In 2019, ASHEEP & BEEF pitched a Pasture Variety Trials project to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) via their producer demonstration site program. The project was accepted and is now underway, running over a five year period, comparing different varieties of pasture (annuals and perennials) across a range of soil types.

In the first two years of the project (2020 & 2021) we ran plot scale trials at six sites with around 15 varieties at each. In 2022 - 2024 we then monitor commercial scale demonstration sites by following farmers who are using the varieties demonstrated in the plot trials.

Results are available for the 2020 & 2021 plot-scale trials, with reporting delivered by South East Agronomy Research who managed the sites.

South Coastal Agencies then took on oversight of the commercial-scale demonstration sites in 2022, and their analysis of the 12 demonstration sites monitored that year is available below in the Year 3 Annual Report.

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In 2023, seven demonstration sites were monitored. In Cascade (Medium Rainfall Zone) one of the sites includes a comparison of straight vetch, vetch / brassica mix, and vetch / oats mix. This is of particular interest to the project team as vetch is becoming well established as a high-performing benchmark pasture for the region. The review of these sites is available in the Year 4 Annual Report.

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In 2024, the final year of the project, six sites across different rainfall zones and soil types were being followed. The interest in assessing vetches in different rainfall zones and mixes continued, and also included was a demonstration site of Diaman2ti Bladder Clover and a site with an experimental pasture mix with a large range of pastures. The results are available in the Year 5 Annual Report.

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The project's overarching final report is due for release in the second half of 2025.

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By identifying the most suitable varieties for the environment we aim to enable producers to identify opportunities to increase productivity.