Decision making in the lead-up to dry periods
An excellent article by the Rangelands Living Skin (RLS) project has recently been published on the MLA website. This article discusses the challenges facing producers in the variable NSW rangelands and focusses on destocking strategies in the lead-up to dry periods. It includes input from several producers (including the ARS’s own Angus and Kelly Whyte) about how they use strategic stock management to maintain landscape health and business profitability. Read more here.
December issue of the FutureBeef e-bulletin has just arrived
The latest FutureBeef e-bulletin is full of interesting articles including modelling results for optimising beef systems in the Western Australian southern rangelands, phosphorus supplementation in cattle in northern Australia, the spread of pasture dieback across Queensland and a frank insight into drought decision making in central Queensland. The latest issue is online now.
What’s happening in the South Australia Arid Lands?
The December issue of the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board’s Across the Outback e-bulletin is one not to miss! Topics covered in this issue include cattle water consumption trials, forage budgeting using remote satellite monitoring, mound spring protection and what’s involved in managing a quandong orchard. Read these articles and more here.
Why are land managers across the NT burying their undies?
Territory Natural Resource Management (TNRM) are asking land managers across the Northern Territory to soil their undies in the name of soil health as part of Soil Week Australia (December 5 – 12). Over the past couple of months TNRM have sent more than 30 pairs of 100% cotton underpants to participants to bury in the top soil on their property. These will then be uncovered eight weeks later and the level of degradation of the undies will provide a valuable insight into the level of microbiological activity occurring within the soil. Read more about the ‘Soil Your Undies’ challenge.
Can Australia get to net zero?
Are you interested in climate change and how Australia can meet the current target of net zero by 2050? The Climateworks Centre has released its latest modelling and they suggest that net zero may be possible up to a decade earlier. Check out the article in The Conversation.
Exclusion fencing program continues in western NSW
Landholders and the environment in Western NSW will soon be better protected from the impacts of pest animals and weeds as work continues on a number of exclusion fencing projects in the region. This fencing will assist participating landholders in protecting their properties from unmanaged grazing pressure including feral pigs, wild dogs and kangaroos and may also be a valuable tool in the preparation for a potential emergency animal health outbreak such as foot-and-mouth or lumpy skin disease. Read more on the Local Land Services website.
What are supercell thunderstorms?
Eastern Australia has seen several storms in recent weeks which have had the potential for widespread flooding and dangerous weather events known as supercell thunderstorms. Supercells are the biggest and baddest kind of severe thunderstorms, capable of producing violent winds in excess of 125 kilometres per hour, large hail more than 5 centimetres in diameter, and heavy rainfall. So what makes these supercells different and how do they form? Find out more from the ABC.