continually improve and innovate. * may reduce risk associated with production and Effective management of labour marketing, reduce workplace injuries and improve and resources * Apply decision support tools and models to assist profi tability; and with cropping and grazing decision-making. Environmental monitoring * ensures effi cient inter-generational transfer of and benchmarking * Obtain information from the internet, other farmers, property ownership, reduces uncertainty and stress Landcare groups, extension offi cers, journals and associated with ownership transfer and prevents Identification and publications. protective management of depletion of physical, fi nancial and environmental cultural heritage * Form cooperatives with local or compatible capital of property during transfer process. producers, or brand like products for higher value Incorporation or retention of Market plans: perennial species in pastures niche marketing. * may help the commodity production system meet * Regularly assess farm operations to ensure market specifi cations, to take maximum advantage Integrated pest management marketing is correctly targeted. of favourable market or environmental conditions. * Monitor consumer and trade attitudes and behaviour Knowledge and skill and market value, share and volume of particular Further information development commodities; Stockdale, R., Miller, L. and Warn, L. (Eds) (1999) Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Victoria 40th Management according to * Track seasonal rainfall predictions and use multiple land capability species and varieties of pasture or crop. Annual Conference and Trade Fair – Profi t Through Change, Geelong. Benefi ts of implementation Managing for weather and Wylie, P. (1997) Profi table and Sustainable Farming climate variation Business and fi nancial planning: Systems. Horizon Rural Management Report to RIRDC, Dalby. Nutrient budgeting * helps implement whole farm plan, prioritise on-farm investments, make best use of farm resources, http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au set targets for expenditure, improve farm business http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au Occupational health and returns and track progress in achieving them; http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au safety plan http://www.dse.vic.gov.au http://www.pir.sa.gov.au Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Tillage and stubble management 12 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 5. Chemical contamination avoidance Animal condition management Breeding program

Agricultural chemicals may also pose health risks to Defi nition Business and financial planning users if not handled appropriately and to farm workers Chemical contamination avoidance is the appropriate or family members if not stored or disposed of safely. use of agricultural chemicals to achieve the application’s Relevant occupational health and safety procedures for Chemical contamination avoidance purpose while avoiding contamination of soils, the various classes of chemical must be followed. groundwater and surface water and impacts on non- target areas and species. Implementing the practice Commitment to family Description * Develop a whole farm plan to understand and locate land classes and soil types at risk to contamination Community and industry The appropriate use and application of chemicals avoids and manage chemical application accordingly. participation contamination and takes into account the location of sensitive areas, climatic conditions, the type of chemical * Develop an integrated pest management plan to Crop rotation formulation and delivery methods. Pest management optimise use of non-chemical control methods, strategies, soil types and land classes, weather and and to administer correct dosages, avoid livestock resistance, contamination and residue build up. climate variations, requirements for safe handling, Effective management of labour storage and disposal are key factors to be considered in and resources * Develop an occuptational health and safety plan avoiding chemical contamination. to avoid potential hazards and risks of human Environmental monitoring One of the main pathways for nutrients and pesticides contamination and procedures for safe use, and benchmarking to leave the farm and enter streams is via soil particles handling and storage. dislodged by surface run-off. The threat of chemical Identification and * Avoid spraying near sensitive areas including dams, protective management of contamination via this pathway can be reduced by streams, houses and native vegetation and under cultural heritage controlling erosion through maintaining higher levels inappropriate climatic conditions. of groundcover, minimum tillage and by on-farm water Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures capture and storage (for example, tailwater dams). The * Use farm shelter belts to capture spray drift and whole farm plan should identify land classes and soil avoid cross-boundary contamination and residues. types to identify risk areas and avoid their contamination. Integrated pest management Groundwater contamination may be avoided by careful * Ensure there are suffi cient groundcover and use of chemicals (particularly those that are soluble or interception dams to prevent downstream leachable) on light textured soils. contamination of waterways and wetlands. Knowledge and skill development By carefully targeting chemicals, spraying during calm * Appropriately locate and contain drenching and wash down areas to avoid groundwater and conditions and having shelter belts of trees in place as Management according to barriers for spray drift, damage to non-target species streams from becoming contaminated. land capability may be avoided. Use of less volatile formulations * Adopt sound waste management practices to and delivery mechanisms that include larger droplet Managing for weather and ensure farm wastes (plastics, chemicals, packaging, sizes, slower tractor speed and lower boom heights climate variation biological wastes, and so on) are disposed of, also reduce impacts on humans, livestock and the re-used or recycled appropriately and do not cause environment. contamination. Nutrient budgeting A pest management strategy should consider all practical methods for avoiding or managing pests, Benefi ts of implementation Occupational health and including non-chemical methods. It should describe the safety plan Chemical contamination avoidance: general approach being taken to the use of agricultural chemicals, such as not relying on one class of chemical * maintains healthy humans, environments and farm Quality assurance for control of particular pests, and the seasonal use enterprises; of different types of pesticides with their application * prevents impacts on non-target species, particularly methods and rates. The strategy should outline the Retention and management of major risk factors and how they will be managed, as well remnant native vegetation and associated fauna; native vegetation as procedures for avoiding environmental contamination, * prevents contamination of soil, surface water livestock resistance to pests and risks of elevated supplies and groundwater; Soil conservation chemical residues. * prevents exposure to chemicals that pose immediate or long-term health risks; Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 13 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management * manages and prevents accidents involving Further information chemicals and farm family members or farm workers; Brightling, A. (1998) Meeting the Market for Clean, Breeding program Green Wool. Wool and Rural Industries Skill Training * reduces health risks to farm family, workers and Centre Inc., Hamilton. ISBN 0 646 35247 4. community; Business and financial planning Grains Council of Australia (2000) Graincare: On-farm * manages the development of resistance in target Quality Assurance Program. Grains Council of Australia, species; Canberra. ISBN 1 875477 61 6. Chemical contamination avoidance * manages chemical residue build up in stock; and Wylie, P. (1997) Proﬁ table and Sustainable Farming Systems. Horizon Rural Management Report to RIRDC, * manages and reduces farm operating costs through Commitment to family Dalby. appropriate application rates. http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au Community and industry http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au participation http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au http://www.dse.vic.gov.au Crop rotation http://www.pir.sa.gov.au

Effective management of labour Links to sustainability goals and resources Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality Environmental monitoring heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity and benchmarking primary driver secondary driver Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 14 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 6. Commitment to family Animal condition management Breeding program

* Develop and implement an occupational health and Deﬁ nition Business and financial planning safety plan to ensure protection and prevention A commitment to family provides a lifestyle that balances strategies are in place to avoid health risks, injuries workload with time for family, leisure, training and and accidents, and maintain the health of family and Chemical contamination avoidance community. workers.

* Regularly attend and participate in local community Description Commitment to family activities and social events to compare farming Long-term sustainability of a farm business requires practices against those of peers, gain inspiration, that the farming family maintain a lifestyle that balances affi rmation, higher self-esteem and confi dence. Community and industry workload with time for family, leisure and recreation, participation vacations, training and community involvement. Benefi ts of implementation Achieving such a balance helps to maintain health, Crop rotation relationships, motivation and productivity. Commitment to family:

Occupational health and safety planning, discussed in a * maintains health and well-being of family; Effective management of labour separate section, is a way of ensuring individual farmers, * uses social and community support networks; and resources farm families and farm workers maintain good health.

* improves motivation and productivity of Environmental monitoring Commitment to family also involves succession planning, workforce; and and benchmarking mentioned in business and ﬁ nancial planning. * helps efﬁ cient inter-generational transfer of property Identification and Implementing the practice ownership. protective management of cultural heritage * Develop and implement a farm business plan that includes time and costs for family, leisure and Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures recreation activities and a succession plan for transfer of farm ownership. Integrated pest management

Links to sustainability goals Knowledge and skill development Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity Management according to land capability primary driver secondary driver

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 15 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry Animal condition management 7. Community and industry participation Breeding program

* Implement and act on plans; monitor and observe Business and financial planning Deﬁ nition the results. Community and industry participation is the practice of * Step back, reﬂ ect and learn, ask questions and Chemical contamination being involved in and participating in local community, avoidance develop new ideas. environmental and agricultural industry activities. * Incorporate continuous improvements in the farm Commitment to family Description business plan and marketing plan.

Involvement and participation in local community * Seek out relevant information from groups and participants. Community and industry activities may involve general social activities and participation focused industry participation. Community groups * Balance time effectively with other needs, including may include Landcare, local government, catchment farm work, family, training, skills and knowledge management and regional development organisations, Crop rotation development. school councils, and hospital, sporting, religious or service organisations. Benefi ts of implementation Effective management of labour and resources Long-term sustainability of farming communities also Community and industry participation: depends, in part, on the commitment of business and government to maintaining essential services such * provides a social support system for communities; Environmental monitoring and benchmarking as banks, health and education facilities, policing and * enhances opportunities for learning and personal emergency services, household and farming supplies in development; Identification and rural towns and cities. protective management of * encourages cooperation within or between cultural heritage Industry groups (for example, commodity councils and communities to achieve environmental, industry and state farmer organisations) provide producers with a community goals; Incorporation or retention of focus through which they may be able to infl uence their perennial species in pastures * helps balance the lifestyle of farming families; operating environment. These groups infl uence state and Commonwealth government natural resource policy * provides early access to market information, new Integrated pest management processes and achieve concerted action with other technology and policy direction; producers. * builds networks for information fl ow across regions Knowledge and skill and states; development Participation in industry activities may enhance capacity to adapt to change through cycles of planning, acting, * infl uences the directions of the commercial and observing and refl ecting on the farm enterprise. Farmers natural resource policy environments in which the Management according to land capability seeking new information and testing different methods farm business operates; to suit their own business objectives and goals are more * improves capacity, skills and knowledge to deal with likely to achieve incremental change in management Managing for weather and change; climate variation practices. * increases confi dence in self and the farm business; Implementing the practice Nutrient budgeting * consolidates management practices into farming * Develop and implement a farm business plan, systems; and identifying learning and personal development * helps develop tactics for land management in the Occupational health and needs, and identifying training providers through face of changing climate or markets. safety plan community and industry networks.

* Ensure plan is based around involvement in Quality assurance community and industry networks.

Retention and management of native vegetation

Tillage and stubble management 16 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 8. Crop rotation Animal condition management Breeding program

helps in disease and weed control, can assist with Defi nition Business and financial planning accumulation of soil carbon, reduce deep drainage and Crop rotation is the practice of seeking to maximise provide improved overall fi nancial returns. crop yield and fi nancial return through rotating crops Chemical contamination avoidance and pastures to help disease and weed control, Opportunity cropping involves the sowing of a summer effi cient nutrient use and rates of water leakage and to or winter crop in response to favourable rainfall or soil water availability. The use of such triggers for sowing respond to market and environmental opportunities and Commitment to family constraints. should maximise long-term fi nancial returns from cropping and ensure the soil profi le does not remain full Description of water and at risk of deep drainage and groundwater Community and industry recharge. participation A management system that carefully and fl exibly mixes crop types, including cereals, oilseed and legumes. Mixed enterprises can smoothly transfer between Crop rotation Planning rotations should establish a series of principles cropping and grazing by undersowing perennial and about cropping sequences rather than develop a fi xed annual pastures (except perennial summer grasses) in the fi nal crop of a rotation. Alternate row sowing is rotation program. Effective management of labour one means recommended for this, as it allows both and resources Rotations must be managed in both time and space. crop and pasture to be sown at appropriate depths Some crops cannot be sown in adjacent or nearby and with the required fertiliser. It may also reduce early Environmental monitoring paddocks for several years after that same species competition between the two and increase the likelihood and benchmarking (for example, canola). Inclusion of a disease break of successful pasture establishment. It also means that in the cropping rotation, combined with increased land is not unproductive during pasture establishment. Identification and protective management of use of nitrogen-fi xing crop species can signifi cantly cultural heritage increase crop yields. For example, legumes or canola Implementing the practice can boost soil nitrogen and act as a disease break for Incorporation or retention of cereals. Inclusion of a ley pasture phase in long-term * Establish cropping sequence principles as part perennial species in pastures crop rotations can restore soil structure (and drainage), of the farm business plan to achieve multiple improve soil organic matter content and provide a objectives around soil health, nutrient management, Integrated pest management disease and weed break. Use of a legume pasture in enterprise mix, and opportunities for responding to some parts of the Basin can also help build soil nitrogen market and environmental conditions. levels for subsequent crops. Knowledge and skill * Understand groundwater, salinity, water balance development Nutrient management can be achieved by intercropping, processes, soil types and land management units through the whole farm plan. Manage cropping whereby crops are sown into established perennial Management according to pasture (almost always lucerne). The pasture is areas and crop rotations to match land capability. land capability supressed at sowing by application of a knockdown Practise opportunity cropping or perennial pasture ley phase in areas where watertable recharge is herbicide at a relatively low rate. Under more moist Managing for weather and conditions, lucerne intercropping may reduce the risk of a concern. climate variation waterlogging and so enhance grain yield. The crop also * Regularly monitor and review climate forecasts to has the advantage of building up nitrogen fertility. Stock plan for crop rotations and timing of sowing. Nutrient budgeting can graze the relatively high quality fodder during the summer following harvesting of the crop. * Regularly benchmark, monitor and review crop yields, livestock production, soil health and moisture Occupational health and Use of lucerne as the ley pasture phase in cropping safety plan properties, labour productivity, machinery and rotations can reduce groundwater recharge. A lucerne operating costs to ensure continuous improvement rotation of at least three years is usually required to in the management of crop rotation. Quality assurance empty the soil profi le of water. Inclusion of a lucerne phase may provide protection against recharge for * Manage pastures to encourage water use by several years into the cropping phase of the rotation, allowing deep root systems to develop and Retention and management of depending on rainfall; spring removal of the lucerne may perennials to be maintained. native vegetation be needed to reduce any potential yield penalty from an over-dry soil profi le. * Incorporate perennial vegetation into cropping systems – as a pasture phase in crop rotation or Soil conservation Market and climate may create opportunities for double through intercropping. or opportunity cropping in some northern Basin cropping Tactical grazing areas. The combination of summer and winter crops

