Around the Camp: forage budgeting / pasture photo standards / BlazeAid support

Welcome to the May edition of ‘Around the Camp’. This month’s edition focuses on pasture budgeting and monitoring, as the summer rainfall period is starting draw to an end and winter arrives, it is critical that you know how much pasture you have in the paddock and how long it will last for the stock you have. Hopefully some of theses articles help with your pasture management decisions.

Developing a Forage Budget
Stocktake Plus App – how can it help me?
Pasture photo standards
LambEx 2014 & Sheep CRC conference – throw your hat in the ring
BlazeAid volunteers offer Queensland drought aid
Upcoming events
e-Bulletins

1. Developing a Forage Budget

At this time of year it is critical to know what pasture is available in the paddock compared to your livestock’s feed demand. Forage/Pasture budgeting is a an easy tool that can help match these two together, help make an informed decision on how long the available pasture will last and assist with developing a drought management plan.

To learn more about Forage budgeting watch this 4 part video series, to view click here.

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2. Stocktake Plus app – how can it help me?

Forget the pen and paper, GPS, camera and land type sheets – a smartphone and a new free Stocktake Plus app are all a grazier needs to determine stocking rates and carrying capacity in any paddock.

The Stocktake Plus was developed after extensive industry consultation by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) with funding from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). It is designed to be a practical, work-anywhere (including outside telephone range), decision support tool.

How will Stocktake Plus help me?

Assists in monitoring grazing land condition by logically guiding the user through the process.
Stores monitoring information and produces reports, including long-term carrying capacity calculations, based on user input
Guides the user through a basic or detailed forage budget
Stores rainfall records
Stores stock numbers (converts to Adult Equivalents, displays current stock on Land Condition reports, and can import figures to demand section of a forage budget)
Directs users to their monitoring sites using GPS functions
Helps the user identify their land type(s), using the land type mapping of Queensland.
Backs up all information securely on the internet, only accessible by the user.

The app is more than a digital log; it has many in-built support tools including such things as land type fact sheets, ground cover and pasture photo standards and much more.

To find out more or to download the app, click here.

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3. Pasture photo standards

Pasture photo standards are an ‘easy to use’ and essential tool in good grazing land management. They will help you develop pasture budgets and dry season business management plans. There are photo standards and corresponding pasture yields for many of Queensland’s common pasture communities (based on region or pasture species).

Take a look at the pasture yields for your region by clicking here

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4. LambEx 2014 & Sheep CRC conference – throw your hat in the ring

For the first time ever, Leading Sheep is presenting an exciting opportunity for two Queensland sheep, lamb or wool producers to attend the Sheep CRC Conference: ‘Concept to Impact’ AND LambEx 2014.

The program for LambEx features a star line‐up of new speakers, familiar faces and – in its trademark style – an array of local and global issues influencing the sheep and lamb industry’s future. LambEx 2014 will bring together producers, processors, exporters, service providers and food service professionals in the one venue – across a two-day conference program, a trade show and gala lamb dinner.

This will be the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation’s (Sheep CRC’s) final conference, covering research outcomes and achievements from 2007 – 2014. The conference will focus on providing practical, take home messages for breeders, producers and companies in the meat and wool supply chains.

For more information on the offer or to apply, click here.

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5. BlazeAid volunteers offer Queensland drought aid

BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods. BlazeAid are now supporting drought affected properties. Their first drought relief base camp has opened in Richmond, Qld. If you are wanting more information on BlazeAid or would like to register your property for some much needed help, click here.

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6. Upcoming events

Tie Up the Black Dog Committee presents an evening with Wayne Wigham followed by a free BBQ
- 19 May 5:45pm Winton, click here to view flyer.
- 20 May 5:45pm Longreach, click here to view flyer.
29 May Electric Fencing webinar – details to be confirmed.