Pastures at the cutting edge for 2008 Grassland Conference

North-west NSW is set to attract hundreds of producers, researchers and industry representatives when the 23rd Grassland Society of NSW conference takes place at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre (TREC) in July.

This year’s conference, Pastures at the cutting edge, will highlight the importance of pastures in farming systems with the latest research, producer insights and field tours of local properties.

Conference convenor and NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) district agronomist, Loretta Serafin, said the conference has been divided into four sections to address issues facing producers.

“Balancing pastures and livestock in view of climate change and making pastures pay are significant concerns to the industry,” Ms Serafin said.

“On the other hand soil health and incorporating new pasture varieties developed to suit specific climatic and environmental conditions are going to generate a lot of interest.”

According to Ms Serafin the annual conference provides a positive forum to exchange ideas and hear directly from producers and researchers about their latest practices and findings.

“The Tamworth region with its productive soils and diverse agricultural enterprises is an ideal location to look at the way we are using pastures now and explore future possibilities,” she said.

“Producers face complex issues in managing soils, pastures, livestock and crops – they need to work out which enterprises will offer the greatest profit and the most desirable social and environmental outcomes.”

The conference will be held over two days, July 22 and 23, with an optional pre-conference tour to be held on July 21 as well as a social evening and annual general meeting.

Participants will receive a set of conference proceedings for future reference and have the option of three bus tours centred on the Barraba, Pine Ridge/ Quirindi and Tamworth districts.

A conference dinner will be held at the West Leagues Club featuring well-known entertainer and bush poet Murray Hartin with his unique style of storytelling.

Full details of speakers and topics, tours and registration, which closes July 11, is available from NSW DPI’s Tamworth office, (02) 6763 1100 or contact Loretta Serafin for more information, (02) 6763 1147 or 0427 311 819.