Tillage and stubble management 17 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Beneﬁ ts of implementation Undersowing:

Crop rotation: * may provide cost-efﬁ cient transfer from crop to Breeding program pasture phases, particularly in mixed farming * reduces risk of weeds, pests or disease infestations; enterprises.

Business and financial planning * improves soil structure and fertility, providing nitrogen Further information for subsequent crops; Wylie, P. (1999) Managing Climate Makes Money Chemical contamination * increases yields, long-term cropping success and – Summer Rainfall Areas of Australia. Horizon Rural avoidance fi nancial returns; Management Report to Climate Variability in Agriculture R&D Program, Dalby. * maintains fl exibility and resilience in the production Commitment to family system and improves farm diversifi cation; Wylie, P. (1999) Managing Climate Makes Money – Winter Rainfall Areas of Australia. Horizon Rural * reduces long-term rates of deep drainage and Community and industry Management Report to Climate Variability in Agriculture recharge; and participation R&D Program, Dalby. * encourages a management system that is Wylie, P., Mills, G. and Greggery, I. (1996) Profi table Crop rotation responsive to market requirements. Rotations – How Crop Rotations Can Improve Farm Lucerne in the ley phase of crop rotation: Profi t and Sustainability. Conservation Farmers’ Effective management of labour Association, Dalby. and resources * helps to reduce groundwater recharge and salinity risk, and ensures productive use of rainfall and http://www.grdc.com.au http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au Environmental monitoring nutrients. and benchmarking http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au Intercropping: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au Identification and http://www.dse.vic.gov.au * allows almost seamless transition between cropping protective management of http://www.pir.sa.gov.au cultural heritage and pasture phases of rotation.

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management Links to sustainability goals

Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality Knowledge and skill heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity development primary driver secondary driver Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 18 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 9. Effective management of labour Animal condition management and resources Breeding program

Business and financial planning

stock from wind. Linkage with stockyards and shearing Defi nition Chemical contamination sheds improves effi ciency of stock handling and avoidance Effective management of labour and resources involves movement. the strategic use of supplementary labour, specialist consultants or contractors to ensure timeliness and Government cost-sharing or incentive schemes Commitment to family quality of farm and farm business operations. (including the provision of labour) for funding such activities as laying fox baits, weed spraying (for example, blackberry), revegetation, fencing and replanting riparian Community and industry Description participation zones and installing groundwater monitoring bores may Timeliness is important in many agricultural activities. reduce the direct costs to the landholder or the activities Short, intensive periods of activity (for example, harvest, that would otherwise need to be undertaken. Crop rotation lambing, weed control) may necessitate external assistance. Recognising on-farm limitations in skill, time Implementing the practice and equipment may suggest that improved effi ciency Effective management of labour and resources can be achieved through the use of advisers or * Through the farm business plan, identify needs and contractors. timing for contract labour, external specialists and machinery. Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Recommended practice is to make use of a fl exible workforce and contract labour (for example, for * Develop an energy management plan that includes the way the farm business uses energy and makes Identification and mustering, shearing, lamb marking) and utilise specialists protective management of and their machinery (for example, shearing, harvesting, the most use of current equipment. cultural heritage spraying, planting and agronomic advisers) when * Consider the design, maintenance and energy available. Use of contractors or additional labour will Incorporation or retention of effi ciency of machinery and farm infrastructure prior perennial species in pastures help meet peak demands without the issues and to purchase or during farm redevelopment. Include cost of employing additional staff and stresses in the energy smart equipment, alternate or renewable farming family associated with unbalanced workload. Integrated pest management energy, watering troughs, windmills, pumps, fences, Contracting services will be most effective particularly yards and sheds. where a farming operation is not of a suffi cient scale to Knowledge and skill maintain specialised or very expensive machinery. The * Ensure machinery and farm equipment is maintained development use of contractors may not be best practice in areas of in good working condition. operation in which there is only a small market for the * Employ practices that require less use of machinery, Management according to particular service. In such cases, reliance on contractors land capability may be expensive and not timely and contrary to the for example, conservation cropping – zero tillage effi cient management and profi tability of the farm. and controlled traffi c. Managing for weather and climate variation A professional approach to labour management is Benefi ts of implementation required, including labour recruitment, induction and operational rules, health and safety guidelines and Effective management of labour Nutrient budgeting training. Through understanding profi t and decision- and resources: making processes, employees are encouraged to be * improves timeliness of farming operations; Occupational health and more self-reliant and productive. safety plan * balances workload and improves lifestyle; Maintaining farm equipment in good working order is essential to increase effi ciency, and decrease long- * avoids capital expenditure on plant that cannot be Quality assurance term maintenance costs. Employing energy-effi cient sustained by the farm business; technologies and measures will not only reduce costs but may also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. * reduces energy and long-term maintenance costs Retention and management of native vegetation and increases profi t; Whole farm planning that considers a system of laneways, internal access and distributed stockyards * increases labour and machinery effi ciency; Soil conservation can contribute to improved productivity. It simplifi es * reduces greenhouse gas emissions; and movement of livestock and machinery, improves vehicle access and provides fi re breaks. Laneways may also * reduces contamination or dirtying of wool from dust. Tactical grazing incorporate a shelterbelt system to protect crops and

Tillage and stubble management 19 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Whole farm planning:

* improves productivity; Breeding program * improves access within properties and provide ﬁ re breaks; and Business and financial planning * reduces erosion risk associated with unformed tracks in paddocks. Chemical contamination avoidance Further information

Garret, B. (1993) Whole Farm Planning: Principles and Commitment to family Practices. Department of Conservation and Environment, Victoria.

Community and industry participation http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au http://www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au Crop rotation http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au http://www.dse.vic.gov.au Effective management of labour and resources http://www.pir.sa.gov.au

Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Links to sustainability goals

Identification and protective management of Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality cultural heritage heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

Incorporation or retention of primary driver secondary driver perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 20 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

10. Environmental monitoring Animal condition management and benchmarking Breeding program

Business and financial planning Defi nition * Monitor soil structure and biological health to assess implications for productivity and need for changed Chemical contamination avoidance Environmental monitoring and benchmarking is a management or remedial actions. practice of strategic monitoring to provide information on * Monitor groundcover for grazing management, natural resource (soil, water and vegetation) condition Commitment to family and trend, which underpins adaptive management drought planning and crop rotation planning. systems and performance benchmarking for the * Monitor groundwater for understanding of salinity agricultural production system. Community and industry processes and early detection of threats to participation Description productive capacity. Crop rotation Environmental monitoring may address climate, energy Benefi ts of implementation effi ciency, native fl ora and fauna, weeds and pest Environmental monitoring and benchmarking: animals, soil condition, water quality and watertable Effective management of labour depth. Attributes monitored and the formality of * avoid costly remediation and rehabiliation by and resources monitoring would depend upon the environmental identifying negative trends early, when changes in management issues in particular landscapes and management practice may be all that is required; Environmental monitoring whether monitoring data is reported to broader and benchmarking monitoring programs (for example, for water quality, * provide information and understanding about the watertable depth). Monitoring of rainfall and climate condition and trend in the natural resource base Identification and protective management of and keeping abreast of seasonal forecasts can assist upon which the production system depends; cultural heritage decision-making on crop choice, sowing time, stocking * may provide early warning of threats (such as rates, and fertiliser applications. Incorporation or retention of drought) and help to reduce costs of mitigation; perennial species in pastures Environmental benchmarking may be used to provide a * may inform farm planning and investment decisions guide to the effi ciency with which the production system for productive and environmental management Integrated pest management is making use of natural resources. activities;

Implementing the practice * reassure markets of quality assurance and of clean Knowledge and skill development * Develop and implement a farm business plan; and green products, which may assist market include a section on the enterprise monitoring and access; and Management according to benchmarking data collection requirements. land capability * inform and respond to catchment-scale natural * Regularly monitor and review climate forecasts resource management planning and initiatives. Managing for weather and to include in environmental monitoring and climate variation benchmarking.

* Determine water use efﬁ ciency in terms of dry Nutrient budgeting sheep equivalent/ha/mm annual rainfall or grain yield per mm of growing season rainfall. These provide an indication of the efﬁ ciency with which rain is Occupational health and safety plan converted to marketable commodities.

* Monitor soil fertility and pH to ensure that soil inputs Quality assurance target needs, that soil is responding to the input levels applied and to identify trends (for example, acidiﬁ cation) that may require remedial action. Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 21 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

Alexander Holm and Associates (1998) Rangeland Breeding program Monitoring Guiding Principles. National Land and Water Resources Audit Theme 4.

Business and financial planning Duncombe-Wall, D., Moran, P., Heysen, C. and Kraehenbuehl, D. (1999) Agricultural Sustainability Indicators for Regions of South Australia, Primary Chemical contamination avoidance Industries and Resources South Australia, Adelaide.

Hamblin, A. (1998) Environmental Indicators for National Commitment to family State of the Environment Reporting – The Land, Australia: State of the Environment (Environmental Indicator Reports), Department of Environment, Canberra. Community and industry participation Rendell McGuckian (1997) Sustainability Indicators for Cropping Farmers, Bendigo. Crop rotation Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (1997) Sustainability Indicators for Agriculture Effective management of labour – Introductory Guide to Regional/National and On-farm and resources Indicators. RIRDC Publication No. 97/72, Canberra.

SCARM (1998) Sustainable Agriculture – Assessing Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Australia’s Recent Performance. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood. Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of Links to sustainability goals perennial species in pastures

Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity Integrated pest management primary driver secondary driver Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 22 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 11. Identifi cation and protective Animal condition management management of cultural heritage Breeding program Business and financial planning Defi nition Implementing the practice Chemical contamination * Identify a potential cultural heritage issue avoidance The practice of identifying cultural heritage issues – recognising that a place, object, landscape or associated with sites and places, assessment artefact may contain cultural heritage values. of heritage signifi cance, and development and Commitment to family implementation of a management strategy for * Report on potential cultural heritage issues – to maintenance of cultural values. relevant government authorities and local community groups (including indigenous groups) that have an Community and industry participation Description interest in cultural heritage.

