LEGUME and clover blends have proven an excellent rotational tool for maximising livestock and crop performance on the Eyre Peninsula property of John and Theresa Flavell and their family.
They farm at Gum Flat, near Cleve, on 1200 hectares of total arable area.
Each year, John dedicates a certain proportion of his property to pasture improvement.
This year more than 22ha will go to an improved pasture blend made up of medics and clovers. Last year, it was 50ha.
Livestock is the major focus of the enterprise: they run about 900 breeding ewes.
"We have a fair emphasis on sheep, so pasture improvement is important," John said.
"Unless you have good pastures, you're really just wasting your time."
John says his pasture mix is designed for weed control, sheep feed and a cheap source of nitrogen.
"The biggest money-waster on the farm is grass control," he said.
"If we can't get a grass-free pasture, it doesn't fit in at all with our strategy of growing clean, grass-free wheat crops."
On the cropping side, John grows mostly wheat, with some barley.
Each season his pasture improvement mix is made up of Cavalier spineless burr medic, Parabinga medic, Dalsa subclover and Clare 2 subclover, with a small percentage of Sardi Persian Clover or Bartolo bladder clover.
"I just find planting clovers and medics is a perfect fit on the farm," he said.
"While the establishment costs might be reasonably high, once it's established, it leads to a cheap wheat crop, year-in and year-out.
"While clovers and medics can be a tricky product to establish evenly, I've found the blend I've been using makes it a lot easier. But, as with any pasture, it does require a good level of management, understanding of nutrition and broadleaf control.
"It's also important to constantly monitor for insects, even on established medic and clover stands."
The blend is sown through an airseeder at a rate of 6.5 kilograms a hectare with 60kg/ha of DAP as early in the season as possible following the break. Late April is an ideal time.
Last season, the blend was planted to a weedy paddock and provided an opportunity to control grass weeds with a herbicide application early in the piece.
Seasonal conditions were quite favourable and the legume blend reached a height of 150 millimetres before it was grazed by sheep from mid-August.
* Full report in Stock Journal, July 17, 2014 issue.
Paula Thompson
Stock Journal's markets editor.
Stock Journal's markets editor.
