Grant projects to build pastoral sustainability

Posted 27 November 2020.

Grants for pastoral businesses to trial management practices and technologies to better adapt to varying climates and markets and improve the sustainability of businesses, have been offered as part of the Board’s Building Pastoral Sustainability Project.

Grants were awarded to two projects in round one of the Pastoral Sustainability Grant program, with applications received for up to $30,000 in funding. A second grant round will open in mid 2021.

Lyndavale Cattle Co will receive funding for a walk-over weigh and draft system for De Rose Hill Station in the Marla Oodnadatta district.

The system enables decisions regarding livestock movements to be data-driven, thereby optimising turn-off weights and maximising returns. It will also help in taking action to prevent over-grazing by enabling timely decisions with respect to livestock weights ‘plateauing’ during dry times.

Paroo Pastoral also received funding for a regenerative grazing project for Buckleboo Station in the Gawler Ranges.

The project aims to change grazing management to a time-controlled grazing method and allow complete spelling of a grazed area for at least 10 months. It includes additional sub-division fencing, and trap yards around all watering points.

Findings and results from both projects will be shared with all landholders in the region.

Both funded projects addressed at least one of the outcomes aligned with the BPS project:

• Assist businesses to adapt to significant changes in climate and markets
• Trial sustainable agricultural practices or technologies that may not yet be widely adopted in the SAAL region
• Improve the capacity of pastoral businesses to demonstrate the sustainability of their operations through the traceability of their products.
• Improve pastoral industry sustainability, productivity and profitability
• Increase adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that directly improve natural resources.

The grants were open to all pastoral businesses in the SA Arid Lands region that earn at least 50 per cent of income from sheep or cattle grazing native pastures.