Cultural heritage comprises the places, objects, * Assess the signifi cance of cultural heritage Crop rotation events, cultural practices, stories, records and issues with professional heritage practitioners, in intangible values which refl ect Australia’s biophysical consultation with relevant stakeholders (for example, landowner, indigenous or community groups, local diversity and its cultural diversity – indigenous and Effective management of labour non-indigenous. Indigenous heritage is intimately linked government). The assessment should result in a and resources with the landscape, beliefs and customs. It includes statement of cultural signifi cance that is supported those cultural landscapes and places, intellectual by suffi cient graphic material to help identify the Environmental monitoring and benchmarking property, knowledge, skeletal remains, artefacts, beliefs, elements of cultural signifi cance and it should customs, practices and languages that are important to identify obligations arising from that signifi cance. The assessment is an essential prerequisite to Identification and Australia’s indigenous people. Non-indigenous cultural protective management of heritage concerns itself with human culture, for example the development of a conservation policy and cultural heritage buildings, agricultural and household implements, management strategy. landscapes modifi ed by people and the traditions of Incorporation or retention of * Develop a conservation policy – the purpose of a perennial species in pastures small rural communities. conservation policy is to state how the conservation of the cultural heritage issue may be best achieved By participating in the activity of farming, farmers are in the short and long-term and integrated into the Integrated pest management contributing to the development of farming culture whole farm plan. A conservation policy is specifi c to and subcultures. This process of transforming farming a heritage issue. culture is refl ected and recorded in agricultural Knowledge and skill development landscapes. Agricultural landscapes are therefore * Develop and implement a cultural heritage cultural landscapes. Large-scale land use changes management strategy – following the preparation that have signifi cant impact on the look and feel of the of the conservation policy a management strategy Management according to land capability local landscape can dramatically disrupt this process should be developed that outlines how the cultural of cultural transformation. This can have negative and heritage issue will be conserved, maintained, positive implications in infl uencing land use change. preserved, or restored. It may consider issues such Managing for weather and as co-existence, fi nancial resources and cost- climate variation Decisions affecting most heritage places are carried out sharing arrangements, technical staff and physical under state and local government environment, heritage management of the issue. Nutrient budgeting and planning laws. Listing in the Register of National Estate gives heritage places some protection through Benefi ts of implementation obligations of Commonwealth agencies under the Identifi cation and protective management of cultural heritage: Occupational health and safety plan Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975. The Australia * recognises a sense of connection to community ICOMOS Burra Charter 1999 sets a standard of practice and landscape, to the past and to lived experiences; for those who provide advice, make decisions about Quality assurance or undertake works on places of cultural signifi cance, * preserves historical (and prehistorical) records that including owners, managers and custodians. It provides are important expressions of Australian identity and guidance for the conservation and management of diversity; Retention and management of native vegetation places of cultural signifi cance. The draft document * brings economic benefi t through properly resourced, ‘Respecting Indigenous Heritage Places: A practical managed and marketed recreation and tourism; and guide’ has been developed to assist developers, Soil conservation researchers, cultural heritage professionals and other * facilitates appropriate pricing of natural and cultural land users who have to deal with issues relating to resource capital that is fundamental to realistic cost- the identifi cation, management and use of indigenous sharing for on-ground actions. Tactical grazing heritage places.

Tillage and stubble management 23 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

Australia ICOMOS (2000) The Burra Charter: the Breeding program Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Signiﬁ cance. Australia ICOMOS Incorporated, Burwood. ISBN 0 9578528 0 0. Business and financial planning Australian Heritage Commission (1996) Australian Natu- ral Heritage Charter for the Conservation of Places of Chemical contamination avoidance Natural Heritage Signiﬁ cance: Standards and Principles. Australian Heritage Commission in Association with the Australian Committee for IUCN, Sydney. ISBN 0642 Commitment to family 26420 1.

Australian Heritage Commission (1998) Our Heritage, Community and industry participation Our Future: Australian Heritage Commission Strategic Plan 1999-2002. Australian Heritage Commission, Canberra. ISSN 1442-8989. Crop rotation Australian Heritage Commission (1999) Protecting Local Heritage Places – A Guide for Communities. Australian Effective management of labour Heritage Commission, Canberra. ISBN 0 642 30538 2. and resources NSW Agriculture (undated) Conserving our Farming Environmental monitoring History. CB Alexander Agricultural College, Tocal. and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of cultural heritage Links to sustainability goals

Incorporation or retention of Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality perennial species in pastures heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

primary driver secondary driver Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 24 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 12. Incorporation or retention of Animal condition management perennial species in pastures Breeding program Business and financial planning

Deﬁ nition * Manage pastures to encourage water use by tactical grazing that includes spelling to allow leaf Chemical contamination avoidance Establish or retain existing native, or sown introduced, area to accumulate, to allow deep root systems to deep-rooted perennial grasses or legumes, as develop and to maintain perennials in the pasture appropriate to soil type, in permanent or ley pastures sward. Commitment to family for the purpose of maintaining feed and improving environmental management. * Include perennial vegetation into cropping systems as pasture phase in crop rotation, through Community and industry Description intercropping or a perennial ley pasture phase. participation

The longer growing season of perennial pasture plants * Monitor the quantity and quality of fodder available Crop rotation helps to reduce the period of feed defi cit and allows and budget its consumption as an important tool to a better match of feed availability with demand. Sown achieve a match between the demand and supply perennial pastures generally include legumes, which of feed to stock. Effective management of labour help to improve forage quality. They are often relatively and resources * Through pasture monitoring, determine the well fertilised and more productive than unsown amount of feed in the paddock (for example, pastures. The more summer-active perennials make Environmental monitoring using key pasture species height, herbage mass, and benchmarking productive use of summer rainfall and further reduce groundcover, basal cover), its quality (digestibility, gaps in feed supply. protein) and its composition (ratio of desirable to Identification and undesirable species). protective management of The longer growing season and deeper roots of cultural heritage perennial pastures may allow them to use more water * Adjust lambing or calving time to improve the match than annual pastures and may be important in reducing Incorporation or retention of between feed availability and demand. leakage from some landscapes, aiding water balance perennial species in pastures management. This may reduce the risk or salinity and Benefi ts of implementation slow the rate of soil acidifi cation. Perennials may be Integrated pest management used as permanent pastures or a ley phase within a Incorporation or retention of perennial species in cropping rotation. pastures: Knowledge and skill Maintaining summer groundcover can help to prevent * increases amount of feed available, possibly at development soil erosion and subsequent invasion by annual weeds. times where green feed would otherwise be in short Increased surface roughness under perennial pastures supply; Management according to helps to reduce run-off and the risk of fl ooding and land capability fl ood-induced groundwater recharge in low lying areas. * helps maintain groundcover, protect against Strips of perennial pasture along streams may fi lter erosion, reduce run-off and maintain water quality Managing for weather and sediment from overland fl ow and so reduce nutrient downstream; climate variation transport to streams. Well-grassed areas in fl oodplains, * helps maximise rainfall use and reduce deep particularly in areas prone to fast fl ows, will help to drainage, recharge and rates of soil acidifi cation, Nutrient budgeting reduce gullying and scour in fl ood events. and prevent rising watertables and salinisation; and If appropriately managed, fodder conservation in * develops producer skills in identifying grasses, Occupational health and rangeland areas may reduce the loss of groundcover safety plan understanding their requirements and management. or damage to perennial plants by grazing at times of low production and may improve the resilience of an Lucerne ley pastures: Quality assurance enterprise in the face of drought. * can improve soil fertility, provide nitrogen for Implementing the practice subsequent crops and improve soil structure. Retention and management of native vegetation * Develop and implement a whole farm plan that outlines land capability classes for optimal pasture, feed and stock or crop productivity. Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 25 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

Cook, A.M. (1992) Pasture Management Options for Breeding program Dryland Salinity Recharge Areas in Aentral Victoria. Research Report series No. 132, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Tatura. Business and financial planning Peter E. Ridge and Associates (1993) A Report to the Avoca Dryland Sub-Committee on Maintaining a Viable Chemical contamination avoidance Cropping System and Increasing Water Use in the Avoca Dryland Catchment Northern Plains Country. Avoca Dryland Salinity Management Plan. Commitment to family Roberts, B.R. and Silcock, R.G. (undated) Western Grasses – a Graziers Guide to the Grasses of South Community and industry participation West Queensland

Simpson, P. and Langford, C. (1996) Managing High Crop rotation Rainfall Native Pastures on a Whole Farm Basis. NSW Agriculture. ISBN: 0 7310 5778 3.

Effective management of labour Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2001), and resources Prograzier: Pastures Edition, Spring 2001.

Taylor, J. McGrath, D. and McCarthy, M. Operation Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Undersow – Improving Perennial Pasture Establishment Under Crop. Final Report – Project V-2129, Centre Identification and for Land Protection Research and Agriculture Victoria, protective management of cultural heritage Bendigo. ISBN 0 7306 61121.

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures Links to sustainability goals Integrated pest management Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity Knowledge and skill development primary driver secondary driver

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 26 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 13. Integrated pest management Animal condition management Breeding program

fauna and vertebrate pests needs to be coordinated Defi nition Business and financial planning across districts to reduce opportunities for populations Integrated pest management is a practice of coordinated to recover by migration. pest plant and animal control using a combination Chemical contamination avoidance of chemical, cultural, biological and genetic control Implementing the practice measures. * Develop and implement a pest management Commitment to family Description strategy incorporating a diversity of management and control measures; this should be linked Integrated pest management is a coordinated approach with strategies for the careful use of agricultural Community and industry to pest plant and animal control which uses multiple chemicals. participation control measures: cultural (cultivation, habitat destruction, burning, grazing management, fertiliser application), * Identify needs for external contract labour to assist Crop rotation chemical, biological and genetic. Pest management with pest investigations and control activities in the strategies are specifi c to the pest profi le and farm man- farm business plan (for example, spraying, pest identifi cation, harbour destruction). agement system. Management and control programs Effective management of labour include monitoring of pest populations and investigating and resources * Ensure the farm occupational health and safety plan the effi cacy of control measures. includes safety procedures for correct handling, Environmental monitoring Inappropriate chemical use can lead to the development storage and application of chemical control agents. and benchmarking of resistance in target species (insect, weed, disease * Understand the pest life cycle to ensure methods agent), reduce the effi cacy and increase the cost and Identification and target the most vulnerable growth stage. protective management of complexity of control measures. Herbicide resistance is cultural heritage a less important issue in summer rainfall areas, where * Rotate the use of all pesticides, use different the rotation between summer and winter crops helps chemical groups to reduce selection pressure in the Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures with crop weed control. target species for resistance to a particular group.

Pasture cleaning combines grazing management and * Apply techniques, combining cultural, chemical and, Integrated pest management herbicide use and aims to remove undesirable pasture if available, biological controls to reduce selection species. Low rates of herbicide may be used to improve pressure that would reduce the effectiveness of any palatability and relatively high stocking rates applied particular measure. Knowledge and skill to maximise utilisation. Pasture cleaning should be development deployed strategically, as it is most effective when a * Prevent reinfestation by weeds through establishment and maintenance of vigorous cover of clear build-up of pasture weeds is evident. Management according to desirable crop or pasture species. land capability After control, pasture weeds need to be replaced by encouraging vigorous swards of desirable species * Plan and implement management and control Managing for weather and through good grazing management and maintenance of measures across property boundaries. climate variation soil fertility. * Undertake regular monitoring, benchmarking In rangeland areas, management of fauna and pest and maintenance activities to ensure that, once Nutrient budgeting animal populations may be required to reduce total controlled, pest populations remain at low levels. grazing pressure to an acceptable level. A combination Beneﬁ ts of implementation Occupational health and of shooting, trapping, chemical and biological control safety plan (for rabbits) may be used. This should help maintain Integrated pest management: groundcover and reduce erosion risk. It may also help Quality assurance prevent overgrazing and the inherent threat this poses to * reduces the impact of pest plants or animals on biodiversity in native vegetation subject to grazing. stocking rates or carrying capacity;

Some native fauna populations have increased beyond Retention and management of * reduces reliance on pesticides and the risk of native vegetation their natural levels due to better access to feed and resistance developing in pest populations; water with agricultural or pastoral development. Controlling access to water may help to provide * reduces the risk of chemical residue contamination Soil conservation longer term reduction in populations in drier areas. in products; and Destruction of fauna is generally subject to a permit * provides improvements in biodiversity in on-farm from appropriate state natural resource management Tactical grazing and grazed native vegetation; agencies. In agricultural areas, management of native

Tillage and stubble management 27 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management * improves pasture composition, reduces weed competition and improves production of more desirable species; Breeding program * improves groundcover, particularly during drought, and reduces erosion risk; Business and financial planning * reduces total grazing pressure;

