ISSUE 14 December 2010
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PERENNIALS
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2 Energy tree crops fuel interest
8 Adoptability tool gets a workout
Perennial shrubs prove productive and practical
10 Lucerne leverages increased lambing rates
Enrich reveals dramatic four-year transformation at the Monarto research site
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Energy tree crops
— have your cake and eat it!
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hink of a delicious layered cake and you are well along the way of understanding the multiple benefits of energy tree crops. The rich chocolate cream represents the potential profits of the enterprise; the delicate vanilla sponge is the substance the enterprise could offer a regional community; the liqueur soaked cherries are the environmental benefits of a perennial crop; and the icing on the cake is the contribution that energy tree crops could make to national renewable energy targets and greenhouse gas abatement. And to cap it all off, you can have your cake and eat it too! It is proposed that once established, energy tree crops could be harvested at best, every three years. A new report Energy Tree Crops from the Future Farm Industries CRC builds a picture of a national-scale energy tree crop industry. Based on preliminary economic modelling, which will be refined over coming years, the report shows how an energy tree crop industry might develop from the ground level to a point during 2026 where more
i key points • Energy tree crops present a
profitable enterprise option for farmers in the 450–650 mm rainfall zone
• Biomass from energy tree crops could be a major source of renewable energy sources for electricity generation
• Recent modelling suggests a
viable industry of more than 160,000 ha could service WA, NSW and Victoria.
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By Lucy Kealey Kondinin Group
than 160,000 hectares of suitable trees are planted and the biomass from the plantings is producing 176 megawatts (MW) of electricity, in three States. A base load of 176,000 kilowatts (or 176 MW) of electricity is sufficient to power about 88,000 households at any given time, assuming that a household requires 2.0 kW of energy at any given time. Dr Amir Abadi, Senior Principal Scientist with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia and the FFI CRC, and the lead author of the report, believes there are compelling economic, social and environmental reasons for Australia to be a prominent bioenergy producer.
Farm business benefits “Energy tree cropping can be designed to integrate with traditional agriculture in extensive cropping and grazing regions, without compromising existing production or water supply,” Dr Abadi explained. “The enterprise of energy tree crops must be sufficiently profitable that farmers will want to incorporate these trees into existing farming systems.” “Mallee eucalypts are an ideal woody crop for biomass production and the proposed biomass production system would suit regions with annual rainfall of 450–650 millimetres. “The trees would be grown in narrow belts and non-destructively harvested. After harvest, the mallees regenerate readily by coppicing (re-shooting) from their rootstock, and can be harvested again in three to eight years. “A lot of research has already been carried out to find suitable tree species for cleared areas in these medium- to low-rainfall
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Mallees grown in well-designed layouts, using less than 10% of the property, could generate enough cash flow from the sale of biomass to cover establishment costs within the first harvest cycle of five years. This financial payback would be achieved with minimum trade-off in cereal crop production and water use. (Photo: Amir Abadi)
regions. In Western Australia, the tree crops have been introduced to address a range of environmental problems — salinity, wind erosion, surface run-off problems and so on. “Now it is envisaged these trees could have economic as well as environmental benefits.” Dr Abadi’s economic analysis has demonstrated that mallees grown in welldesigned layouts, using less than 10% of the property area, could generate enough cash flow from the sale of biomass to cover establishment costs within the first cycle of five years. This financial payback would be achieved with minimum trade-off in cereal crop production and water use. If there was a price on carbon, the relative competitiveness of energy tree crops would be improved, but even without a carbon market such plantings are potentially viable. Energy tree crops offer an opportunity for diversification of farm businesses in the wheat-belt regions of Australia. The commercial activities of growing, harvesting, transporting and processing biomass will require new regional industries, adding to the strength of rural communities.
Painting a national picture The economic modelling has to be designed to cover all facets of an energy tree crop industry at a national level. “For an industry to work there needs to be demand for the product,” Dr Abadi explained. “So the modelling assumes there would be three biomass users (electricity generators). These generators could co-fire the biomass
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focus “Today’s growing, harvesting, transport and infrastructure systems are unlikely to deliver biomass at less than $100 per green tonne,” Dr Abadi said.
with coal, the main way they currently generate electricity for the major cities, or they could set up biomass generators in regional areas, such as the one being considered for Narrogin, 200 kilometres south east of Perth, WA which will be fuelled by mallee biomass.
fossil fuels. By perpetually producing carbon-neutral energy, energy tree cropping will achieve more, in terms of limiting fossil carbon emissions, than carbon sequestration forests and so-called ‘first generation’ biofuels based on food crops.
