Publications, case studies and trial results relevant to Grain and Graze 2's Adaptive Management projects are linked below
Adaptive management
Risk analysis - Training notes for the use of @Risk in whole farm models (Version 5.1)
A training manual tor the use of @risk (Monte Carlo) simulations to create indivdiual whole farm financial risk outputs
Equipping farmers to take a fresh look at rules of thumb
Issue around surfacing and testing rules of thumb to make more informed decisions.
Investigation into the role and usefulness of decision making processes in time of sowing wheat
Honours research into issues affecting time of sowing - important when considering social issues around earlier sowing
Improving farmer capacity to manage profitability and risk (2010)
Analyse a whole case study farm to evaluate adaptive farm systems and develop simple approaches which farmers can use to help their decision making, especially in the face of uncertain seasons and profit margins. The analysis highlighted that at Birchip, profitability and risk are both driven largely by a combination of soil type, associated enterprise mix, level of debt, machinery investment and ..."Soil Organic Matter" What is it good for?
The presentation Harm delivered at the Sheep Management Showcase in 2015. It higlighted that it's ok to have sheep in cropping systems - they will not compromise soil organic carbon.
South
Six Seasons of the Farming System Trial in the Southern Mallee
Farming systems long term comparison - ‘fuel burner’, ‘hungry sheep’, ‘reduced till’ and ‘no till’ farming systems.
Mineral deficiencies hold sheep back
Mineral deficiencies in sheep - opportunities to improve animal health and production.
Reducing sheep methane emissions through improved forage quality on mixed farms
Methane measurements from different feed sources in low rainfall farming systems. NRM implications.
Analysing and discussing risk in farming businesses
Describes insights from conducting whole farm risk analysis using Monte Carlo simulations with farmers.
Investing better in sheep through ram
Sheep enterprises deserve the same degree of managerial input as does cropping. Strategic investment in livestock can pay huge dividends. Learn how to use genetic tools so better ram investments can be made.
Benchmarking sheep enterprises using Breeding Value technology
Breeding Values can increase productivity and profitability of a livestock business through long term improvement to genetics of the flock by benchmarking performance, continually setting higher targets and monitoring actual progress. The technology can also be used in conjunction with other sheep husbandry activities to increase labour efficiency. To be effective, the use of technology needs to b...Benchmarking EP sheep enterprises
Benchmarking on upper EP has allowed identification of areas to address in livestock production to improve productivity and/or profitability.
Mixed farm LRZ impact and adaptation
Biophysical and economic impact and adaption options in a changing climate for low rainfall mixed farms & graziers in the rangelands.
Effect of body condition score on conception & fecundity
Non-merino ewe condition score impact on fertility.
Influence of loose lick supplement on the growth rate of lambs grazing stubbles
Opportunities to adapt feedlot approaches to extensive lamb production feed supplements to improve growth rates and productivity in grazed cereal stubble and contra impacts on canola stubble.
Is it time to revisit management of acid soils
Highlights constraints on pasture production and nitrogen fixation. Outlines work in southern NSW looking at impact of soil acidification on root growth and nodulation of legumes - key drivers of pasture incorporation in mixed farming.
Role of livestock in whole farm management
Results from this study having a livestock enterprise is not the driver of overall farm profit in the Wimmera/Mallee region with profit trending downwards as percentage of income from livestock increases.
Farming systems managing profitibility and risk in a grain business
Financial analysis of business across grain growing areas, acknowloging role of livestock in risk management.
Southern Mallee & Wimmera Mixed Farming Issues
Issues and opportunities for livestock production in low-medium rainfall Southern Mallee & Wimmera areas.
Future Farm CRC Report 14 - Financial Risk Modelling
Financial risk modelling and long-run weather and price variations
Practical Tips, Tricks & Ideas
Sheep in the whole farm system
A summary of the Eyre Peninsula sheep group activities to deliver whole farm system forums
Farmer Insights
Forage and grain yield of grazed cereals
Summarises 6 years of grazing crop research in Wimmera-Mallee and some of the opporutnities to make grazing a grain crop work.
Vetch Termination
Legume termination and end-use is a compromise between biomass (feed), system benefits, hay and grain production.
Changing land management on the Eyre Peninsula
Producer stories of changing land management to increase surface cover and productivity in mixed farming systems on Eyre Peninsula