Chemical contamination * allows for some increase in stocking rate; and avoidance * reduces time and ﬁ nancial expenditure on pest control. Commitment to family Further information Community and industry participation http://www.crc.org.au http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au Crop rotation http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au http://www.dse.vic.gov.au http://www.pir.sa.gov.au Effective management of labour and resources http://www.grdc.com.au

Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Links to sustainability goals Identification and protective management of Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality cultural heritage heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

Incorporation or retention of primary driver secondary driver perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 28 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

14. Knowledge and skill development Animal condition management Breeding program

Deﬁ nition Implementing the practice Business and financial planning

Knowledge and skill development is the practice of * Develop local advice networks with producer planning, acting, observing and refl ecting on the farm organisations, researchers, extension providers and Chemical contamination avoidance enterprise that leads to continual adjustment, improving peers. profi tability and long-term sustainability. * Seek out information from the internet, peers, local Commitment to family Description Landcare and environment groups, extension offi cers, journals and publications. The ability to rapidly adjust to change is important for Community and industry farm enterprises to be sustainable. Many programs are * Identify in the farm business plan areas for improving participation available that offer training in business and production farm operation and appropriate training providers. components of the farm enterprise and more general * Regularly attend local fi eld days and best practice Crop rotation health and well-being issues for the producers forums. themselves. They exist at two main levels: * Balance knowledge and skill development with work Effective management of labour * accredited agricultural or business training – through and resources and family time. universities or TAFE institutes – which provide course participants with transferable skills and Benefi ts of implementation Environmental monitoring knowledge and recognised formal qualifi cations; and and benchmarking Knowledge and skill development: * joint learning activities – (for example, Prograze, Identification and TopCrop, FM-500, Farm$mart, fi eld days, * improves primary producer skills and expertise; protective management of cultural heritage seminars) – which encourage technology transfer from professional specialists and sharing of * addresses the real information needs of producers; Incorporation or retention of local information and experience among primary perennial species in pastures * facilitates technology and knowledge transfer and producers through participatory action learning. improves technical networks; Innovative management requires a positive attitude Integrated pest management * reduces risks associated with adoption of towards change and is needed to encourage thinking inappropriate technology; beyond normal paradigms and to examine innovations Knowledge and skill and new ways of making a profi t. No amount of * enhances sense of ownership of research goals, development budgeting or production advice will allow a farm to leading to increased probability of adoption; achieve long-term sustainability where the manager does Management according to not take a positive approach to change and adoption of * improves production systems and environmental land capability innovative practices. management;

Producer organisations, primary industry research and * improves responsiveness of producer to change (in Managing for weather and climate variation development corporations and government agencies technology, markets, environment) and resilience of all run research and development projects which farm enterprise; include producers as partners. Producer participation Nutrient budgeting in research and development encourages researchers * improves opportunities for producer to benchmark to consider their clients’ real information needs and their enterprise; and Occupational health and the practical constraints posed by primary producers’ * improves management of farm enterprise from safety plan operating environments. environmental, production system and business perspectives. Producers may initiate their own research and Quality assurance development activities to improve production systems or environmental management. They may also conduct research to improve conﬁ dence with new technology Retention and management of native vegetation before widely adopting it across their property.

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 29 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

SCARM (1998) Sustainable Agriculture – Assessing Breeding program Australia’s Recent Performance. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.

Business and financial planning TQA Research Pty. Ltd. (1997) Best Practice in Australian Grain Growing Quantitative Benchmark Study Wave 2, Grains Research and Development Chemical contamination avoidance Corporation, Barton.

http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au Commitment to family http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au http://www.dse.vic.gov.au Community and industry participation http://www.pir.sa.gov.au

Crop rotation Links to sustainability goals

Effective management of labour Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality and resources heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

Environmental monitoring primary driver secondary driver and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 30 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 15. Management according to Animal condition management land capability Breeding program Business and financial planning

huge water losses associated with open channel supply Defi nition Chemical contamination systems. This helps to conserve the water resource and avoidance Management according to land capability is a practice of can limit water availability for native fauna and lead to land management based on whole farm planning, where long-term reductions in populations. various types of landscape are identifi ed and managed Commitment to family according to the limitations or opportunities they offer. Contour banks may be used for erosion control in some environments. They are introduced to reduce the length Community and industry Description of slope, slow overland fl ow and reduce sediment participation entrainment during rain. By reducing overland fl ow and Whole farm planning identifi es landscape units sediment transport, they help to prevent gully and sheet and encourages landholders to match the use erosion and reduce silt deposition in streams and in Crop rotation or management of land within the limitations and lower slope positions. In some hydrogeological settings, opportunities presented by such factors as soils, (poorly constructed) contour banks may aggravate landform, vegetation, biodiversity, existing land Effective management of labour salinity by encouraging water ponding and increasing and resources degradation, fauna, pests and climate. It applies to groundwater recharge. grazing and cropping. Environmental monitoring Implementing the practice and benchmarking Land class fencing is most relevant in grazing or pastoral operations, where it provides the opportunity to control * Develop and implement a farm plan that recognises Identification and the timing, duration and intensity of grazing and better catchment and regional perspectives and identifi es protective management of match grazing with fodder availability, traffi cability and the different land classes. The plan should be based cultural heritage spelling or grazing needs of the pasture. on slope and slope length; soil type, depth, water holding capacity; nutritional status and other Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures Precision farming and yield mapping allows specifi c limitations (for example, sodicity, salinity); fl ood risk; areas within paddocks to be managed differently, based presence, type and conservation status of native on productive capacity and other land capability criteria. vegetation; and salinity hazard. The plan should Integrated pest management This technique uses global positioning technology, provide for appropriate and (as necessary) separate a yield monitor and geographic information systems management of each land class. to measure and map crop or pasture yields across Knowledge and skill * Monitor and review the farm plan with robust development paddocks and farms. This provides improved insight environmental and business benchmarking. into paddock performance and allows inputs (especially fertiliser and seed) to be targeted to the areas of greatest Management according to * On northern fl oodplain areas, develop a strip land capability need or responsiveness. It also allows unproductive cropping layout across the property and link with areas to be identifi ed and, if appropriate, to be excluded layouts of adjoining landholders. from cropping. Precision farming technology is Managing for weather and climate variation expensive and only likely to be adopted in large-scale * Fence to land class in grazing operations or areas. intensive cropping operations, rather than in mixed * Ensure that inputs match the productive capacity farming regions. Precision farming techniques are of the land and concentrate development activities Nutrient budgeting designed to improve the effi ciency of inputs, improve on those areas from which returns are likely to be nutrient budgeting and increase paddock yields. greatest. Occupational health and safety plan Reticulated water supply is useful in several landscape * Indicate how and where actions will be taken to contexts. Direct watering of stock from streams is achieve the desired goals for the property. frequently associated with bank degradation and poor Quality assurance * Site farm forestry plantations and revegetation water quality. The provision of off-stream reticulated in areas appropriate for water balance, shelter, water can allow riparian fencing, which in turns can productivity, timber utilisation and linkage with native eliminate the damage associated with uncontrolled Retention and management of vegetation remnants. native vegetation grazing along waterways. * Use specialised fencing designs in some areas, In rangeland areas, particularly those dependent such as riparian zones that are subject to fl ooding. Soil conservation on artesian or sub-artesian bores for water supply, construction of a reticulated water supply can avoid the Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 31 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management * Provide reticulated watering systems as required by * improves land condition, pasture composition, land farm layout. cover and biodiversity and helps reduce soil erosion and pasture decline; and Breeding program * Match stocking to fodder availability to improve utilisation. * provides improved water quality in streams and for watering stock. Business and financial planning Benefi ts of implementation Further information Management according to land capability: Chemical contamination Garret, B. (1993) Whole Farm Planning: Principles and avoidance * encourages more sustainable land use and reduces Practices. Department of Conservation and Environment, environmental degradation; Victoria. Commitment to family * improves effi ciency of resource use by identifying Department of Land and Water Conservation (undated) areas of greatest return and need; Land Capability. Land Class Classifi cation Handbook Community and industry * extends capacity of land manager or producer to produced by the Department of Land and Water participation understand how their landscapes work and how to Conservation. respond to the various land management challenges Department of Natural Resources (1999) Better Crop rotation and opportunities those landscapes pose; Management Practices – Floodplain Management on the * provides a framework of priorities for productive Darling Downs. Queensland State Government. Effective management of labour activities and environmental management; and resources * allows for sensitive areas to be rehabilitated and Environmental monitoring protected from uncontrolled grazing and its impacts; and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of cultural heritage Links to sustainability goals Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

Integrated pest management primary driver secondary driver

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 32 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 16. Managing for weather and Animal condition management climate variation Breeding program Business and financial planning

* long-term ﬁ nancial management strategies to deal Deﬁ nition Chemical contamination with income variability; avoidance Environmental risk management to avoid operating losses and ensure opportunities are maximised from * deferment of machinery and other capital Commitment to family variable climate and weather. purchases; and

* crop insurance and enterprise diversifi cation. Description Community and industry Risks to crops from frost, hail and damage by heat participation Climatic variability is a feature of most environments waves can be mitigated, in some settings, by multiple in the Basin. Farm planning must incorporate defi ned sowing and maturing times, variety selection and not tactics to deal with extreme wet and dry seasons. Crop rotation consolidating holdings into single contiguous blocks. Management for weather and climate risk can be achieved by enterprise diversifi cation, well-planned Implementing the practice Effective management of labour robust farming systems and adaptive management and resources practices that can adjust farm operations according to * Prepare a drought strategy that includes climate, the season. resource conditions or farming practice-related Environmental monitoring triggers for management change. and benchmarking The relative importance of each individual weather or climate risk (for example, drought, fl oods, waterlogging, * Put feedlot stock on more stable paddocks and Identification and hail, frost) must be assessed, as there may be trade- provide maintenance feed during drought. Adjust protective management of cultural heritage offs in yield or production or timeliness of operations. stocking rates. Ill-considered responses to recent climatic events may * Move stock to better drained paddocks from those Incorporation or retention of result in losses from other, more signifi cant risk factors. perennial species in pastures likely to be waterlogged (and vulnerable to pugging) One of the most important aspects of managing for during very wet periods. climate variability is to run a profi table business which Integrated pest management allows for the setting aside of fi nancial reserves to cope * Use seasonal forecasts and information on existing with climatic extremes, such as drought. Developing soil moisture to aid decision-making on crop choice, off-farm income sources (property or shares) should be fertiliser application, planting time options and Knowledge and skill development considered. varieties with different maturity times.

Drought is the most signiﬁ cant climate risk in the Basin. * Choose crops species or varieties that are more Management according to land capability Difﬁ culties encountered in the early recognition of tolerant of the prevailing climatic risk factors. drought conditions can be offset by the development of * Diversify crops, farmed areas, planting and triggers or benchmarks that determine when decisions Managing for weather and harvesting times to avoid risks associated with frost, climate variation or preventative actions should occur. Decision-making hail or heat waves at key points in crop growth on drought strategies for livestock will vary between cycle. properties and seasons and will also depend on market Nutrient budgeting prices for stock and costs of feed and agistment. * Use zero or minimum tillage and opportunity Triggers might be related to climate (for example, cropping (in northern Basin cropping areas) to make monthly rainfall), resource condition (for example, water Occupational health and maximum productive use of rainfall. safety plan supply levels, fodder availability) or farming practices (for example, amount of additional feed required). * Carry insurance against weather damage. Quality assurance A drought strategy would include consideration of: * Source additional labour or equipment to ensure timeliness of operations. * destocking, feedlotting and agistment; Retention and management of * Utilise decision support models such as Rainman, native vegetation * feed budgeting including fodder conservation and Wheatman and Howwet. supplementary feeding;

* monitoring of water supply; * Seek information about weather forecasts and other Soil conservation weather information services. * sowing and cultural (weed control, fertilisation) tactics to deal with risk of failure of seasonal rains Tactical grazing and poor rainfall outlook;

Tillage and stubble management 33 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Benefi ts of implementation * maintains the natural resource base upon which long-term production depends; Managing for weather and climate variation: Breeding program * improves the effi ciency of watering and feeding * improves farm planning, risk management and during drought; resilience of farm enterprise; Business and financial planning * helps maintain groundcover, reduce erosion risk and * helps producers make better use of seasonal reduce weed colonisation; and opportunities; Chemical contamination * helps protect water quality by reducing soil loss avoidance * reduces adverse environmental impacts of extreme during extreme rainfall events or with the break of a climatic conditions; drought. Commitment to family * reduces costs of rebuilding the production system Further information (fl ock or herd, soil structure) following an extreme Wylie, P. (1999) Managing Climate Makes Money Community and industry climatic event; participation – Summer Rainfall Areas of Australia. Horizon Rural * reduces fi nancial and personal stresses during and Management report to Climate Variability in Agriculture following such events; R&D Program, Dalby. Crop rotation * ensures productive use of rainfall; Wylie, P. (1999) Managing Climate Makes Money – Winter Rainfall Areas of Australia. Horizon Rural Effective management of labour * results in relatively low, long-term rates of deep Management report to Climate Variability in Agriculture and resources drainage and recharge; and R&D Program, Dalby.

