Riverine Plains Blog

Key points 

• Introduce stock slowly to grazing cereal and canola/brassica crops  
• Feed test to know the quality of your crop 
• Avoid nutrient imbalances when grazing young crops by providing a mineral/salt lick and roughage 
• Know the signs of nutrient-related animal health disorders. 

While some farmers have already started grazing winter forage crops, some later-sown crops will only be ready for grazing now. Cereals are ready to be grazed when they have developed secondary roots and are well anchored, usually around the 3-leaf stage.  

Riverine Plains recently hosted a soil health webinar as part of a project supported by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

While the past few growing seasons have been favourable in terms of pricing and production for most Riverine Plains grain farmers, drought is inevitable, and the next drought or dry time might only be around the corner. 

Grain crops require plenty of nitrogen to deliver good yields, and when soils are nitrogen deficient, adding fertiliser into the system is necessary. 

Soils in the Riverine Plains region can be complex, with constraints segmented across the profile. Soil acidity is a classic example of this, with some soils not being acidic in the topsoil but being profoundly acidic beyond 15cm depth.