Making more money out of perennial pastures throught carbon, benchmarking and matching pastures to soils

brought to you by the South East Prime Livestock Achievers and the Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc.

When:

Wednesday 29^th February, 2012

What:

The forum will provide an opportunity for producers to gain access to industry information and network in an informal format.

This year the forum will focus on Carbon, Benchmarking and Perennial Pastures with key topics including:

Topics:

• Seizing opportunities in Agriculture; local, domestic and international.
• Carbon Farming - the implication to livestock based systems.
• Planning a perennial pasture program and matching pastures to soils.
• Trends for southern livestock
• The power of benchmarking.
• Back to pasture basics.
• The importance of systems and management.

During the afternoon field session, there will be an opportunity to inspect dryland and irrigated pastures on nearby “Koniak Estate” and to discuss pastures and soils.

Time:

8:50 am to 4:30 pm

Where:

Held in a new 12 stand semi circular raised board shearing shed at “Konetta” Princess Highway, Greenways, South Australia.

Cost:

Members $20 inc GST and lunch (inc. SEPLAs/MacKillop Group)

Non members $40 inc GST

RSVP

Krysteen McElroy 0408 655 108 or email mfmg@bigpond.com

Info?:

Penny Craig 0427 573 038 or

Tim Prance 0427 812 655

Sponsors:

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under FarmReady, part of Australia’s Farming Future

Program:

see below:

8:50 am

Start

Lachlan Polinghorn: Seizing opportunities in Agriculture; local, domestic and international
Outline: An overview of agriculture and the opportunities, based on past and present experiences at a local, domestic and international level.

10:00 am

Morning Tea, including woolshed tours

Lysandra Slocombe: Carbon Farming - the implication to livestock based systems
Outline: Discussion of the emerging issues to livestock producers from the new carbon policy and legislation, including an overview of the implications to pasture and livestock producers, and opportunities that may arise.

Kate Sargeant, Evergraze: Planning a perennial pasture program
Outline: Details surrounding the importance of perennials in the landscape and how to plan for a perennial pasture program.

12:15 pm

Lunch

John Frances, Holmes Sackett Trends for southern livestock
Outline: An outline of the profitability trends for southern livestock. Focusing on a comparison of relevant livestock industries to the region and what makes these enterprises profitable, including any enterprise mix changes that may have been occurring.

Janelle Edwards: The power of benchmarking
Outline: In a challenging financial time a practical insight into how a producer has used benchmarking to make sound and informed business decisions.

2:15 pm

Field session begins

Jamie Tidy, Naracoorte Seeds and Barry Mccreiner, manager Koniak Estate:
The importance of systems and management
Outline: An outline of the grazing systems and grazing management and why it is important to their business.

Tim Prance: Back to pasture basics
Outline: A reminder of pasture basics with an emphasis on getting the establishment and management right and the importance of this.

Brian Hughes, Rural Solutions SA: Understanding soils
Outline: an outline of the importance of understanding soils, and the key steps involved, including a brief summary of common soils in the region and important traits.

4:30 pm

Day concludes with refreshments

Tags: Field Day

A field day on

• Increasing Soil Carbon & Nitrogen

• Growing Alternative Pasture Legumes

• Improving Beef Performance from Pastures

As part of

Managing Pastures for Climate Change Project

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under FarmReady, part of Australia’s Farming Future.

When:

Friday 24^th February, 2012

Where:

Whorouly Recreation Reserve, Whorouly

Approx 35km east of Glenrowan

For directions see map below

Time:

8:45am to 4:00pm (lunch provided)

Topics:

• Managing soil carbon and nitrogen.
• Getting the best out of your sub-clover pastures.
• Using alternative legumes in cropping and hill country – results from southern NSW trials.
• Sub-clover and pasture legume breeding research update.
• Animal welfare in the next decade – what you will need to think about.
• Beef cattle nutrition for optimum production.

Speakers:

• Cath Botta, Soil Scientist, PCB Consulting, Benalla.
• Nigel Philips, Researcher/Agronomist, DPI, NSW.
• Belinda Hackney, Researcher/Agronomist, DPI, NSW.
• Dr Phil Nichols, Researcher, Dept of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
• Dr Paul Cusack, Veterinary Consultant, Australian Livestock Production Services.
• Tim McNamara, McNamara’s Country Store, Rutherglen.

Cost:

$25 pre-payment or $30 on the day.