Environmental monitoring and benchmarking

Identification and Links to sustainability goals protective management of cultural heritage Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures primary driver secondary driver

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 34 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

17. Nutrient budgeting Animal condition management Breeding program

Sowing crops and pastures with lime, and top dressing Deﬁ nition Business and financial planning good quality, well-established pastures may boost Nutrient budgeting is the practice of maintaining or nutrient response, productivity and, in some cases, plant improving soil fertility based on soil and plant monitoring, water use. It should help sensitive crop and pasture Chemical contamination avoidance budgeting of inputs and outputs and nutrient use species establish on sites with acidic topsoils. Lime efﬁ ciency. application may assist persistence of sensitive perennial pasture species, particularly where pH does not decline Commitment to family Description with depth.

The effi cient use of nutrients is essential to farm Soil and animal tissue testing may be used to identify Community and industry productivity. Nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, trace element defi ciencies. These are addressed participation zinc) budgeting is based on understanding the through additions of trace elements to fertiliser mixes or responsiveness of soils to fertilisers (through soil and by direct feeding of supplements. Crop rotation crop monitoring) and matching nutrient inputs to outputs. Nutrient exports must at least be matched by inputs to Implementing the practice maintain productive capacity. Nutrient budgeting may Effective management of labour also take yield expectation and rainfall probability into * Develop and implement environmental monitoring and resources consideration. and benchmarking of soil fertility and pH. Environmental monitoring Without maintenance applications of fertiliser, the * Through the whole farm plan, develop an and benchmarking removal of nutrients with animal products (and their understanding of land capability and soil types as redistribution around and between paddocks) would they link to nutrient application rates. Identification and protective management of result in a progressive decline in soil fertility. This may * Understand crop and pasture requirements for cultural heritage result in loss of desirable species (clovers, perennials) nutrients and budget accordingly. and decline in pasture production. Similarly, the removal Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures of nutrients with grain or hay (and stubble if burnt or * Include legumes in pastures to build soil fertility and grazed) would result in a progressive decline in soil provide nitrogen for livestock. fertility and grain yield without balancing nutrient inputs. Integrated pest management * Include legumes in crop rotations to maintain soil Fertiliser application should be matched to crop or nitrogen fertility and reduce fertiliser requirements. pasture requirements, nutrient export in products Knowledge and skill and wastes and soil response. It should be carried Benefi ts of implementation development out in response to soil and (for nitrogen) plant tissue Nutrient budgeting: monitoring. Fertiliser applications should be used in Management according to combination with appropriate grazing tactics to utilise land capability * maintains or improves soil fertility and pasture or additional feed produced. Large (capital) fertiliser crop growth; applications (generally of phosphorus) may be applied Managing for weather and to responsive soils to quickly improve pasture growth * may help maintain desirable pasture composition, climate variation and stocking rate. In some production systems they groundcover and water balance; may achieve a greater response than incremental Nutrient budgeting improvements in soil fertility. * may help maintain or increase stocking rates and animal production; Legumes are used in crop rotations to reduce Occupational health and nitrogenous fertiliser requirements. In mixed farming * helps maintain soil pH and fertility within acceptable safety plan areas, legume pastures are used to help build up soil levels; and nitrogen concentrations for use during the cropping * improves the persistence of sensitive perennial Quality assurance phase. Legumes in mixed pastures provide much of the species. nitrogen in feed and largely drive animal production. Use of legumes: Retention and management of native vegetation * builds soil fertility and reduces nitrogen fertiliser use and associated expense and energy expenditure. Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 35 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

Harris, R. and Ridley, A. (2000) How to Minimise Breeding program Nitrogen and Phosphorus Losses from Temperate Dryland Grazing and Cropping Farms – Nutrient Management Guidelines. Agriculture Victoria, Rutherglen. Business and financial planning ISBN: 073 1146 107.

Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (1999), Chemical contamination avoidance Prograzier: National FarmWalk edition, Spring 1999.

Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2002), Commitment to family Prograzier: Animals Edition, Summer 2002.

Wylie, P., Mills, G. and Greggery, I. (1996) Proﬁ table Community and industry Rotations – How Crop Rotations Can Improve Farm participation Proﬁ t and Sustainability. Conservation Farmers’ Association, Dalby. Crop rotation http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au Effective management of labour http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au and resources http://www.dse.vic.gov.au http://www.pir.sa.gov.au Environmental monitoring http://www.bettersoils.com.au and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of Links to sustainability goals cultural heritage

Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

primary driver secondary driver Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 36 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 18. Occupational health and Animal condition management safety plan Breeding program Business and financial planning

Defi nition * Handle, store and dispose of agricultural chemicals appropriately. Chemical users should undergo Chemical contamination avoidance Development and implementation of a plan to mitigate training in safe usage; read and follow label risks associated with farm machinery, agricultural instructions; use protective clothing, masks and chemicals, storage bins and exposure to dust and noise respirators (as necessary); use less toxic chemicals Commitment to family and so enhancing health and safety awareness of the wherever feasible; safely dispose of excess farm family and workers. chemical and chemical drums (for example, through programs such as DrumMuster). Time lags are Community and industry participation Description required between chemical application and shearing to reduce residues in wool that may affect shearers, An occupational health and safety plan describes ways wool classers and shed workers. Crop rotation to maintain the health and increase the safety awareness of people working in agriculture. Responsibility for farm * Manage stress by having regular rest (including safety rests with individual farmers, farm families and holidays); improving planning and time management Effective management of labour and resources farm workers. All employees should be in good health, skills; sharing workloads; improving the physical have adequate rest, understand potential risks and working environment; providing suitable training; hazards, and be adequately trained and resourced. maintaining a good diet; taking regular exercise; Environmental monitoring and benchmarking using contractors or casual labour during periods of Implementing the practice high labour demand. Identification and * Develop and implement a farm occupational health protective management of * Wear clothing that provides protection from the cultural heritage and safety plan outlining guidelines, induction and sun, apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses. Solar operating rules for all areas of the enterprise. radiation can cause skin cancer and damage eyes. Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures * Fit a roll-over protection structure to tractors to Benefi ts of implementation prevent death and serious injury from roll-over. Integrated pest management Tractors and machinery (headers, augers, silos, An occupational health and safety plan: shearing machines) are leading causes of death and injury on Australian farms. Other important forms of * improves health and well-being of employees and Knowledge and skill protection include protective guards, dust extractors family and productivity of agriculture; development and electricity safety switches. * encourages a more productive workforce; Management according to * Use noise controls supplied with machinery, use * reduces incidence of workplace accident, injury or land capability hearing protectors and reduce exposure to loud illness and risk of related litigation; and noises. Excessive noise can induce hearing loss. Managing for weather and * prevents exposure to chemicals that pose climate variation * Avoid hazardous activities near overhead immediate or long-term health risks. powerlines, ensure proper maintenance of electrical equipment, wear appropriate footwear when using Further information Nutrient budgeting electric tools and only use certifi ed tradespeople for electrical work. http://www.workcover.vic.gov.au Occupational health and http://www.whs.qld.gov.au/farmnews/ safety plan * Prevent back injury by using the correct methods of lifting, carrying, bending, pushing and reaching; exercise regularly for strength and fl exibility; and use Quality assurance appropriate mechanical aids.

Retention and management of native vegetation

Tillage and stubble management 37 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management 19. Quality assurance Breeding program

* Develop and implement environmental monitoring Business and financial planning Defi nition and benchmarking plans to include systematic Quality assurance is the practice of establishing and assessments of potential hazards to quality of grain, Chemical contamination implementing documented procedures that ensure food meat or wool. avoidance or product safety and quality. Benefi ts of implementation Commitment to family Description Quality assurance systems: Quality assurance (QA) programs provide systems * help ensure that products comply with market Community and industry to demonstrate and help ensure production of participation commodities that are safe, of consistent quality and specifi cations; meet market requirements. * allow products to be sold into markets where safety Crop rotation Each of the four main broadacre dryland agricultural and quality are valued; industry sectors have established qaulity assurance * keep producers aware of market signals regarding programs. Recommended practice for the sheepmeat, Effective management of labour product specifi cations and production systems; and resources beef and grains industries are systematic assessments of potential hazards to food safety and quality between * reduce the risk to farm workers and the environment paddock and plate. Critical points in the production Environmental monitoring of chemical contamination; and benchmarking chain are identifi ed and processes to minimise hazards to safety or quality are documented. Compliance * reduce the impact of the introduction and spread of Identification and with procedures is subject to independent audit. A pests and diseases; protective management of certifi cation program has been developed to satisfy cultural heritage * protect the welfare of farm animals; and buyers that checks are in place. Incorporation or retention of * help ensure responsible environmental perennial species in pastures Wool quality programs seek to ensure production management. systems meet pesticide residue benchmarks and that wool is not contaminated by foreign material (particularly Further information Integrated pest management those from shearing sheds) that would damage processing machines and cause dyeing diffi culties. Grains Council of Australia (2000) Graincare: On-farm Knowledge and skill Quality Assurance Program. Grains Council of Australia, Livestock industry programs are underpinned by development Canberra. ISBN 1 875477 61 6. the national animal identifi cation system and vendor declarations so that the source and management of all http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au Management according to land capability livestock can be verifi ed. http://www.mla.com.au http://www.grdc.com.au Implementing the practice Managing for weather and http://www.nswfarmers.org.au climate variation http://www.ausmeat.com.au * Implement product quality assurance systems under the appropriate producer banner and where Nutrient budgeting necessary seek accreditation or certifi cation.

* Conduct regular audits and undertake appropriate Occupational health and corrective actions. safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Tillage and stubble management 38 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 20. Retention and management of Animal condition management native vegetation Breeding program Business and financial planning Defi nition Implementing the practice Chemical contamination avoidance Retention and management of native vegetation is a * Consider native vegetation retention and practice to preserve, protect and maintain the integrity rehabilitation in development of a whole farm plan, of ecological functions and biodiversity in retained native particularly the enhancement and connection of Commitment to family vegetation. remnant patches to develop corridors and facilitate fauna movement. Description Community and industry * Monitor the condition and health of remnant native participation This management practice addresses factors such as vegetation areas, including recruitment, weed not clearing native vegetation, or limiting clearance to a populations and species composition. Crop rotation level established by relevant legislation (or vegetation or environmental management strategies) and consistent * Apply appropriate cultural or biological controls for with regional habitat needs and availability. This management of pest plants and animals. Effective management of labour practice also includes approaches for restoration or and resources * Work towards retaining 15 to 30 per cent of land enhancement of native vegetation. under native tree cover. Environmental monitoring Retention and management is concerned with the and benchmarking * Maintain different age classes of trees and standing prevention of habitat modifi cation (change in structure, (dead) timber and re-establish ground and mid- composition or function of vegetation as a result of Identification and storey vegetation composition and structure where protective management of disturbance) and the improvement in environmental necessary to preserve and provide habitat for cultural heritage values of that habitat. wildlife. Incorporation or retention of The practice includes fencing to manage stock access perennial species in pastures * Fence remnants or revegetated areas to manage and encourage natural regeneration. Tactical grazing stock access. of native vegetation may sometimes be benefi cial in Integrated pest management managing fi re hazard and weed populations. Maintaining Benefi ts of implementation different age classes of trees is also important, as is the retention of fallen and standing timber (dead trees) to Retention and management of native vegetation: Knowledge and skill preserve and provide habitat for wildlife. development * provides ecosystem goods and services (for Revegetation may be necessary in areas where the example, pollination, biodiversity, water quality, soil Management according to native vegetation is depleted or highly modifi ed. This may health, nutrient cycling, habitat, carbon sink, seeds, land capability be undertaken by planting tubestock or direct seeding. honey, fl owers, foliage, oils, genetic resources); Local provenance seed, matching the ecological Managing for weather and vegetation community, should be used for propagation * provides corridors to link fragmented vegetation climate variation where possible. Good site preparation (including soil remnants, provide habitat and wildlife corridors for disturbance and weed control) is essential for successful animals; Nutrient budgeting establishment. * maintains aesthetic, heritage, cultural and land Whole farm planning should identify locations of high values; Occupational health and value remnant vegetation and outline appropriate * may improve productivity of the agricultural system safety plan strategies for protection and maintenance as well due to predation of insect pests by insectivorous as identifying areas to be restored and appropriately birds inhabiting native vegetation; managed. Quality assurance * provides shelter for stock, crops and pastures; and Retained native vegetation may be protected through nomination with voluntary conservation schemes, such Retention and management of * maintains or enhances biodiversity values. native vegetation as Land for Wildlife or by establishing a covenant on title.

