The ability to think outside the square and consider alternatives is helping
an Australian family to cope with the current drought crisis. Wool producers
David and Mary Marsh run Allendale, an 813ha mixed property on the southwest
slopes of NSW 120km nw of Canberra. They have an average rainfall of
625mm and to date have received 419 mm. Growth of plants effectively
stopped early October meaning their season ended 2 months ahead of normal.
Their current concern is the extremely dry nature of the ground surface.
“A mob of 4000 wethers grazing on approx 9ha can create bare ground inside
two days,” say David. “Part of our landscape goal is to always have
soils covered.” Bare ground increases water run off when rain does arrive
resulting in erosion, flooding, and less grass production. Monitoring
the environment to review stock numbers is a habit the Marshs learned while
training as holistic farmers.
David and Mary find the holistic planned grazing enables them to know well
in advance how much feed is ahead of the animals. They now make decisions
before paddocks are damaged. One idea that has stuck is the relevance
of recovery periods for grass plants. David explains, “We plan not to
regraze any plants before they have fully recovered from the current grazing.
In a dry year like this where growth is slow, recovery periods are long but
can be planned for. Now we currently have enough grass to get us through
to harvest (the week of Christmas) and reckon with splitting our stubble paddocks
(160ha) with electric fencing we can get 40 days grazing from cropping areas.
So even if we have no rainfall we can get through to mid Feb.”
Set stocking doesn’t allow plants, (particularly perennials) to rest giving
time to bulk up and replenish their root reserves. As David observes
with set stocking, “Plants are eaten as soon as leaves emerge, a situation
that eventually kills the perennials no matter how many livestock are grazing.
This leads to pastures dominated by annuals.” Warm season perennial
grasses dominate most Australian grasslands in their natural state.
The Marsh’s sold approx 1000 sheep mid August and are planning to reduce
further. David observes, “The decision to seriously cut stock numbers
is often delayed due to the ability of humans to remain optimistic even when
things look bleak. Our usual stocking rate is around 13 dse/ha.
We are currently running 11dse/ha. Further reductions will take it down
to 8.5 dse/ha.” The Australian mutton market has been high for some
time but is under increasing pressure as producers unload due to the high
cost of feeding.
As David points out, “Our planned grazing will mean that feeding for us
will not start until February” saving them approx $5000 for each week compared
to farmers starting to feed supplements now. Furthermore, in reducing
stock and leaving the grazing areas of the farm to rest, the Marsh’s hope
to forego any need to renovate grazing lands once the rain arrives.
The Marsh’s believe this drought is a great test for using Holistic Management.
As David observes, “We are certainly not any more clever than other farmers,
but Holistic Management does empower you to look and think outside the square
and consider other alternatives rather than accepting the status quo unquestioningly.”