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Mixed enterprise producer boosts profitability with pasture varieties

Mixed enterprise producer Sydney Lawrie.
Mixed enterprise producer Sydney Lawrie.

This article is sponsored by Pasture Genetics.

Mixed enterprise producer Sydney Lawrie, sows modern pasture varieties to boost his farm’s profitability.

Sydney operates a vigorous cropping enterprise and a first-class Poll Merino stud in Tumby Bay, South Australia.

It is crucial that each enterprise benefits the other, and his system has been improved with the introduction of Pasture Genetics varieties, Cavalier Spineless Burr Medic and Cobra Balansa Clover.

Sydney’s farm has a range of soil types, fortunately, the blend of Cavalier Spineless Burr Medic and Cobra Balansa Clover has the adaptability to suit his varied paddocks.

We haven’t seen the disease issues in Cavalier Spinless Burr Medic that we have seen in previously sown varieties.

- Sydney Lawrie

“Cavalier Spinless Burr Medic grows really well across much of my farm, it’s a good fit,” Sydney said.

“In the areas that are too waterlogged for the medic, the Cobra Balansa Clover picks up.

“The regeneration of the Cavalier Spinless Burr Medic has been really good, and it bounces out of the ground.

“Looking at the cropping aspect of the business, the pasture legume rotation has assisted in managing our levels of nitrogen, improving soil nutrition and grain quality, and increasing our overall farm profitability.

“The pasture phase has been really important, we get good ground cover over summer from the residual Cavalier Spineless Burr Medic, and if we are in a tight spot the sheep graze it back to the boards, they live off it,” he said.

The farm didn’t have to use much urea the following year and is seeing the benefits in it’s cropping program.  

“High quality wool is our priority; the spineless burr nature assists in achieving this,” Sydney said.

“The lack of burr in the wool is outstanding, unlike what we experienced with older medic varieties.

“We haven’t seen the disease issues in Cavalier Spinless Burr Medic that we have seen in previously sown varieties.

“The Cavalier Spinless Burr Medic is a good fit, it grows really well, goes to seed and keeps growing.

“When it finishes up we still have the Cobra Balansa Clover to graze. I’ve been really impressed; the sheep perform well on it.” Sydney concluded.

This article is sponsored by Pasture Genetics.