Raising the Bar for Harvestable Pasture Legumes is a 5 year project run by ASHEEP & BEEF in collaboration with Farm & General, Murdoch University researchers and local producers, and funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) through the Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) program. 

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The project aims to demonstrate the uptake of high-performing harvestable pasture legumes to increase productivity and profitability of sheep and cattle in mixed farming systems, using vetch as a benchmark to refine its use and drive adoption of varieties that outperform it.

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Background

Between 2020 - 2024 ASHEEP & BEEF conducted a Pasture Variety Trials PDS was conducted in the Esperance region across a range of soil types and rainfall zones. The PDS aimed to demonstrate the most suitable and productive pasture varieties, assessing pasture productivity and relative economic performance. Vetch, particularly RM4 Vetch, was consistently found to be a standout performer in the PDS and there has been significant adoption of this variety across rainfall zones. It proved its worth in tough seasons, and provided a combination of high feed value, nitrogen fixation to feed following crops, and biomass yield under limited moisture. It can be sown early before the break of the season, prior to the busy crop seeding program, and can be established in a mix with a cereal that provides early feed while vetch establishes. As the PDS progressed, vetch was increasingly considered by producers as a benchmark.

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Whilst being a standout performer, using RM4 Vetch also presents challenges. Livestock producers in ASHEEP & BEEF’s membership are predominantly mixed farmers (cropping alongside sheep / cattle) and producers are increasingly growing pastures on an annual basis as part of a cropping rotation and not leaving pastures to regenerate the following year. The cost of pasture seed is therefore pertinent, as well as the legume’s potential to add value to the cropping program by providing a disease break and naturally fixing nitrogen to feed the following years’ crops. RM4 Vetch seed can be expensive to purchase and hard to procure. Harvesting seed can be challenging if there is not a good finish to the season.

RM4 Vetch’s hard-seededness causes it to germinate in subsequent crops and it has to be specifically controlled to avoid contamination (growers are reporting having to supress it up to four years following). There are therefore opportunities to increase profitability by reducing seed cost (either through using alternate varieties or increasing adoption of vetch in coastal areas for increased production of seed) and by using new alternate varieties with optimal harvestability and reduced crop contamination risk.

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Vetch also presents grazing challenges if not managed correctly. RM4 is a woolly pod vetch, with the seed containing high levels of toxin that can cause death in ruminants if consumed at high levels. Cattle are particularly susceptible. South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) advises that “these varieties/species should not be grazed before 15 nodes of growth or after pods have formed seed, due to the toxicity of the grain.”[Nagel et al, 2021] There is an opportunity to use new alternate varieties to avoid or reduce this risk, and also for producers to better understand safe grazing methods.

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In 2024, research came to the Esperance region in the form of a plot-scale trial from the Harvestable Annual Legume Options (HALO) project. HALO is a 4-year project led by DPIRD and Murdoch University Principal Research Scientist Dr Ron Yates in collaboration with CSIRO, GRDC and WAARC. The project's aim was to reduce synthetic nitrogen input in the farming system to increase resilience, profitability and sustainability, achieved through biologically fixed nitrogen, delivered by the discovery and selection of a suite of harvestable annual legumes well adapted to the WA environment. 

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The HALO project was funded to be focused on the cropping side of farming and the opportunity was identified to demonstrate and extend the project's outcomes to align with its strong relevance to livestock production. HALO researchers Dr Ron Yates and Robert Harrison offered their guidance to support effective demonstration site design and expertise at field days. The HALO research has been assessing a range of harvestable pasture legumes, including new varieties. By demonstrating the best performing varieties from their research outcomes on commercial scale and implementing an extension and adoption strategy, we have the opportunity to raise the bar for adoption of productive grazing systems that complement the cropping rotation.

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ASHEEP & BEEF has engaged Farm & General to facilitate the PDS, utilising their agronomy team to assist with project guidance, measurements and results analysis. Luke Edwards is the project lead within Farm & General.

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Methodology Snapshot

Over five growing seasons (2026–2030), the project will establish commercial‑scale demonstration sites across different rainfall zones and soil types in the Esperance region.

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In the first two growing seasons, three demonstration sites per year will be established in paddocks sown to RM4 vetch or other high‑performing harvestable pasture legumes, with the paddock cropped the following year. Within each site, up to six legume varieties will be sown at a commercially relevant scale (minimum four seeder widths by 100 metres - or at least 1 boom-spray width with the equivalent area – estimated at approx. 1ha of each variety). RM4 vetch will be included as a control where it is not the main paddock variety.  A portion of each variety will be fenced to allow pasture cuts and seed set, while the remainder will be managed within the host producer’s normal system to enable realistic assessment and observation. Areas will be kept at each site to assess nitrogen legacy the following year. Measurements will be taken to compare agronomic and economic performance, including soil testing, rainfall, pasture biomass and feed quality at key growth stages, harvestable seed yield, and nitrogen legacy into the following crop.

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In years three to five, the project will transition to paddock‑scale demonstration sites focused on producer adoption, using the same core measurement approach.

Sites and results will be reviewed annually to refine the methodology and maximise outcomes.

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Objectives

By June 2031, engaging 11+ core producers and 100+ observer producers in the Esperance region of WA the project will:

1. Establish 15 demonstrations at commercially relevant scale (each variety to be a minimum of 4 seeder widths, 100m long - or at least 1 boom-spray width with the equivalent area – estimated at approx. 1ha of each variety) that will have shown the most profitable and productive harvestable annual pasture legume options across a range of soil types, rainfall zones and seasonal conditions, using vetch as a control.

2. The findings of the Harvestable Annual Legume Options research will have been used to guide species selection and highlight dual benefits for cropping and livestock systems.

3. The relative economic performance of varieties will be calculated (as measured by biomass, nutritive analysis, calculated stocking rate, harvestable seed, nitrogen available to the crop rotation, and chemical control required during the cropping rotation to avoid contamination). (Producer observations regarding animal weight and grazing days will be discussed at field days, though due to project limitations these will not be formally assessed in PDS results).

4. The results of the PDS will have been disseminated with targeted extension activities, including via field days, case studies, articles and digital content, to facilitate adoption in line with a communications plan.

5. 80% of core producers will continue to implement learnings from demonstration sites to plant a variety new to their farming system or improve their management of vetch.

6. 50% of observer producers will have implemented or intend to implement learnings from demonstration sites to plant a variety new to their farming system or improve their management of vetch.

7. 100% of core producers and 60% of observer producers will have improved their knowledge and skills in relation to harvestable pasture legumes suited to their area, including strategies to avoid toxicity risk.

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There are opportunities throughout the project for producers to attend field days and host demonstration sites. ​

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Contact ASHEEP & BEEF if you would like more information on this project. ASHEEP & BEEF members will be provided with regular updates, visit our membership page if you would like to consider joining.