Catchment:
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Goulburn Broken
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Collaborating Producer:
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Terry and Janet Hubbard
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Location:
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Strath Creek |
Producer Group:
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Strath Creek Landcare Group |
Site Co-ordinator:
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Peter Mitchell
P: 5784 0622
M: 0409 432 498
peter.mitchell@dpi.vic.gov.au
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Production and Environmental Challenges
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This project has arisen from a widespread concern among landholders, Landcare Groups and agencies about the bare steep hills in the upper Goulburn Catchment. This has been worse in recent drought years and with the storms over summer. The cause is clearly overgrazing particularly on the upper north and west slopes of hills, where there has been a loss of perennial grasses (mostly natives) and an increase in annual grasses and broad-leafed weeds that die off over summer leaving bare ground. Predictions for climate change indicate that these hills will become even more sensitive to grazing as annual rainfall declines and the probability of storm events increases. At the same time, many lower south slopes are under-utilised by grazing animals.
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Innovation being tested:
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The groups see that farmers could achieve better production and less soil erosion by more strategic grazing on the different parts of their hill country, using fencing to manage grazing pressures and enhance perennial grasses over annual weeds. This will require more understanding of the timing of grazing to match the growth cycles of these native grasses.
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Base pasture:
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Native dominated pastures with a variety of species including red grass, kangaroo grass, wallaby grass, weeping grass and mat rush. Perennial Ryegrass dominant in some areas. Annual grasses such as silver grass, soft brome, fog grass and sweet vernal also present. Hill largely bare over summer.
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Animal systems:
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500 ewes
The Hubbard case study (June 2010), 'Paddock subdivision allows more strategic grazing' can be downloaded here
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