Index
​Introduction
Pasture management
Livestock matters
Legumes
Grazing tactics
Management
​Healthy landscapes

The Derwent Pasture Network

Low-rainfall environments like the Derwent Valley face long dry periods, a short growing season, major year-to-year and season-to-season variability in rainfall, unreliable autumns, wide temperature ranges, and on top of this, weeds and pests.

​Increasing resilience is the key to safeguarding your property for the future. Resilience can be achieved at many points, in pastures, grazing, livestock/enterprise, in proactive and responsive management, and through the capital that is ourselves and our neighbours.

Farming is a series of compromises, so understanding the pros and cons of your options enables you to make informed choices. The Derwent Pasture Network seeks to provide evidence-based information in a straightforward manner, answer difficult questions, explore management options and support effective decision making.  

Grazing dryland pasture is much more than animal meets feed.

How we manage grazing on dryland pastures is critical to the success of sheep and beef enterprises. Pasture is a business asset, not merely a collection of plants. It is an indicator of production and landscape management, and health. It is a window to the value and performance of the grazing system. 

Managers of these systems face plenty of difficult decisions, challenging choices and risks. How pastures are grown, grazed, rested and allocated to livestock makes a difference. We can manage stress and make what we grow really count. We can manage slopes and fragile soils, nurture resources and the farm environment. Good decisions build resilient, productive, sustainable pasture and grazing systems.