Multi-Species Pasture Cropping
Please click on the below link for our most recent Newsletter...
Victorian Winner of the 2011 Australian Government Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices Award
At it's simplest Multi-Species Pasture Cropping is a technique of zero-till sowing annual crops directly into living perennial pastures. Using this technique cropping and grazing are combined into one land management system and each enterprise enhances the other both economically and environmentally. Fundamental to Pasture Cropping is ensuring there is 100% growing groundcover 100% of the time.
Generally winter cereal crops are sown into summer-growing native perrenial pastures. The pasture can be grazed up to the point of sowing and then the stock can be put back after harvest to graze the stubble and green perrenial grasses.
This award-winning project has received a huge amount of interest from within Victoria and interstate since beginning in 2007. Thanks to funding from Caring for Our Country and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, the technique has gained momentum in the region through educational events and the establishment of demonstration sites.
Demonstration sites have been established at Bungeet, Earlston, Goomalibee, Moorilim, Mundoona, Nagambie, Swanpool and Wahgunyah. These sites have greatly increased the adoption of Pasture Cropping techniques in local areas.
The official Pasture Cropping trial has now concluded however Pasture Cropping will continue to be a focus for the Gecko CLaN. Educational activities will be held to cater for the huge interest generated by this highly succesful project.
The Gecko CLaN has produced three Pasture Cropping books:
- Pasture Cropping - A farmers view (2013).
- Pasture Cropping - Development and Application of Pasture Cropping by Farmers in North East Victoria (2011).
- Pasture Cropping - Trials by the Gecko CLaN (2009).
View the Pasture Cropping DVD via Youtube below:
We recommend that you download these videos only if you have broadband speed internet.
Click the below link to visit the National Landcare Awards 2012 finalist page in relation to Gecko CLaN...
National Landcare Awards 2012 - Pasture cropping
For information on Pasture Cropping and how to make it work for you contact Jacci Campbell on (03) 5828 9274 or [email protected]