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 39 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Breeding program (undated) Native Pastures for Sustainable Agriculture. Victoria.

Business and financial planning Sturmfels, C. (1999) Native Vegetation Retention Controls. News and Views – North Central Victoria’s Farming Newsletter, Department of Natural Resources Chemical contamination avoidance and Environment, Bendigo.

Williams, J. (2000) Managing the Bush: Recent research Commitment to family ﬁ ndings from the EA/LWRRDC National Remnant Vegetation R&D Program. National Research and Development Program on Rehabilitation, Management Community and industry participation and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Research Report 4/00.

Crop rotation http://www.ea.gov.au http://www.lwa.gov.au http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au Effective management of labour http://www.dse.vic.gov.au and resources http://www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au Environmental monitoring http://www.pir.sa.gov.au and benchmarking

Identification and protective management of cultural heritage Links to sustainability goals

Incorporation or retention of Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality perennial species in pastures heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

primary driver secondary driver Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 40 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 21. Soil conservation Animal condition management Breeding program

rain. By reducing overland fl ow and sediment transport, Defi nition Business and financial planning they help to prevent gully and sheet erosion and reduce Soil conservation is the practice of preventing physical sediment deposition in streams and in lower slope and chemical degradation of soil, and the active positions. Chemical contamination avoidance rehabilitation or restoration of land degraded by salinisation, acidifi cation, sodicity, erosion, waterlogging, Strip cropping is recommended for fl oodplain cropping areas in the northern regions of the Murray-Darling non-wetting (hydrophobicity) and vegetation loss. Commitment to family Basin. Strip cropping perpendicular to the direction of Description fl ood fl ows helps to spread water across the fl oodplain, reduce erosion and encourage water to infi ltrate into Community and industry Land degradation reduces productivity and is an soils for later use by crops. participation important contributor to declining profi t. Large areas of the Basin and some individual properties are affected by Non-wetting sands are a major problem in agriculture Crop rotation dryland salinity, soil erosion, vegetation loss and other in parts of the South Australian and Victorian mallee. forms of land degradation. Unless rehabilitated, it is likely Hydrophobicity results in poor and uneven penetration of water through the soil. This results in patchy crop that off-site impacts of degraded lands will continue (for Effective management of labour example, sediment generation, salt export), as will the or pasture growth and leaves some areas with little and resources opportunity costs of lost production. Returning degraded groundcover. Such areas are then vulnerable to wind land to producton will help to redress this loss and erosion. The application of clay, organic matter or wetting Environmental monitoring provide other environmental benefi ts. agents increases water-holding capacity. Clay spreading and benchmarking can be expensive and is more commonly used in Establishment of salt-tolerant pasture or fodder species cropping areas. Benefi ts appear to be substantial and Identification and protective management of such as tall wheatgrass, Puccinellia, strawberry clover persist for many years. Cultivation practices, such as cultural heritage and saltbush is recommended in areas of saline disc pitting, are more frequently used for pastures. groundwater discharge. Productive salt-tolerant pastures Incorporation or retention of are used to replace unproductive volunteers, such Conservation cropping practices reduce soil compaction perennial species in pastures as sea barley grass. If appropriately managed they and erosion and improve soil structure and biological can return unproductive land to productivity, maintain health. See the sections on tillage and stubble Integrated pest management groundcover and reduce surface salt accumulation, management, integrated pest management and wash-off and erosion. Where watertables remain crop rotation. shallow, salt is likely to continue to accumulate in the Knowledge and skill root zone of even salt-tolerant pastures. Engineering Implementing the practice development options, such as groundwater pumping and surface * Monitor soil pH, nutrients and sodicity to guide lime, or sub-surface drainage, may also be used to lower Management according to fertiliser and gypsum application. land capability watertables and help with reclamation of salt-affected land. Benefi ts of implementation Managing for weather and climate variation There are a variety of methods available for the Soil conservation: reclamation of semi-arid rangelands that have been degraded by prolonged drought and overstocking. * increases carrying capacity of otherwise Nutrient budgeting These methods may be based on mechanical soil unproductive land; disturbance (disc pitting and furrowing) to enable effective capture of run-off water, prescribed burning and * reduces overland fl ows, soil loss, sediment transport Occupational health and active revegetation. and loss of nutrients; safety plan

Steep hill country that is unsuited to agriculture is often * improves water quality, utilisation of rainfall and Quality assurance recommended to be retired from production. It can be fl ood fl ows, water infi ltration and the water-holding revegetated and managed to reduce the risk of further capacity of soils; land degradation (from weeds, rabbits, erosion or * improves composition and biodiversity of degraded Retention and management of salinity). native vegetation rangelands and pastures; and Contour banks may be used for erosion control in areas * improves the farming family’s perception of that are at risk because of soils, climate or topography. Soil conservation their property. They are introduced to reduce the length of slope, slow overland fl ow and reduce sediment entrainment during Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 41 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

Department of Land and Water Conservation (undated) Breeding program Land Capability. Land Class Classiﬁ cation Handbook produced by the Department of Land and Water Conservation. Business and financial planning Department of Natural Resources (1999) Better Management Practices – Floodplain Management on the Chemical contamination avoidance Darling Downs. Queensland State Government.

Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2000), Commitment to family Prograzier: Water Edition, Spring 2000.

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au Community and industry participation http://www.dse.vic.gov.au http://www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au Crop rotation http://www.pir.sa.gov.au

Effective management of labour and resources Links to sustainability goals

Environmental monitoring Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality and benchmarking heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

Identification and primary driver secondary driver protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 42 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 22. Tactical grazing Animal condition management Breeding program

of defi cit. Fodder conservation, particularly hay cutting, Defi nition Business and financial planning may place considerable short-term stress on farming Tactical grazing is the practice of employing specifi c families and may confl ict with social sustainability. grazing regimes to meet the needs of pasture, soil and Chemical contamination avoidance stock. Opportunities to apply tactical grazing may be constrained in mixed farming situations by the paddock size requirements of the cropping phase. Description Commitment to family These constraints may be at least partly overcome by Tactical grazing can include rotational and time control temporary (electric) fencing and aggregation of stock into grazing, seasonal deferment or these strategies in relatively large mobs. Community and industry combination with set stocking. Tactical grazing may be participation used in combination with fertiliser or herbicide application Timing of lambing and calving should match feed to manipulate pasture composition. It may also include availability and market opportunities. Lambing and Crop rotation set stocking at particular rates and for specifi c periods to calving in late winter or early spring (in winter rainfall achieve defi ned pasture composition or utilisation goals. areas) allows the feed requirements to follow pasture production more closely than when young are born Effective management of labour Rotational grazing either uses defi ned periods or defi ned in autumn. Spring lambing and calving can only be and resources feed and groundcover limits to govern grazing and sustained on perennial pastures. It reduces the need spelling. Stock are normally rotated around a relatively for supplementary feeding during winter and may allow Environmental monitoring small number of paddocks (three to fi ve). Time control paddocks to support higher stocking rates. Spring and benchmarking (or cell) grazing is a special case of rotational grazing, lambing may be recommended practice for wool in which stock are rotated through a larger number of growing on improved pastures but a mix of spring and Identification and protective management of smaller paddocks, with grazing and spelling periods autumn lambing and calving is required in beef and cultural heritage adjusted to match the time needed by the pasture to sheepmeat industries to maintain product availability. maintain good pasture quality. Seasonal deferment Incorporation or retention of refers to situations where paddocks are not grazed in Conservative stocking is an approach to the perennial species in pastures particular seasons to achieve certain goals. Objectives management of semi-arid rangeland that is particularly may include seed germination for native or introduced applicable to lands that are less responsive to rainfall. Integrated pest management perennials, prevention of soil degradation by reducing Reduced utilisation of available feed (given appropriate animal traffi c on wet sites, or maintaining groundcover on species composition – shrubs rather than annual steep sites during periods of high erosion risk. grasses) allows a reserve to be maintained that may Knowledge and skill be used during prolonged dry periods. Conservative development Feed budgeting incorporates decision rules in which the stocking generally produces greater profi t through duration and intensity of grazing is based on green feed higher wool yields per sheep and higher profi ts per unit Management according to on offer (normally) and the lower limit of fodder availability area. This trend does not hold when sheep numbers land capability to maintain groundcover. Stocking is generally set to are already at the level where nutrition meets genetic achieve the lower limit in feed availability within a certain potential or when kangaroo numbers are so high that Managing for weather and time period. It considers the specifi c grazing or spelling they utilise reserved fodder. climate variation requirements of the pasture and seasonal variation in the demands of grazing stock. In some areas, native fauna (especially kangaroos Nutrient budgeting and wallabies), feral animals, stock and vertebrate Fodder conservation involves the temporary deferment pests add to total grazing pressure to the point where of grazing. Feed is allowed to accumulate and then there is serious competition for feed with stock. This Occupational health and (generally) harvested in times when little fodder is is most common in semi-arid rangelands, although safety plan available. The conserved feed may be provided to stock it is increasingly reported in agricultural lands near as hay or silage. Unharvested fodder in most pastures conservation reserves and native forests. Management Quality assurance quickly declines in quality and may largely be wasted. of fauna and pest animal populations may be required to Forage from shrubs in rangelands may be conserved as prevent overgrazing and the threat this poses in relation standing biomass, as it does not lose quality as rapidly to biodiversity (in rangelands and native grass pastures) Retention and management of as pasture-based forage. and soil erosion. native vegetation

Fodder conservation is less applicable in the northern Feed quality is a key determinant of methane emissions Basin mixed farming zone as grain rather than fodder by stock, which in turn represents the major greenhouse Soil conservation reserves is used to meet feed demands during periods gas output from established grazing enterprises. Grazing tactics (for example, rotational grazing) that maintain feed Tactical grazing quality may help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Tillage and stubble management 43 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Implementing the practice * reduces surface run-off and erosion;

* Consider pasture, grazing and stock management * may help to manage damage caused by animal Breeding program practices in developing a farm business and traffi c when susceptible soils are wet; marketing plan. * reduces the spread of worms and diseases; Business and financial planning * Develop and implement a whole farm plan * provides for supplementary feeding at times of low identifying paddocks, laneways and crop or stock pasture production; access areas. Chemical contamination avoidance * improves the resilience of the production system; * Monitor feed availability, quality, composition and groundcover levels. * improves wool production and fi nancial returns; and Commitment to family * Budget feed, based on stock requirements, * reduces greenhouse gas emissions. groundcover targets and pasture growth Community and industry expectations. Further information participation * Develop and apply grazing tactics that meet the Ransom, K. Dryland Lucerne Grazing Systems. needs of pastures, stock and soil in various areas Research Report Series No. 136, Department of Food Crop rotation of the property. This generally involves some form of and Agriculture, Bendigo. rotation or time-controlled grazing. Simpson, P. and Langford, C. (1996) Managing High Effective management of labour and resources Benefi ts of implementation Rainfall Native Pastures on a Whole Farm Basis. NSW Agriculture. ISBN: 0 7310 5778 3. Tactical grazing: Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (1999), * improves persistence and density of perennials in Prograzier: Tips and Tools edition, December 1999. mixed pastures; Identification and protective management of Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2000), cultural heritage * allows accumulation of leaf and encourages Prograzier: Rotational Grazing edition, Autumn 2000. optimum growth and water use; Incorporation or retention of Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2001), perennial species in pastures * increases pasture utilisation and carrying capacity; Prograzier: Pastures edition, Spring 2001.

