The Grassland Society of NSW will hold its annual conference from July 24 to 26 at Charles Sturt University, Wagga.
The theme for the event is Managing a Grazing Business for Profit in the Agricultural Landscape.
As farmers would attest, agriculture operates in a diverse landscape, with businesses having to cope with changes in soil, topography, climate, and markets just to name a few.
The conference aims to provide producers with information and skills development to help their businesses cope with this variability.
Topics graziers can expect to hear about include;
- What management actions can be implemented for sustainable agricultural production in the landscape.
- What impact increasing soil fertility has on native pastures and farm profit.
- How pastures fit into a mixed farming enterprise.
Each of the topics has been on the radar of the farming community for several years, with extra information available to develop ideas and strategies for the future.
The conference is shaping up to have some interesting topics with very good speakers to deliver the message.
One of the first speakers that has agreed to present is Dr Richard Simpson, senior research scientist, CSIRO Plant Industry.
Dr Simpson will present a paper discussing phosphorus in the agricultural landscape.
In October 2009 Dr Simpson, in conjunction with others from CSIRO and NSW DPI, released the booklet 5 Easy Steps to ensure your making money from superphosphate.
With phosphorus being a key driver of pasture production Dr Simpson will provide the audience with tools to ensure that phosphorus is being applied in a manner that maximises its efficiency while reducing potential environmental impacts.
The mix of invited speakers include local graziers, NSW DPI research and extension staff, consultants, lectures and researchers from CSU and the EH Graham Centre.
These speakers will discuss topics and issues from omega 3 fatty acids and sex ratio in sheep, to soil carbon, humic substances to alternative fertilisers, farmers using Grassgro® to fertilising native pastures.
The conference is sure to have something that will appeal to all involved in the grazing industry.
The ever popular bus tours will also be available.
Bus trips will be designed to appeal to a broad cross section of producers.
Tours are likely to look at mixed farms, incorporating crops and livestock, and also to the higher rainfall areas to the east of Wagga.
For those interested in cross property planning a tour to the Kyeamba valley to discuss with producers that have begun a cross property planning process.
The Grassland Society annual conference is open to everyone.
However, membership of the society has other benefits.
For further information about the society visit www.grasslandnsw.com.au/news/
< p>Or contact Nathan Ferguson on (02) 6947 4188 or email nathan.ferguson@industry.nsw.gov. au.
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