Irrigated lucerne for profit - PROfarm testimonial
Producer's Details
Name: Ron and Deid Shlitz
Location: “Uondo”, Kerang, Victoria
Property Area: 915 hectares
Enterprise: Prime lamb, lamb feedlot, hay, lucerne, cereal (hay) and straw
Goals: Improve production and profitability using best-management and environmental practices. Maximise lucerne and lamb production per ha using water efficient practices.
Number of livestock: 1400 breeding ewes, 30 Angus cows
Pastures: Mostly country for oats and hay, some southern rye and lucerne
Soil types: Loam and Wandella clay
Rainfall: 375mm
Ron and Deid Shlitz
With a prime lamb enterprise, a lamb feedlot and a cereal, hay, lucerne and straw operation, Ron and Deid Shlitz are well aware of the importance of best management practices for a sustainable and profitable business.
Running more than 1400 ewes and 30 Angus cross cows across 915 hectares, at their property “Uondo”, south west of Kerang in Victoria, Ron Shlitz said it was essential to stay in touch with industry developments and research and that it was important to invest in all parts of the business to ensure supply and quality to secure premium markets.
To gain more knowledge about lucerne production and to add to his practical skills in agronomy, irrigation, haymaking and seed production, Ron participated in the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) PROfarm course, Irrigated lucerne for profit.
“I had been trying to get to the course for more than three years,” Ron said.
“So when the opportunity to attend a workshop in Forbes, NSW, came up last year, I decided to go,” he said.
Making the 1000km round trip with a fellow producer, Ron said one of the highlights of the course was the opportunity to network with growers and to learn from other successful irrigated lucerne producers.
“It was great to access so many new links to the industry, including lucerne specialists, and being able to talk to other producers about how they do things was a real plus,” he said.
“We discussed growing in different climates, different varieties of lucerne and the various market opportunities. Since then, we’ve been able to call each other, as well as the agronomists at the course to discuss progress or to ask any questions we may have.”
As the seasons have not been the best over the 12 years since Ron and Deid have been at “Uondo”, lack of irrigation water has been an ongoing issue.
“We’ve only had three or four average seasons in that time, with the rest being below average or in drought,” he added.
“I found the course very useful in that I now have a better understanding of our water and soil structure and how lucerne reacts to different soil types.
“We have a bit of high boron at “Uondo” ─ which lucerne is unable to penetrate. So I was able to bring this up at the course and following some tests and advice, I’ve been able to make some changes in order to better manage the problem.
“We’ve got some sub surface drip under lucerne and the course has also helped us there. While we used to establish our crop in autumn, we now only establish it in the spring and are getting better results.
“While the knowledge is basic, it’s great to know the research work is out there and we can access it at any time.”
The two-day course, Irrigated lucerne for profit, provides best management practice guidelines for irrigated lucerne production, practical skills in agronomy, irrigation and haymaking, links to industry specialists and other growers, a field tour (of successful irrigated lucerne enterprises) and barbeque to allow networking between growers.
Other topics covered include planning and budgeting, lucerne varieties and establishment, pest management (weeds, insects and diseases), nutrition, irrigation management – soils, layout and scheduling, quality assurance, feed quality testing and marketing.