Prepping winter grazing paddocks for next year
As winter grazing season comes to a close, now's the time to plan ahead for next year.
Providing weather conditions stay sufficiently dry, farmers should be taking advantage of the opportunity to plant catch crops and ensure ground cover.
Introducing catch crops and ground cover as soon as conditions allow can help protect soil, reduce risk of erosion and support paddock recovery heading into spring. Catch crops also help soak up excess nitrogen to prevent leaching into groundwater.
Many grazed paddocks will have already been over-sown with catch crops.
Principal farm systems advisor Sarah Heddell said now was the time to sow winter-tolerant species to cover bare soil, particularly in feed paddocks that have been heavily grazed.
Avoid sowing crops in Critical Source Areas
Our land management advisors understand there is still some confusion out there around Critical Source Areas (CSAs) .
Under the national winter grazing regulations, CSAs must remain in grass (not cultivated, cropped or grazed) and fenced from stock during the winter grazing period from May 1 to September 30.
CSAs are the areas in the paddock prone to acting as a transport pathway for overland drainage, channelling runoff into nearby waterways.
Our land management advisors encourage farmers to take note of the low points in their paddocks and where water ponds form after rain, as these are likely CSAs.
"Keep them in grass next winter and leave a buffer between them and your winter crop. Long grass is a natural filter that helps trap sediment and nutrients before they reach our waterways," Sarah said.
Other areas on your farm can also be considered CSAs, including areas of high foot traffic such as:
- laneways
- stock races
- yards
- feeding or trough areas
- gateways
- camping site.