Underperforming soil types targeted in new pasture demonstration site

Sarah Brown, ASHEEP & BEEF

Chilwell Farms seeding the 2026 demonstration site in the Condingup area on 27th April 2026 with a disc seeder in grey clay soils.

ASHEEP & BEEF has a new pasture demonstration site in the Esperance region as part of the Future‑Ready South Coast project, with the 2026 site hosted by Simon Fowler (Chilwell Farms) in the Condingup region.

The site was sown on 27 April 2026 using a disc seeder and is located on heavy grey clay soils that are prone to becoming very wet.

One-hectare plots of the following varieties have been sown:

• Paradana balansa clover

• 4Front tetraploid perennial ryegrass

• Arise tetraploid Italian ryegrass

• Hogan tetraploid annual ryegrass

Grey clay soils at the 2026 demonstration site hosted by Chilwell Farms.Baseline soil sampling at the site has been completed. As the season progresses, measurements and monitoring will be undertaken to assess the relative economic performance of the varieties.

ASHEEP & BEEF has engaged South Coastal Agencies to provide agronomic support for the project, including data capture and analysis of demonstration site results.

Grey clay soils at the 2026 demonstration site hosted by Chilwell Farms, prone to becoming very wet causing trafficability issues.

The demonstration site is one of several that will be established by ASHEEP & BEEF during the project in the 2026 and 2027 seasons, with the aim of increasing adoption of practices that improve the productivity and soil health of areas of underperforming agricultural land in the Esperance region of WA. ASHEEP & BEEF will focus on the following problematic soil types that have been identified by producers:

• Grey clays, which are prone to waterlogging, surface sealing and poor trafficability

• Clay‑ameliorated soils, where non‑wetting sands have been treated with clay but pasture performance remains inconsistent

• Sandplain soils subject to transient waterlogging.

Project updates will be provided via reports on ASHEEP & BEEF's website, field days, and circulated directly to ASHEEP & BEEF members.

Many thanks to Simon Fowler and the team at Chilwell Farms for their significant in‑kind contribution to enable the delivery of this demonstration site, including site management and inputs. Thanks also to the ASHEEP & BEEF Committee and Pasture Sub-Committee for their time volunteered in overseeing and guiding the project, and to Chad Hall from South Coastal Agencies for assisting in the development of the project.

Broader project background

Future‑Ready South Coast is a multi‑year initiative led by South Coast Natural Resource Management (South Coast NRM) and supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate‑Smart Agriculture Program.

Across the South Coast region, South Coast NRM aims to support farmers to navigate changes in seasonal climate conditions. Primarily, this support is provided by facilitating grower and catchment groups to address challenges specific to their local region. The project also aims to increase the readiness of agricultural land managers to be proactive in the face of emerging carbon and biodiversity markets.

Find out more about the broader activities of the Future-Ready South Coast project by visiting southcoastnrm.com.au/future-ready-south-coast.