Grasslands conference at Wagga attracts 180 people

This year's Grassland Society of NSW conference held at Wagga Wagga for two days this week (25-26 July) has proved a hit with farmers and advisers in livestock industries, attracting more than more than 180 people from across the State.

Conference convenor, NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) agronomist at Tumut, Nathan Ferguson, said people travelled from as far afield as Queensland, the Central West, New England, and the far west of NSW for the annual event.

Producer John Coughlan from 'Cudal Park', Cudal, said it was a great to get all sections of the agricultural community together to hear presentations based on science followed up with practical advice from farmers such as Rodney Purcell from Brungle and Oliver Cay from Cooma.

"I thought the virtual reality tour of Rodney's farm at Brungle using satellite imagery was particularly impressive as it got people involved in the changes that he has implemented on his property," he said.

Robert Cox from 'Kooyong', Tooma, said NSW DPI's research officer Susan Orgill's presentation on 'Soil Carbon, variation across the landscape' was outstanding.

"Susan made the issue of carbon very interesting and got the message across that as farmers we are responsible for our soil carbon and the need to manage it carefully," he said.

NSW DPI agronomist based at Yass, Fiona Leech's, presentation on alternative fertilisers also sparked a lot of interest with its reference to some very interesting pasture trial results.

Mr Ferguson said bus tours covering high rainfall enterprises in the Rosewood and Tarcutta areas, a cross property planning tour at Kyeamba, and a mixed farming tour at Wagga Wagga and Collingullie were well received by attendees.

Photos available from sarahc@sf.nsw.gov.au

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