Innovations in Ag: Upper Hunter Farmer’s Whole Farm Transition to Improve Productivity ep 2

Concerned about rising overheads and high input use Peter Dreyer went searching for a way of taking greater control on his 76ha Gresford, NSW, farm where he runs a beef breeding enterprise.
Peter left city life for farming six years ago in a period of significant drought for the Upper Hunter region. Initially grazing cattle with set stocking rates and heavily relying on irrigation and fertilizers, he struggled with the significant impacts of the dry and high overhead costs.
After attending a local workshop on practical methods to reduce the impact of drought, and following the drought breaking in 2020, Peter’s practice transformation began. In the past three years he has reduced his reliance on external inputs and lowered his on-farm costs with the goal of ensuring his enterprise would be prepared ongoing climactic challenges.
Three related principles underpin Peter’s current farming system:
Maintaining diverse groundcover with a focus on perennials.
Improving soil health including through minimizing the use of fertilisers and pesticides; and
Transitioning to cell grazing to improve animal health and support groundcover.
For more watch episode one: • Innovations in Ag: Upp... or more from our Innovations in Agriculture Series here: landcareaustra...
This case study was produced as part of the Landcare Farming Innovations in Agriculture Series. Supported by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, the Landcare Farming Innovations in Agriculture Series is managed in partnership by Landcare Australia and the National Landcare Network.

[@pam9470]

So good to see that Australian farmers are embracing this concept - which combines business with treating the land and animals with respect, which also includes the well-being of the farmers and their families. All the best from the UK!

[@peterfarrell8520]

Being an admirer of Landcare pioneers for ages. There’s constant scenario which gets thrown up, concerning livestock’s natural selection of herbage. And nature’s benefits, for animals and humans. Now humans have a proper propensity towards medicinal health and the accumulated history thereof. But with animals, we rely on scientific & veterinary advice and research. But so much seems to be left to chance, with the obvious differences of anatomy of an animal in relation to that of a human.

[@amnaecjo9760]

Great to see a south african doing good in australia.Go Boer go.

[@peterfarrell8520]

I noticed in that video a clip about mixed herbage I could not help but notice paspalum. What possible benefit can be obtained from cultivating Paspalum?

[@chessman483]

Awesome, we trying to head this way. A very run down few acres we have.