WATCHING grass grow may not be too interesting, but learning how and why it grows has been an eye opener for many Gippsland farmers.
Participants in Gippsland Grows Green Grass, which is funded by The William Buckland Foundation, have been learning how to maximise home-grown feed through a greater understanding of the methods used in successful pasture production.
A Gippsland Grows Green Grass discussion group at Trafalgar last week saw the feeding methods of Simon Fiddelaers and Clint Morello put under the microscope.
Mr Morello, who manages the farm for Mr Fiddelaers, said the discussion group had changed the way he looked at his farming methods.
“It’s actually interesting learning how grass grows – what you need to do and the preparation for it all,” he said.
Making the most of pasture to feed 180 milkers on a leased block has had Mr Morello thinking hard about strategies to maximise growth in the paddocks.
Learning the fundamentals – and a fair bit beyond – of grass growing methodology has helped him turn theory into practical outcomes for the farm business.
“It’s more like a science,” he said.
“I can look now and actually work out if the cows can stay a week in the paddock and if they will have enough feed.
“I never used to know that sort of thing. I would just put them in for a couple of days and take them out again.”
Ag Challenge’s Glenn Marriott, who is facilitating the program, said Gippsland Grows Greens Grass aimed to inform farmers so they could make better decisions about their pasture production.
“It’s about engaging people and improving productivity by improving pasture utilisation,” Mr Marriott said.
“It’s about maximising home grown fodder to maximise profitability.”
Mr Marriott said Gippsland Grows Green Grass introduced new ideas to people who may not otherwise have been connected with the wider industry.
With a mantra of “measure, monitor, manage”, Mr Marriott said people were changing their management practices.
“People tend to measure hay and measure grain but they don’t measure pasture. It surprises me how much pasture is still not measured.”
Two Gippsland Grows Grass groups meet across the Gippsland region, discussing tips for sowing success; soils and nutrients; fertiliser regimes; whole farm nutrient management plans; pasture estimation and dry matter availability; feed plans and using complementary feeds; pasture benchmarking and consumption; and pests and weeds.
Two new groups will be set up in July/August.
