THE Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is supporting research into irrigated fodder production in the Kimberley and Pilbara to help boost the competitiveness of the northern beef industry.
Department Beef Industry Development director Brad McCormick was in Broome last week to attend a mosaic agriculture field walk highlighting on-going research and development to investigate fodder production based on centre pivot irrigation systems.
Mr McCormick said research by DPIRD’s Northern Beef Futures project aims to determine the production potential and feed quality for a range of irrigated pasture, fodder and crop options to broaden the feed base of northern beef grazing systems.
The project’s mosaic agriculture research in Broome is focused on species for hay production and direct grazing and includes annual and perennial tropical grasses, temperate annual grasses and legumes.
The trials were sampled at different cutting times over the wet and dry seasons to measure regrowth and feed quality.
The first measurements, taken recently, showed all varieties had established well and revealed good growth and feed quality.
“The innovative use of irrigated pastures to improve supply chain value and allow the northern WA beef industry to better meet market specifications is increasingly being adopted by producers in the Kimberley and Pilbara,” Mr McCormick said.
“Pastoralists, agribusiness and consultants were invited to view the trials, established at the Water Corporation’s Broome North Wastewater Treatment Plant, which enable intensive measurement of plant growth and feed quality and provide benchmarking data.
“The arrangement provides the department with a trial site close to the Broome office and Water Corporation receives specialised advice on its irrigation management decisions.
“This type of cross-department collaboration is a good example of the efficient use of public resources for industry and community benefit.”
Water Corporation regional manager north west Rino Trolio said recycled water at the Broome North Wastewater Treatment Plant was used to grow Rhodes grass, which was sold to local farmers as cattle feed.
“The funds raised by the sale of hay support community projects in the Kimberley, so the department’s advice will ultimately help us maximise these funds,” Mr Trolio said.
“In 2016-17, the Water Corporation generated more than $110,000 for the West Kimberley Community Grants Scheme and I look forward to continuing our work with the department to further benefit the region.”
The northern beef industry is a vital contributor to the economic development of the State.
The Northern Beef Futures project is funded by the Royalties for Regions program and the project’s mosaic agriculture research is co-funded by the Meat and Livestock Australia Donor Company.
Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association chairman David Stoate was at the industry field walk and said pivot irrigation systems were a good initiative to investigate in the region.
He said it was good to see the department doing on-farm trials.
“There has been a lot of investment and there needs to be a lot more long-term investment in the Pilbara,” Mr Stoate said.
He said he had 20ha in irrigation on his property and knew a lot of other producers who had various forms of irrigation as well.
“It will definitely add value to the cattle industry in the north,” he said.