Practical tips for dealing with a dry season will be on offer at a Seasonal Conditions workshop coming up next Tuesday afternoon, April 3, at the Royal Hotel in Carcoar.
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“We all know it’s dry, and looking at records from local weather stations over the past 10 months shows Carcoar rainfall in the lowest 5% percentile, according to the CliMate App,” Senior Land Services Officer, Phil Cranney said.
Central Tablelands Local Land Services has been responding with a series of Seasonal Condition workshops being rolled out across the region.
Agricultural advisory staff are keen to provide practical tips on surviving this dry period, and thriving when the break finally arrives,” Phil said.
Phil Cranney will join Brett Littler, Senior Land Services Officer – Livestock, and Local Land Services District Vet, Dr Amy Masters, to discuss livestock and pasture management at the Carcoar Seasonal Conditions workshop.
Brett Littler will talking about how livestock producers can get the most out of the feed available, whether for supplementary or production feeding. Brett will also discuss early weaning and livestock selling strategies that could enhance profitability.
Dr Masters, will focus on animal health issues in a dry season and how to prevent health problems down the track when rain eventually arrives.
Phil Cranney will look at fodder options for when it rains and how to maintain pasture health through this very dry period.
“It’s difficult to find the positives in such a dry season, but being the youngest of six kids, surviving the boom bust climate on a cattle and sheep farm near Goondiwindi, QLD, I am eternally optimistic,”
“While there’s no sign yet that we’re in for an autumn break, if rain does arrive, we’re likely to be in for a big sub clover season.”
According to Phil, the top five positives to consider during this dry spell are:
- Beef, Lamb, Mutton and Wool prices – compared to 2006-7 when Cowra Saleyards started waiving fees of 52 cents a head on sheep that failed to attract a bid of $2.
- Soil nutrients – low moisture and pasture growth means soil nutrients are likely to be adequate. But don’t guess, do a test!
- Low perennial grass pasture residue – newly germinated sub-clover pastures need access to sunlight and room to grow. There is plenty of both this year.
- Few false breaks – there have been few false breaks since the big sub-clover seeding years of 2015 and 2016, therefore there should be a good seed bank for germination.
- Assess perennial grass density - When the autumn break arrives it will be a good opportunity to assess the density of perennial grass pasture in each paddock and reassess pasture renovation or establishment options.
Once the rain does arrive, Phil advises farmers to be careful not to put stock back on pastures too soon.
“Grazing a Cocksfoot pasture at the 2 leaf stage (pictured) will not allow the plant to adequately replenish its root reserves.”
“Delaying grazing until a cool season perennial grass has reached the 3-4 leaf stage after rainfall in Autumn is critical for long term survival and will help the newly germinated sub-clover establish.”
Establishing a new pasture can cost $800-$1000/Ha so it makes economic sense not to graze too soon.
RSVP to the Carcoar Seasonal Conditions workshop online at: https://www.trybooking.com/UUDC
For more information contact Phil Cranney on: 0458 745 478 or Brett Littler on: 0427 007 398.
