THE Department of Primary Industries (DPI) dairy services are running a series of free seminars to assist dairy farmers find the ideal proportion of the farm for sowing perennial ryegrass this autumn.
DPI Dairy Extension Officer Tom Farran said with improved seasonal conditions and greater water availability, many farmers had begun to tinker with their systems to move away from farming for the drier years, to make the most of current conditions.
“However, at the forefront of people’s minds are the memories of the drought years, and the high cost of perennial pasture over the summer if they didn’t have a relatively cheap water source,” Mr Farran said.
“This means that a return to the good old days of wall-to-wall summer pasture is considered too risky and would leave the farm exposed to the risk of dry years.
“Also many other on-farm aspects are likely to have changed, such as calving patterns and stocking rates, which may mean the farm is no longer suited to nearly all perennial pastures.”
These factors plus many more have meant many farmers are trying to decide how big an area of the farm should be sown down to perennial ryegrass.
The seminars will help answer the following nature of questions:
How does perennial ryegrass compare to other shorter term ryegrass cultivars? - The pros and cons; Does perennial ryegrass growth match the feed demand on my farm? How much water will I need to irrigate perennial ryegrass through the summer? Will putting perennial ryegrass back in lower my total feed costs? At what water price does perennial pasture become an expensive option (considering the trade off between water requirements over summer and additional grazing in the late spring and early autumn period?) The seminars will be held on:
Monday, February 6, 2012 from 11.00am – 1.00pm at Cohuna Bowls Club,
Tennis Road off Cohuna Island Road
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 from 11.00am – 1.00pm at Kyabram Club, 82
Allan Street, Kyabram
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 11.00am – 1.00pm at Katunga
Recreation Reserve, Katunga Picola Road, Katunga.
The seminars are free and lunch will be provided. For further information contact Tom Farran,
Dairy Extension Officer, DPI Tatura, (03) 5833 5297.
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