Grazing focus on wetland plants

Local producers can expect to gain hands-on knowledge of wetland plants and grazing management at NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) field days to be held this June and July.

Paddock plants field days will run from 9 am until 2 pm on Thursday, June 25 and Friday, June 26 in the Macquarie Marshes, and in the Gwydir wetlands on Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7 as part of the Grazing in Wetlands project.

NSW DPI conservation management officer, Steffan Holmes, said participants will receive a copy of the Glove box guide to plants of the Gwydir wetlands and Macquarie Marshes.

“We are providing details on the pastures and wetland plants to help graziers make informed management decisions,” Mr Holmes said.

“The guide lists 41 plant species which influence grazing in these wetlands, where they grow and how to identify and manage them.”

Information from the guide will be presented by NSW DPI’s Harry Rose, who worked with local graziers to pinpoint important plant species and analyse their grazing values, and NSW DPI researcher, Cathy Waters.

Feed quality of plants will also be discussed, with NSW DPI agronomists and livestock officers on-hand to offer advice.

Mr Holmes said attendance is free to graziers who have previously participated in the Grazing in Wetlands project and will cost $20 per farm for newcomers.

To register and receive more information on the field days contact Steffan Holmes at the NSW DPI Armidale office, (02) 6738 8517 or 0428 961 671.

Grazing in Wetlands is part of the NSW Wetland Recovery Program, which is funded through the Water Smart Australia program, a joint initiative of the NSW Government and Australian Government’s Water for the Future Plan.

The program is managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW and supported by NSW DPI, NSW Department of Water and Energy and the Central West and Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authorities.

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