ON FARM NATIONAL 23 October: Late‑drop lambswere added, lifting the eweA cut above component to 26 DSE/ha and rams to 8 DSE/ha. Barossa Valley producer Craig Hage uses SNAPSHOT: silage to lock in pasture quality when 25 November: Ian removed the Craig Hage, highly stocked ewe weaners to it’s at its best. rest the pasture and grow a feed Angaston, SA Craig (pictured) said establishing resilient pastures Sl wedge. matched with the right grazing strategy was important The paddock was rested in early for his business to maximise stocking rates, streamline 2019, but access to mains water management and produce high quality silage to means sheep were moved back bridge seasonal feed gaps. into it, as other water supplies He took a closer look at how silage fits into his beef dried up in early autumn. The and prime lamb enterprise as part of an MLA‑funded ewes were supplementary fed producer demonstration site, run by the Barossa hay and a mix of oats and barley Improved Grazing Group. via a lick feeder. Craig dry‑sowed a 20ha paddock with a mixture of Area: Benefits ryegrass and clover in April 2018. He used a twin‑disc The polyculture enabled Ian and seeder with press wheels at a rate of 25kg/ha (20kg of 400ha Fiona to maintain stocking rates ryegrass and 5kg of arrowleaf clover and balansa clover). Enterprise: through winter and spring, on Hay, silage and livestock only half of their annual rainfall. The mix, chosen with advice from an agronomist, included early and late‑maturing varieties which Livestock: He and Fiona believe polycultures provide grazing opportunities throughout autumn, 90 Angus cows, 900 support the soil better and, in turn, winter and spring. first‑cross Border their croppgpg , through Despite the dry conditions (81mm to the start of May Leicester ewes additional nitrogen fixation, 2018) the pasture established well and supported reducing the need for inputs such Pasture: as pesticides and herbicides and three grazing rotations before it was cut for silage. Perennial pastures increasing soil biology. After the third grazing, Craig applied hay booster (a rapid response fertiliser) and rested the paddock Soil: “Our advice is to keep it simple Sandy loam over clay and be willing to try any varieties ready to cut in late September. you can find,” Ian said. ■ The paddock produced 160 bales of high quality Rainfall: silage, averaging 700kg. 650mm LESSONS LEARNED “Silage can be produced in as little as one to two days Craig Hage in comparison with two to three weeks for hay, so E: regari@bigpond. you can predict and manage your duties around the com > Planting a range of weather more effectively and livestock can return to pasture varieties which the paddock sooner,” Craig said. mature at different “Wrapping silage also quickly conserves the fodder stages of the year can at its highest quality.” increase the number of grazing days. As of November 2018, Craig had totalled 2,926 DSE/ > Polycultures can reduce ha grazing days and captured approximately 2,600kg/ the need for inputs DM/ha stored in silage rolls. such as herbicides and The paddock was grazed with weaner lambs for four pesticides when grown in weeks in late November and early December. ■ rotation with cropping. > Polycultures stimulate healthy soil biology through nitrogen fixation, which may be utilised in cropping rotation. Ian and Fiona Koch E: bunyara@bigpond.com 17