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 established and are being 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 tuples will be followed. 

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