Contact:

Please RSVP by Monday the 20^th of February to:

Name:

Tim Ekberg

Phone:

03 5727 3931

Mobile:

0427 573 535

Email:

tim@farminganswers.com

Address:

96 Milawa-Bobinawarrah Rd, Milawa, Victoria, 3678

 

Click here to download the directions and booking form

Map

Directions to Whorouly

Tags: Field Day

When:

8^th & 9^th of February 2012

Where:

5^th Floor of the William Angliss Conference Centre on the Corner Lonsdale & King St. Melbourne

Committee:

Robert Salmon • Chairperson;  rsalmon@pggwsa.com.au

Clare de Kok • Administration;  Clare de Kok

Carol Harris • Contributor Coordinator;  carol.harris@industry.nsw.gov.au

Jim Virgona • Scientific Advisor

Stuart Kemp • Scientific Advisor

Info:

Further information for presenters and sponsorship, email office at grasslands (see link at bottom of page)

Details:

William Angliss Conference Centre

William Angliss Conference centre is situated central to all public transport in the heart of Melbourne.

The Conference centre is situated on the fifth floor of the William Angliss Complex corner of King and Latrobe St Melbourne.

The versatility of the venue allows us to maneuver the space to create a large open plan or 3 separate rooms.

Full catering is provided onsite with the colleges 4 star catering team.

The venue has full multimedia facilities insuring all delegates can hear and see the presentations at all times.

The foyer has plenty of room for delegates to eat, network and peruse the displays set out by our sponsors.

Dinner:

The Carlton Brewhouse

A Meal To Remember

This exciting diner venue allows for delegates to relax and network with delegates and sponsors in an informal setting.

The Venue caters for 250 with a personally designed menu for the legume symposium.

3 x 42 inch flatscreen monitors are fixed to allow maximum visibility while dining. Providing the opportunity to recognise our sponsors during the dinner and guest speaker notes to be visible.

The foyer presents opportunity for table displays and banners.

The Brewhouse has an exterior beer garden that will be setup to display samples of legume cultivars.

Delegates will be welcomed with a selection of local beers and wines.

Tags: Legume Symposium

When:

Thursday 8^th December, 2011

Where:

Gary McLarty's Property

“Woodsomlea” (look for the signs to the paddock on the right) after 1690 Northwood Road, Seymour

Then onto Ken Hall Pavilion - Seymour Showgrounds

Time:

4:30 pm to 7:30 pm (dinner provided)

Contact:

Please RSVP Jane Court, DPI Seymour
by Tuesday 6th December 2011.

Phone: 03 5735 4351

Mobile: 0427 200 451

Cost:

$10 per head

What:

EverGraze site – Gary McLarty, producer & Lisa Warn, Mackinnon

• Pasture species & variety selection
• Pasture establishment, time of sowing & management

Sheep production systems – Jane Court, DPI Vic

• Impact of future climate & variability on management and system
• Sheep enterprise; store lambs vs finish lambs; can lucerne increase options?

Joining Merino ewes as lambs – James Whale, MS&A

• Is it possible and profitable?

Tags: Field Day, Evergraze

When:

Tuesday 8^th November, 2011

Registration and Reception (wine and nibbles) available on Monday 7^th November, 2011 between 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

What:

Everyone with an interest in grassland farming is more than welcome to join the NZ Grassland Association at the annual conference in Gisborne.

The theme is ‘Farming profitably in challenging hill country'

We have interesting speakers on the programme including: North Island farmer and business man Willie Oliver discussing his experiences on-farm trading carbon plus Rod Oram, business commentator, joins us on day one to discuss farming profitably in an uncertain future.

Conference Accommodation options include the Quality Emerald Hotel. The rate for NZGA attendees is $150 including full buffet breakfast. Book direct to get the Grassland rate.

The Portside Hotel is also offering good deals for conference attendees with varied rates depending on room, see attached rate sheet. Their suites have full kitchens, or breakfast buffet will be available at The Emerald for $19/head, with other options nearby.

Times:

7:30 am to 8:00 pm on Tuesday 8^th November, 2011

7:30 am to 6:30 pm on Wednesday 9^th November, 2011

8:25 am to 12:30 pm on Thursday 10^th November, 2011

Where:

Emerald Hotel and Conference Centre, Gisborne, New Zealand (North Island)

More Info:

Download Conference registration form here.

Portside Conference room rates here.

Booking form here.

Sponsors:

Agresearch

Dairy NZ

Eastland Community Trust

Ballance agri-nutrients

Agriseeds

Ravensdown

Beef and Lamb, New Zealand

Altum

Grasslanz

Agricom

PGG Wrightson Seeds

Dominion Salt

Ingleby

BDO

Farmers Air

Program:

Download draft programme here.

Tags: Forum, Conference