Grass Roots and All for 20th Annual Grasslands Conference in Orange

The 20th Annual NSW Grasslands Society Conference will be being held in Orange from 19-21 July under the theme of Grass Roots and All.

Convenor of the 20th Annual Grassland Society Conference, Michael Uttley, said that about 350 farmers, agronomists and agribusiness specialists from across NSW and Victoria would converge on Orange for the three-day event.

“The Grass Roots and All conference will look at wide ranging topics from soil nutrition and management through to feeding lambs, sub clover production and management of pasture in saline areas,” Mr Uttley said.

“The Annual Grasslands Conference has a strong reputation for delivering the latest agricultural research that is practical, profitable and sustainable … this year’s conference is certain to carry on that tradition.

“The line-up of speakers for the conference has already generated plenty of interest, especially Peter Andrews, Tarwyn Park, who will discuss Natural Sequence Farming – an extremely topical farming issue.

“The conference features producers, extension officers and scientific experts addressing a range of topics on the conference theme of Grass Roots and All.”

Mr Uttley said the program covers topics that producers would find both interesting and relevant.

Topics include:

  • Landscape indicators – what the country is trying to tell you and factors that can act as limiters or production-potential indicators (Bruce Clements, NSW DPI).
  • Changes ahead for grazing management – improving pasture production and what’s best for your business (Karl Behrendt, Bathurst).
  • Lamb feeding – a simple/efficient system (Rick White, Mudgee).
  • Productive and profitable winter wheats – (Bob Freebairn NSW DPI).
  • Management for pasture production in complex tablelands environments (David McKenzie, soils expert, Orange).
  • Strategic nitrogen use – viewing nitrogen as a feed supplement, not a fertiliser (Andrew Harborne, Incitec Pivot, Goulburn).

A series of bus tours is also being held as part of the conference. Bus tours have been organised to cover both mainstream grazing and cropping enterprises associated with tablelands and slopes farming as well as alternative enterprises including boer goats, red deer and olives.

Information and registration details contact Keith Garlick 02 6362 1899 or Frank McRae 02 6391 3198 or go to www.grasslandnsw.com.au

Media contacts: Michael Uttley 02 6362 9744 or Frank McRae 02 6391 3198