Adaptive Planning Grazing to survive our next drought
Drought might seem a distant problem at the present, but our meteorological records show that it always reappears in our local climate, sooner or later… This article explains the benefits of “Adaptive Planned Grazing” with four local workshops to assist in planning now for the next dry spell…
Drought is an all too familiar feature of our lives with devastating impacts on our communities and the farmland that supports us.
As the climate changes as a result of global warming, droughts are becoming even hotter and drier.
It has, therefore, never been more critical to expand our understanding of ecological function and land management practices that build our ability to cope with drought.
One such practice is Adaptive Planned Grazing.
Watershed Landcare (in collaboration with Central Tablelands Landcare) has a new project to introduce Adaptive Planned Grazing to more landholders in our region.
We are inviting local farmers who manage livestock to join us for a free one-day workshop where experienced hosts and trainers will share an introduction to Adaptive Planned Grazing in a casual farm setting.
We have scheduled four workshops in different locations with different hosts and trainers. Come to a workshop close to you, share your experience of drought, and meet people who are already doing Adaptive Planned Grazing. See for yourself the results and hear from experienced managers about how it can help you manage drought.
Our expert trainers come from the two organizations involved in Adaptive Planned Grazing: RCS (Resource Consulting Services) and HM (Holistic Management). Both organisations are offering reduced rates for grazing training to workshop participants.
At the workshop, you will be provided support to set up a ‘safe to fail’ trial of Adaptive Planned Grazing on your property, with access to trainers and mentors to help you. You will also be offered access to discounted training from the organisation of your choice.
As a result, you will have the opportunity to see first-hand how it can work for you and your landscape, guided by experienced mentors. You can become a valued member of a community of landholders at all different stages of learning and explore the potential of this proven management strategy.
Adaptive Planned Grazing? (APG)
APG is a transformational practice proven to increase drought resilience and is a key regenerative agriculture strategy. It is an approach to grazing that involves precise control of livestock density and the duration of grazing, usually one–three days per paddock.
APG empowers landholders and emphasises the value of goal-setting, adaptivity, and decision-making based on fundamental principles.
The practice of APG typically involves consolidating stock into one or a small number of mobs and rotating them through numerous small paddocks.
You make a grazing plan and learn how to assess the feed ahead of your stock in the rotation.
As a result, you can see in advance whether you have enough feed or whether you need to reduce stock numbers. Each paddock is grazed intensively for a short time then is given enough recovery before the next grazing.
As well as improving the paddock, this practice also improves stock health. You will have the tools to adapt to conditions based on observations and monitoring continuously. This management system is flexible enough to adapt to constantly changing conditions.
For example, it can aid foresight: destocking before it’s too late, or calculating how much feed you have available.
Farmers who have adopted APG receive better prices for their livestock going into a drought because they’re selling earlier. They spend less on feed to keep stock alive, and their land recovers faster with less risk of erosion when the drought-breaking rains finally come.
There is abundant evidence that the adoption of APG results in many significant benefits over time, including:
· An increase in the basal area of perennial grasses in the pasture;
· Increase in litter and ground cover;
· Increase in the diversity of grass species, including the return of productive, palatable, and nutritious native grasses;
· Improved water infiltration, soil stability, and nutrient cycling;
· Increase in soil carbon and soil fertility without the use of fertilisers.
Despite the apparent benefits of APG demonstrated on farms worldwide, it remains out of mainstream practice.
Conventional practice often fails to plan for prolonged drought and amplifies the negative impacts of scarce rainfall.
Do we want to go into the next drought ill-prepared and facing scenes of starving livestock, devastated landscapes, and struggling rural communities?
Let’s act instead of reacting. With the right strategies and skills, we can avoid these startling scenes and improve our landscapes over time, instead of degrading them.
The Improving Drought Resilience Using Adaptive Planned Grazing Project offers a valuable opportunity for landholders in The Central Tablelands and Slopes. The project is open to large and small-scale graziers who are eager to become more resilient in the face of drought and with interest to learn more about Adaptive Planned Grazing.
There are upcoming workshops in Bathurst, Gulgong, Stuart Town, and Rylstone. If you’re interested, go to: TRYBOOKING LINK to register, or contact Maddison O’Brien on 0413 912 250 for more information.
This program is supported by Watershed Landcare through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Contact for Central Tablelands Landcare is Jen Rinbauer, mobile: 0411 566 911.