* improves pasture composition and helps maintain Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2002), Integrated pest management groundcover; Prograzier: Animals edition, Summer 2002.

* reduces the need for herbicides to maintain Knowledge and skill development desirable composition;

Management according to land capability Links to sustainability goals Managing for weather and climate variation Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

Nutrient budgeting primary driver secondary driver

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 44 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 23. Tillage and stubble management Animal condition management Breeding program

Deﬁ nition Implementing the practice Business and financial planning

Tillage and stubble management comprise practices that * Identify different land classes and manage according minimise the impacts of vehicle trafﬁ c and cultivation on to capability. Chemical contamination avoidance soil structure and biological health through avoiding or minimising tillage and retaining crop residues. * Retain and manage stubbles to improve water inﬁ ltration and soil health and reduce soil erosion Commitment to family Description risk.

* Implement strip cropping layouts in northern Baisn Conservation cropping comprises a number of individual Community and industry practices undertaken together. It commonly involves fl oodplain landscapes. participation stubble retention, zero or minimum tillage, integrated * Manage crop rotations to maintain groundcover and pest management, crop rotations and whole farm soil organic matter. Crop rotation planning. It may include controlled traffi c cultivation (where the tractor follows exactly the same path * Minimise traffi c and cultivation during crop for planting, cultivation, if any, and spraying over a establishment. Effective management of labour number of years) and precision farming in large-scale and resources enterprises. * Develop and implement whole farm planning to identify traffi c corridors (if a controlled traffi c system Environmental monitoring Reduced cultivation methods such as direct drilling, is to be used), to reduce ad hoc vehicle traffi c and benchmarking minimum tillage and zero tillage were developed to across paddocks and prevent widespread soil reduce the impacts of vehicle traffi c and cultivation compaction. Identification and protective management of on soil structure and general soil health. They help to cultural heritage maintain or improve soil organic matter content, improve Benefi ts of implementation water and air infi ltration, soil structure and biological Incorporation or retention of health and reduce the compactive effects of cultivation Tillage and stubble management: perennial species in pastures and vehicular traffi c. Improved water storage and crop * reduces soil erosion and compaction and improves yields can also be achieved. Tractor and implement soil organic matter content, soil structure and soil Integrated pest management operating times are reduced, although this may increase biological health; herbicide usage and resistance. Reduction in cultivation effort reduces labour demand at around sowing time, * improves water infi ltration and reduces surface run-off; Knowledge and skill energy usage and (variable) input costs. development * improves water storage and rainfall usage effi ciency; Stubble retention or mulching is practised to maintain Management according to groundcover, reduce soil erosion and increase soil * reduces cultivation effort and the costs of machinery land capability organic matter input. This, in turn, encourages root and other inputs; development, improved water infi ltration, reduced soil Managing for weather and aggregate breakdown and may lead to reduced run-off * encourages growers to operate production systems climate variation and greater water use. Strip cropping is practised in within land capability constraints; northern Basin fl oodplain cropping areas to provide * improves yields and net returns from crops; and Nutrient budgeting protection from erosion and to maximise the spread and utilisation of fl oodwaters. * reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Occupational health and Crop rotation planning should consider the retention of safety plan stubble. Crops such barley and wheat provide effective stubble cover and should be included in rotations with Quality assurance low stubble crops (for example, lupins, chickpeas, cotton). Stubble retention reduces greenhouse gas emissions from cropping land and may help to create a Retention and management of carbon sink. native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 45 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Further information

Department of Natural Resources (1999) Better Breeding program Management Practices – Floodplain Management on the Darling Downs. Queensland State Government.

Wylie, P., Mills, G. and Greggery, I. (1996) Proﬁ table Commitment to family Rotations – How Crop Rotations Can Iimprove Farm Proﬁ t and Sustainability. Conservation Farmers’ Association, Dalby. Community and industry participation http://www.grdc.com.au http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au Crop rotation http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au

Effective management of labour and resources Links to sustainability goals

Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality Environmental monitoring and benchmarking heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

primary driver secondary driver Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures

Integrated pest management

Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 46 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry 24. Waterway and ﬂ oodplain Animal condition management management Breeding program Business and financial planning

Defi nition Snags and other large wood in streams should generally be retained to provide habitat and food for aquatic Chemical contamination avoidance Waterway and fl oodplain management is the practice ecosystems and create irregular and more natural of providing protection for waterways and fl oodplains stream channels. and maintaining their natural function without further Commitment to family degradation. Woody weeds along streams (for example, willows, blackberries) should be removed and replaced with Description native species (from local provenance seed) according Community and industry to the ecological vegetation class. participation Riparian land is any land which adjoins or directly infl uences a body of water, including the land Implementing the practice Crop rotation immediately alongside streams, gullies and swales which sometimes runs with surface water. It also includes * Develop a whole farm plan identifying waterway and fl oodplain areas and manage them according to land surrounding lakes and wetlands and fl oodplain Effective management of labour areas which interacts with rivers during times of fl ood. land capability, recognising differences in pasture, and resources Depending on the nature of the landscape and the soil type, water balance and waterlogging. Protect adjacent land use, the width of the riparian land that waterways from nutrient, sediments, pest plants and Environmental monitoring and benchmarking requires special management will range from a very animals, and chemical contamination. narrow strip through to a wide, densely vegetated * Manage and (as necessary) rehabilitate riparian Identification and corridor. Riparian areas are often highly productive, vegetation. Link riparian corridors. protective management of which makes them vulnerable to overuse. cultural heritage * Construct off-stream watering or develop hardened Direct watering of stock from streams is frequently Incorporation or retention of stream access points for watering of stock. associated with bank degradation and poor water perennial species in pastures quality. The provision of off-stream reticulated water Benefi ts of implementation should eliminate the need for uncontrolled stock access Integrated pest management to riparian zones and, if accompanied by fencing, will Waterway and fl oodplain management: reduce the damage this can cause. * decreases erosion of topsoil and stream banks and Knowledge and skill Strips of perennial pasture grasses along streams may beds; development fi lter sediment from overland fl ow and so reduce nutrient * improves water quality through reduced sediment transport to streams. Use of perennials in upland areas Management according to increases surface roughness and may help to reduce delivery and fouling by stock; land capability run-off and the risk of fl ooding and fl ood-induced * maintains healthy riparian ecosystems; groundwater recharge in low lying areas. Managing for weather and climate variation * reduces migration of river channels and associated In fl oodplain areas, maintenance of a short and dense infrastructure damage; cover of perennial grass may help to spread fl ood fl ows Nutrient budgeting and reduce erosion during fl oods. In southern Basin * decreases insect pests due to predation by areas, perennials in fl oodplains may help to reduce insectivorous birds and insect parasites that fi nd fl ood-related recharge (although potentially invasive habitat in protected riparian vegetation; Occupational health and species whose seed can be distributed by water safety plan should not be used). Strip cropping is recommended * decreases algal growth – riparian vegetation helps in fl oodplain cropping areas in the north of the Murray- control the light and temperature levels which help Quality assurance Darling Basin to divert or spread fl ood fl ows, reduce prevent the growth of nuisance plants and algae; erosion and make productive use of rainfall. Farm * increases capital value of property; infrastructure, including fences, roads and tracks should Retention and management of native vegetation be located carefully (if they are necessary) to prevent * provides shade and shelter for stock; and creating barriers to fl ow in such areas. * allows deep-rooted vegetation, in some Soil conservation Tactical grazing may be required to manage groundcover circumstances, to lower riparian watertables, and weeds in riparian and fl oodplain areas. reducing the fl ow of salt and nutrients into streams from groundwater; Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 47 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management * helps maintain a suitable habitat for aquatic animals, including insects, ﬁ sh and crustaceans; and

Breeding program * provides recreational resources that produce income for landholders and regional communities.

Business and financial planning Further information

Department of Natural Resources (1999) Better Chemical contamination Management Practices – Floodplain Management on the avoidance Darling Downs. Queensland State Government.

Lovett, S. and Price, P. (eds) (1999) Riparian Land Commitment to family Management Technical Guidelines, Volume One: Principles of Sound Management, LWRRDC, Canberra. Community and industry participation Myers, R. (Ed.) (1995) Watercourse Management – A Field Guide, Revised 2nd Edition, Mount Barker.

Crop rotation Price, P. and Lovett, S. (eds) (1999) Riparian Land Management Technical Guidelines, Volume Two: On- Ground Management Tools and Techniques, LWRRDC, Effective management of labour and resources Canberra.

Robins,L. (2002) Managing Riparian Land for Multiple Environmental monitoring Uses. RIRDC Publication No.: 02/103. Canberra and benchmarking http://www.lwa.gov.au Identification and protective management of cultural heritage

Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures Links to sustainability goals

Cultural Financial Greenhouse Nature Quality of life Soil health Water quality Integrated pest management heritage return and air quality conservation and quantity

primary driver secondary driver Knowledge and skill development

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 48 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry Sources used in the preparation of current Animal condition management recommended practice documentation Breeding program Business and financial planning Personal consultation * Kirsten Pietzner – Manager, Quality Assurance, Grains Council of Australia Chemical contamination avoidance The following were personally consulted during the process of preparing this document. Afﬁ liation is that * Jamie Pittock – World Wide Fund for Nature applying at the time of the consultation. * Dr Nigel Wilhelm – Leader, Sustainable Farming Commitment to family * Angela Avery – Landmark Team 3a Leader, Systems, South Australian Research and Development Institute Agriculture Victoria, Department of Natural Community and industry Resources and Environment participation * Doug Reuter – Principal Scientist, CSIRO Land and * Michele Barson – Landmark Task 6a Leader, Bureau Water, Adelaide. Crop rotation of Rural Sciences * Hamish Cresswell – Principal Scientist, CSIRO Land * Peter Bulman – Leader, Economic Revegetation, and Water, Adelaide. Effective management of labour Primary Industries and Resources South Australia * Professor David Coventry – Department of and resources * Bill Davies – Program Manager, Land Management, Agronomy and Farming Systems, University of Sustainable Resources, Primary Industries and Adelaide Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Resources South Australia * Dr Reg French * Denys Garden – Research Scientist, NSW Identification and * David Heinjus – Rural Directions Pty Ltd protective management of Agriculture. cultural heritage * Dr Peter Wylie – Horizon Rural Management Pty Ltd * Andy Hermiston – Wool Producer, Landmark Incorporation or retention of Steering Committee Publications perennial species in pastures

* Angus Hobson – Policy Offi cer, Cattle Council of Alexander Holm and Associates (1998) Rangeland Integrated pest management Australia Monitoring Guiding Principles. National Land and Water Resources Audit Theme 4. * David Hudson – Policy and Communications Offi cer, Knowledge and skill Sheepmeat Council of Australia ANZECC and ARMCANZ (1999) National Principles and development Guidelines for Rangeland Management. * Bill Johnston – Research Scientist, Department of Land and Water Conservation, NSW Management according to Australia ICOMOS (2000) The Burra Charter: the land capability Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural * Sarah Lewis – Policy Development Offi cer, South Signifi cance. Australia ICOMOS Incorporated, Burwood. Australian Farmers’ Federation Managing for weather and ISBN 0 9578528 0 0. climate variation * Megan Leyson – Research Offi cer, Grains Council of Australian Heritage Commission (1996) Australian Natural Australia Heritage Charter for the Conservation of Places of Nutrient budgeting * Kate Lockhart – Executive Offi cer, Land Natural Heritage Signifi cance: Standards and Principles. Management Committee, Victorian Farmers’ Australian Heritage Commission in Association with the Occupational health and Federation Australian Committee for IUCN, Sydney. ISBN 0642 safety plan 26420 1. * Anwen Lovett – Director, Environment, National Farmers’ Federation Australian Heritage Commission (1998) Our Heritage, Quality assurance Our Future: Australian Heritage Commission Strategic * Philip Newton – Agriculture Victoria, Department of Plan 1999-2002. Australian Heritage Commission, Natural Resources and Environment Canberra. ISSN 1442-8989. Retention and management of native vegetation * Anna Ridley – Landmark Team 3, Agriculture Australian Heritage Commission (1999) Protecting Local Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Heritage Places – A Guide for Communities. Australian Soil conservation Environment Heritage Commission, Canberra. ISBN 0 642 30538 2.

