A three-day workshop will help graziers maintain animal performance and ensure they have enough pasture, while also improving their farm’s profitability and biodiversity.
Organised by the Southern Queensland Northern NSW Innovation Hub, the Holistic Grazing Workshop will be facilitated by Holistic Management educator Brian Wehlburg at The Living Classroom at Bingara from October 3-5.
Brian said he wanted to help farmers simplify the complexity of livestock management.
“So much has to be taken into account when planning – integration with crop production, amount of food available, animal productivity, grass growth and seasons, paddock health, logistics when selling, calving, weaning, time away from the farm and more,” he said.
“Holistic Planned Grazing helps ensure that livestock are in the right place, at the right time, and with the right behaviour.”
Through a staged planning process, livestock are moved based on the amount of feed, as well as individual plant recovery to prevent over-grazing and encourage biodiversity and resilience.
According to Brian, farmers who implement Holistic Planned Grazing practices see a number of benefits.
“This includes an improvement in the quality and quantity of pasture, a reduction in less desirable species such as weeds, and the covering of bare ground. This ultimately results in reduced soil erosion and better creek health,” he said.
“Holistic Planned Grazing accounts for the needs of land, plants, animals, and people.”
The Hub’s Bingara Extension and Adoption Officer, Janelle Schafer, encouraged people to sign up for the workshop and gain new skills to help their farm become more resilient.
“Brian’s expertise and deep knowledge will be so valuable for farmers in our community,” she said.
For more information about the workshop and to reserve your place, head to the Eventbrite page.
This event received funding through the Australian Government’s Agricultural Innovation Hubs Program. The SQNNSW Innovation Hub receives funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.