Why
Monitor Seasonal Conditions
The potential for land and pasture degradation means
that both governments and industry have a responsibility to monitor the condition
of these resources, and to derive sustainable management practices which allow
for year-to-year variation in climate and pasture production.
Pasture research over the last 30 years, combined with
modern technologies, is opening up new possibilities for improving pasture
management decisions. If we are to manage our pastures profitably and sustainably,
we need to have access to the best up-to-date information on seasonal conditions.
This information is an important part of the context within which graziers
make property management decisions.
Assessing Pastures
Pasture studies have indicated that adverse changes in
pasture composition are determined by the degree of pasture utilisation; land
degradation is determined by the amount of surface cover which is closely
related to standing pasture dry matter; and stocking rate affects the processes
of pasture growth, detachment and animal consumption.
Thus quantification of the interaction of stock numbers
and pasture growth is required in order to understand processes, define sound
management practices, monitor resource use and forecast the risk of degradation.
