TRIAL PADDOCKS

​​What is it?  

A tool for the recording and analysis of stocking rates and paddock $ returns. It is also the software used in the

'Trial Paddocks' training program. 

Who is it for?

'Grazing only' and 'mixed crop / livestock' farmers.

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About 'Trial Paddocks'

With the learning from 'Trial Paddocks', profitability can now be analyzed at a paddock level on grazing farms. Grain farmers always receive reliable paddock level crop performance feedback (yield & quality) at harvest. Now with ‘Trial Paddocks’ production and financial KPIs can be monitored in grazing paddocks.

'Trial Paddocks' benefits:

• Timely feedback on pasture and crop inputs Vs outputs.

• Better understanding of productivity of different soils / land types managed.

• Monitoring of paddock costs, returns & enterprise gross margins keeps the focus on financials.

• On-farm research, testing recent industry innovations or the farmer's own ideas at a paddock level.

• Provides structure for new farmers looking to improve management & agronomy skills. 

• Leased country can be monitored to help understand strengths and weaknesses.

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Choosing trial paddocks:

There are no fixed rules. Farmers decide priorities and select the paddocks annually. Any paddock that is grazed can be included. The program is designed to assist farmers in tracking productivity, costs and returns related to grazing. It will also allow evaluation of the cost benefits of any management changes aimed at improving livestock performance and / or pasture or crop profitability. Each trail is conducted on a paddock basis over 12 months, allowing paddock KPIs to be comparable to those from cropped paddocks.

If cash reserves are low, the 'TP Plan' can be as simple as monitoring carrying capacity and profit generated from the selected paddocks. Simply fertilizing a few paddocks and comparing their performance to unfertilized paddocks with similar soils and pastures may be your 'TP plan'; just focusing on the financial returns from fertilizer. There will be time for more intensive evaluations in the future as your agronomic and farm improvement skills are refined and funds become available. 

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Joining a 'Trial Paddocks' Group.

Delivery of the 'Trial Paddocks' program is normally done in conjunction with a partner organization. Contact us and we will discuss your options. Participation can be for 1 year or many, monitoring up to 6 paddocks / yr. Continuing participants re-join the 'TP' program annually. Training focuses on ‘MS Excel’ basics, GM budgets, trial set-up, and a variety of relevant skills such as in Gross Margin budgeting, grazing management and agronomy. There are 3 workshops / year supporting the 'TP' program users and their learning.​

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Map: 'Kransley Creek', Southern Tablelands, NSW.

The 'Kransley Creek' map shows the trial paddocks selected for this farm this year; the top is Nth. The property is 442 Ha and runs a fat lamb enterprise (4000 DSE) being 1st X ewes (approx. 1430 breeders) with cattle weaner trading making up the balance of 1800 DSE (approx. 165 hd) bought April - sold November. Average carrying capacity is around 13.5 DSE/Ha. Average annual rainfall is 730 mm. Elevation is from 680M to 830M.

The area north of the creek is mostly arable and of alluvial origin except the House paddock which is mostly granite. South of the creek is about 95% granite derived and about 5% alluvial, with only around 20% being non-arable. Soil acidity and high aluminium are known to be a problem across the farm as have low phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) in most paddocks and low potassium (K) in some. The standard fertilizer program for the past 20 years has been 100 kg/Ha SSP to most pasture paddocks except in severe droughts. There was very little if any SSP applied before that. This year 125 kg/Ha SSP will go onto all paddocks not included in the 'TP' plan.

The 'Trial Paddocks' have been soil tested and the 'TP plan' has been be prepared. It is explained below:

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Crop 1 paddock has been sown to Italian ryegrass and Crop 2 will remain under lucerne. There is scattered Chilean needle grass (CNG) in these paddocks and Crop 2 had a severe CNG problem prior to being sown to lucerne. Crop 1 paddock will receive Croplift 15 fertilizer (120 kg/Ha) at sowing + 150 kg/Ha urea late winter. Crop 2 lucerne needs a phosphorus (P) boost so it will get 180 kg/Ha SSP in early spring. Both paddocks will be used to finish lambs with possible hay making in late spring if rainfall is adequate.