* Richard Payne – Principal Technical Adviser, Land Management, Sustainable Resources, Primary Tactical grazing Industries and Resources South Australia

Tillage and stubble management 49 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (undated) Green, J. (2000) Balancing Production and Production and Marketing of Large, Lean Lambs. Conservation. Australian Farm Journal BUSH, Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation. ISBN 0 642 February 2000. Breeding program 25 207 6. Guijt, I and Race, D. (1998) Growing Successfully: Brightling, A. (1998) Meeting the Market for Clean, Australian Experiences with Farm Forestry. Greening Business and financial planning Green Wool. Wool and Rural Industries Skill Training Australia Ltd., Canberra. Centre Inc., Hamilton. ISBN 0 646 35247 4. Hamblin, A. (1998) Environmental Indicators for National Chemical contamination Clifton, C. (1996) The Water Use Characteristics of State of the Environment Reporting – The Land, Australia: avoidance Native Grasses. Native Grass Pasture Management State of the Environment (Environmental Indicator Workshop – November 1996, Rutherglen. Reports), Department of Environment, Canberra. Commitment to family Cook, A.M. (1992) Pasture Management Options for Harper, R.J., Hatton, T.J., Crombie, D.S., Dawes, W.R., Dryland Salinity Recharge Areas in Central Victoria. Abbott, L.K., Challen, R.P. and House, C. (2000) Phase Community and industry Research Report series No. 132, Institute for Sustainable Farming With Trees. A Report for the RIRDC/LWRRDC/ participation Agriculture, Tatura. FWPRDC Joint Venture Agroforestry Program. RIRDC Publication No. 00/48. ISBN: 0 642 58078 2. Department of Agriculture. Lucerne for Proﬁ t, Bendigo. Crop rotation Harris, R. and Ridley, A. (2000) How to Minimise Department of Land and Water Conservation (undated) Nitrogen and Phosphorus Losses From Temperate Land Capability. Land Class Classiﬁ cation Handbook Effective management of labour Dryland Grazing and Cropping Farms – Nutrient and resources produced by the Department of Land and Water Management Guidelines. Agriculture Victoria, Rutherglen. Conservation. ISBN: 073 1146 107. Environmental monitoring and benchmarking Department of Natural Resources and Environment Johnson, R. (2000) Shadelines: Making Money by (undated) Native Pastures for Sustainable Agriculture. Keeping Trees, Australian Farm Journal BUSH, Identification and Victoria. February 2000. protective management of cultural heritage Department of Natural Resources and Environment Lodge, G.M. (Ed) (1998) Themes and Experimental (undated) Safe, Quality Food from Environmentally Protocols for Sustainable Grazing Systems. LWRRDC Incorporation or retention of Responsible Agriculture. Victoria. perennial species in pastures Occasional Paper No 13/98.

Department of Natural Resources (1999) Better Lovett, S. and Price, P. (eds) (1999) Riparian Land Integrated pest management Management Practices – Floodplain Management on the Management Technical Guidelines, Volume One: Darling Downs. Queensland State Government. Principles of Sound Management, LWRRDC, Canberra.

Knowledge and skill Duncombe-Wall, D., Moran, P., Heysen, C. and Myers, R. (Ed.) (1995) Watercourse Management – A development Kraehenbuehl, D. (1999) Agricultural Sustainability Field Guide, Revised 2nd edition, Mount Barker. Indicators for Regions of South Australia, Primary Management according to Industries and Resources South Australia, Adelaide. National Natural Resource Management Task Force land capability (1999) Managing Natural Resources in Rural Australia Field, P. (1999) Watertables Are Rising! How Can We Keep for a Sustainable Future – a Discussion Paper for Managing for weather and Cropping? News and Views – North Central Victoria’s Developing a National Policy. Natural Resource climate variation Farming Newsletter (December 1999), Department of Management Policy Division, Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources and Environment, Bendigo. Forestry Australia, Canberra. Nutrient budgeting Fisher, R. (1999) Precision agriculture – Does it Have a NSW Agriculture (undated) Conserving our Farming Place on the Farm? News and Views – North Central History. CB Alexander Agricultural College, Tocal. Victoria’s Farming Newsletter (December 1999), Occupational health and safety plan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Panton, B. (2000) Bushcare in the Northern Rangelands. Bendigo. Australian Farm Journal BUSH, February 2000.

Quality assurance Garret, B. (1993) Whole Farm Planning: Principles and Peter E. Ridge and Associates (1993) A Report to the Practices. Department of Conservation and Environment, Avoca Dryland Sub-Committee on Maintaining a Viable Victoria. Cropping System and Increasing Water Use in the Avoca Retention and management of native vegetation Dryland Catchment Northern Plains Country. Avoca Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Dryland Salinity Management Plan. (undated) Managing Nutrients on Dryland Grazing and Soil conservation Cropping Farms. ISBN 1 876600 24 1. Portelli, M. (1999) Alley farming: a Sustainable Landuse? News and Views – North Central Victoria’s Farming Grains Council of Australia (2000) Graincare: On-farm Newsletter (December 1999), Department of Natural Quality Assurance Program. Grains Council of Australia, Tactical grazing Resources and Environment, Bendigo. Canberra. ISBN 1 875477 61 6.

Tillage and stubble management 50 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Price, P. and Lovett, S. (eds) (1999) Riparian Land Stockdale, R., Miller, L. and Warn, L. (Eds) (1999) Animal condition management Management Technical Guidelines, Volume Two: On- Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Victoria 40th Ground Management Tools and Techniques, LWRRDC, Annual Conference and Trade Fair – Proﬁ t Through Canberra. Change. Geelong. Breeding program

Ransom, K. Dryland Lucerne Grazing Systems. Sturmfels, C. (1999) Native Vegetation Retention Research Report Series No. 136, Department of Food Controls. News and Views – North Central Victoria’s Business and financial planning and Agriculture, Bendigo. Farming Newsletter. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Bendigo. Rendell McGuckian (1997) Sustainability Indicators for Chemical contamination avoidance Cropping Farmers, Bendigo. Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (1999), Prograzier: National FarmWalk edition, Spring 1999. Ridley, A. (undated) Remnant Vegetation Travelling Commitment to family Fellowship. Report to the Land and Water Resources Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (1999), Research and Development Corporation. Prograzier: Tips and Tools edition, December 1999. Community and industry Roberts, B.R. and Silcock, R.G. (undated) Western Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2000), participation Grasses – a Grazier’s Guide to the Grasses of South Prograzier: Rotational Grazing edition, Autumn 2000. West Queensland . Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2000), Crop rotation Ross, J. (1996) The Conservation Value of Native Prograzier: Water edition, Spring 2000. Grassy Ecosystems. Native Grass Pasture Management Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2001), Effective management of labour Workshop – November 1996, Rutherglen. and resources Prograzier: Pastures edition, Spring 2001. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Sustainable Grazing Systems Program (2002), Environmental monitoring (1997) Design Principles for Farm Forestry: A Guide to and benchmarking Assist Farmers to Decide Where to Place Trees and Prograzier: Animals edition, Summer 2002. Farm Plantations on Farms. Rural Industries Research Taylor, J. McGrath, D. and McCarthy, M. Operation Identification and and Development Corporation, Canberra. ISBN: 0 642 protective management of Undersow – Improving Perennial Pasture Establishment cultural heritage 24655 6. Under Crop. Final Report – Project V-2129, Centre Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation for Land Protection Research and Agriculture Victoria, Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures (1997) Sustainability Indicators for Agriculture Bendigo. ISBN 0 7306 61121. – Introductory Guide to Regional/National and On-farm Taylor, J., Curnow, B. and Roughead, B. (Eds) (1996) Indicators. RIRDC Publication No. 97/72, Canberra. Integrated pest management The Pasture Partner – A Guide to Assessing and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Improving Pastures in the Northern Foothills of Victoria (2000) Trees, Water and Salt: An Australian Guide to (400-600mm rainfall). Department of Natural Resources Knowledge and skill development Using Trees for Healthy Catchments and Productive and Environment, Bendigo. Farms – Research Update. RIRDC Publication No. Taylor, J., McCarthy, M., Clifton, C., Ryan, S., Robb, B. 00/170, Canberra. ISBN: 0 642 58201 7. Management according to and Ransom, K. (1992) Productive Land Management land capability SCARM (1998) Sustainable Agriculture – Assessing Options for the Southern Avoca Catchment. Discussion Australia’s Recent Performance. CSIRO Publishing, Paper for the Avoca Dryland Community Working Group. Managing for weather and Collingwood. climate variation TQA Research Pty. Ltd. (1997) Best Practice in Simpson, P. and Langford, C. (1996) Managing High Australian Grain Growing Quantitative Benchmark Nutrient budgeting Rainfall Native Pastures on a Whole Farm Basis. NSW Study Wave 2. Grains Research and Development Agriculture. ISBN: 0 7310 5778 3. Corporation, Barton.

Virtual Consulting Group (1999) Farm Forestry Feasibility Occupational health and Sinclair Knight Merz (1999) Action Plan for Steep Hill safety plan Country Management. Upper Wimmera Hill Country Study for North-Central and Wimmera Catchment Management Project, Department of Natural Resources. Authority Areas and Buloke Shire. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Bendigo. Quality assurance Sinclair Knight Merz (1999) Assessment of Vegetation Options for Dryland Salinity Management, Broken and Vogel, W. (1996) The Adoption and Management of Native Grass Pastures in North East Victoria. Department Retention and management of North Goulburn Plains Salinity Study, Department of native vegetation Natural Resources and Environment. of Natural Resources and Environment, Wodonga. ISBN 0 7306 6623 9. Sinclair Knight Merz (1999) Total Grazing Pressure Soil conservation – Summary of Best Practice. WEST2000, Toowoomba. SKM Project RE04392/BRR: RP920M.doc Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 51 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management Agroforestry

Animal condition management Williams, J. (2000) Managing the Bush: Recent Websites: Research Findings from the EA/LWRRDC National Remnant Vegetation R&D Program. National Research http://www.rirdc.gov.au Breeding program and Development Program on Rehabilitation, http://www.brs.gov.au Management and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Research Report 4/00. http://www.nff.org.au Business and financial planning http://www.agric.wa.gov.au Williams, R. and Walcott, J. (1998) Environmental Benchmarks for Agriculture? Clarifying the Framework in http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/sciagr/ Chemical contamination avoidance a Federal System – Australia. Land Use Policy, Vol. 15, http://www.farmwide.com.au No. 2, pp. 149-163. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au

Commitment to family Woolmark Company (1999) Wool Proﬁ t Map – Where http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au Are You? http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au

Community and industry Wylie, P. (1997) Proﬁ table and Sustainable Farming http://www.dse.vic.gov.au participation Systems. Horizon Rural Management Report to http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au RIRDC, Dalby. http://www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au Crop rotation Wylie, P. (1999) Managing Climate Makes Money http://www.pir.sa.gov.au – Summer Rainfall Areas of Australia. Horizon Rural http://www.wool.com.au Effective management of labour Management Report to Climate Variability in Agriculture and resources R&D Program, Dalby. http://www.abc.net.au/landline

http://www.csiro.au. Environmental monitoring Wylie, P. (1999) Managing Climate Makes Money and benchmarking – Winter Rainfall Areas of Australia. Horizon Rural http://www.lwa.gov.au Management Report to Climate Variability in Agriculture http://www.grdc.com.au Identification and R&D Program, Dalby. protective management of http://www.mla.com.au cultural heritage Wylie, P., Mills, G. and Greggery, I. (1996) Proﬁ table http://www.affa.gov.au Rotations – How Crop Rotations Can Improve Farm Incorporation or retention of perennial species in pastures Proﬁ t and Sustainability. Conservation Farmers’ http://www.landcaresa.org.au/sitemap.html Association, Dalby. http://www.ea.gov.au

Integrated pest management http://www.bettersoils.com.au http://www.workcover.vic.gov.au

Knowledge and skill http://www.whs.qld.gov.au/farmnews/ development http://www.crc.org.au

Management according to land capability

Managing for weather and climate variation

Nutrient budgeting

Occupational health and safety plan

Quality assurance

Retention and management of native vegetation

Soil conservation

Tactical grazing

Tillage and stubble management 52 Current Recommended Practice for Broadacre Dryland Agriculture Waterway and floodplain management

Landscapes & Industries KNOWLEDGE Current recommended practice A DIRECTORY FOR BROADACRE DRYLAND AGRICULTURE

Craig Clifton, Camille McGregor, Roger Standen & Simon Fritsch