Airstrip paddock has a native grass pasture based mainly on weeping grass (microlaena stipoides). It has received 125 kg/Ha Superphosphate (SSP) in each of the past 5 years with sub-clover seed added in year 1. Airstrip paddock will receive the same fertiliser treatment this year. This paddock now has a good level of sub-clover and performs very well from spring to late autumn, particularly after storm rainfall events. 

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The Oats paddock is under a 35 year old phalaris / sub-clover based pasture which is now degraded with very little sub-clover remaining. Going forward, most of the farm will continue to be used for grazing only. The phalaris / sub-clover pastures are in the paddocks with better soils and native pastures (mostly red-leg grass (Bothriochloa macra) & sub-clover or weeping grass & sub-clover) on the lighter country. ​Cropping is important for the weaner cattle and will continue to be carried out in one or two paddocks annually. 

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Fred's 2 is to be cropped to winter wheat (4th consecutive crop but oats last year) and rotationally grazed several times pending rainfall. Fred's 2 crops have been cut for hay in 2 of the 4 past years and a recent test shows low P and K, so it has received an application of 8 M3/Ha of poultry manure. 
 

Bob's paddock is a 3 year old phalaris / sub-clover pasture. It received 8 M3/Ha of poultry manure prior to being re-sown. It has soil tested slightly low in P, low in S and K level is OK so it will get a maintenance application of 125 kg/Ha SSP this year.  

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Oats paddock will receive 2.5 T/Ha superfine lime, a capital application of 200 kg/Ha SSP with additional sub-clover seed added; 2 improved varieties at a total of 8 kg/Ha. Grazing pressure in the Oats paddock is to be increased through spring and early summer to reduce pasture dry matter (DM) cover in autumn. Excessive phalaris growth in the past 5  years has resulted in a dramatically reduced sub-clover level. Also, there is a Paterson's curse problem in the paddock, so a spraying program is also planned. 

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Best practice principles will apply to the management of the wheat in Fred's 2 paddock. The following key dates and targets apply:

• The initial knockdown spray to commence the fallow (Late September).

• Fred's paddock should be grazed hard or spray for minimum weeds through the fallow period.

• Sowing to be between late January and early February. 

• Pre-set minimum and maximum target grazing heights will ensure that the grazing process does not adversely impact crop recovery. 

The owners are interest in exploring the economic and management benefits of increasing the area of lucerne in the farming system. Lucerne is a bit more complex to manage than normal pastures and also more challenging to consistently make good quality hay from. Windmill and Front Flat paddocks are both well suited to lucerne and sowing those paddocks down to lucerne is being considered. In addition to an occasional grain harvest from crop paddocks, the farm could become self-sufficient in drought feed production. 

All grazing in the Trial Paddocks will be recorded as will all costs and income associated with the paddocks. The production and financial performance evaluated using the 'Trial Paddocks' recording and analysis tool. Any other income / expenses from opportunity hay making or grain harvesting will be included. The 2026  'TP plan' looks like it will be similar to this year. That could change later in the year as new opportunities arise that need  evaluation.

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Summary of 'TP plan': (What is to be trialed this year (2025) and the expected duration of the trial).

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Crop 1:    Profit ($/Ha ) , & best fit in farming system: Italian ryegrass Vs lucerne for fattening & hay. (1 - 2 yrs)

Crop 2:   Profit ($/Ha ), & best fit: Italian ryegrass Vs lucerne for fattening & hay. (2 - 3 yrs)

Oats:      ROI from rejuvenating of the old perennial grass / sub-clover pasture Vs sowing a new pasture. (3 yrs)

Bob's:     Compare carrying capacity (DSE/Ha), $/Ha profit & ROI to Oats and Airstrip paddocks. (2 - 3 yrs)

​Airstrip:   Compare carrying capacity (DSE/Ha), $/Ha profit & ROI to Bob's and Oats paddocks. (2 yrs)

Fred's 2:  Fodder crop profit ($/Ha ) over several years, focusing on disease control & costs of N inputs. (3 yrs)

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KEY:   ROI = Return on investment. DSE/Ha = Unit to compare carrying capacity. Profit = Paddock income less pad costs, before overheads.

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If you think that you and your farm could benefit from 'Trial Paddocks', contact us.

We are now planning 2026 groups. 

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