“However, as plantings increase from 13,000 ha currently, efficiency gains and technological improvements over time are predicted. Hence the graph shows production costs declining to less than $50 per green tonne by 2018. At this production cost, the analysis shows that mallee biomass could be profitable for growers and contractors operating in a mature industry. Less than $50 per green tonne is also considered a realistic price for feedstock for renewable energy production.”
“As well as users there needs to be suppliers (the farmers) and there needs to be people in the middle to harvest the product, aggregate it and haul it. So, our economic analysis has looked at the whole supply chain.” The modelling work predicts that a 163,200 ha energy tree crop industry in southern Australia would supply enough biomass for regional bio-electricity generation in WA and co-firing with coal in regional power stations in New South Wales and Victoria.
Energy tree cropping enterprises will also provide carbon sequestration services — with up to 2.17 million tonnes CO2-e sequestered in mallee roots by 2021. While legislation putting a price on carbon is being negotiated, the Australian Government has committed to a renewable energy target for electricity generation of 20% by 2020. The former has the potential to be a bonus for energy tree crop enterprises, and the latter provides encouragement for electricity generators to look to biomass as a fuel source.
National environmental benefits The national benefits of the energy tree crop industry are indicated in Figure 1. Tree plantings of 163,200 ha would generate 2.6 million tonnes of biomass per year, which could offset the equivalent of 1.35 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO2-e) per annum. The cumulative greenhouse gas abatement potential of the industry would be nearly 12 million tonnes over a 13-year period.
The researchers developing the model took heed of the old adage ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ and developed the diagram illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1 illustrates the complexity of the assumptions of the analysis, as well as highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of a potential energy tree crop industry. The production costs, illustrated as horizontal bars in Figure 1, are based heavily on research and analysis conducted by the FFI CRC on the tree crop supply chain. In particular, harvesting costs have been drawn from the CRC’s joint-venture with Biosystems Engineering to develop a mallee harvester prototype (see Focus on Perennials, Issue 12, June 2010).
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The detail supporting this work and its benefits can be found in Energy Tree Crops, to be released during December 2010. Copies of the report are available by contacting the FFI CRC or Dr Abadi.
More information Dr Amir Abadi, Department of Environment and Conservation & Future Farm Industries CRC M: 0448 879 757 E: amir.abadi@dec.wa.gov.au
The coppice agroforestry system that this enterprise is modelled on would recycle CO2 from the atmosphere through the trees and the solar energy used to repeatedly grow the trees is made available by burning the biomass.
Future Farm Industries CRC T: (08) 6488 8559 W: www.futurefarmonline.com.au
Instead of off-setting fossil CO2 emitted elsewhere, energy tree crops can displace
110
0.84 Mt CO2-e sequestered in mallee roots
70
123,200 0.21 Mt CO2-e 104,800 ha sequestered in ha
40
20 10 0
2.1 Mt of GHG emissions offset
50
30
155,200 163,200 ha ha 139,200 ha
60
mallee roots
0.002 Mt CO2-e sequestered in mallee roots
2,400 ha tree belts
2010
2011 2012
86,400 ha 68,000 ha
31,200 ha
2013
2014
2015
2016 2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
47 million trees planted
Cost Cost Cost Cost
of of of of
transport to processor supply chain management harvest and haulage of biomass growing trees in belts
163,200 ha
3.9 Mt of GHG emissions offset
80
163,200 ha
2023
163,200 ha 2,800,000 tree belts
11.8 Mt of GHG emissions offsetplus 4.1 Mt sequestered in roots
WA generator establishes 1st demonstration plant in 2013
90
Viable for grower
Delivered cost of biomass $/green tonnes
100
2.17 Mt CO2-e sequestered in mallee roots
6.4 Mt of GHG emissions offset
P1 Harvester P2 Harvester
2024 2025
2026
2,600,000 2,400,000 2,200,000 2,000,000 1,800,000 1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0
Axis for bars = utilisation by processors (green tonnes)
Figure 1 Green tonne production costs (rows) and biomass utilisation by processors (bars) for an energy tree crop industry based on short-cycle mallee trees, from the planting stage (2010–2015) to full production by 2026. By about 2018, production costs will be less than the processor’s preferred price of $50/green tonne
245 million trees growing
Cost of competition with adjacent agriculture Cost of trees occupying farm land 2nd processor in NSW and Victoria cofiring 1x80 MW (Bar)
Processor in NSW cofiring 1x80 MW (Bar) Processor in WA bioenergy 2x8 MW (Bar Processor’s preferred price
Source: Energy Tree Crops report (FFI CRC, 2010)
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Perennial shrubs support productive pastures
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diverse mix of perennial shrubs is proving a productive and practical solution to the autumn feed gap in low- to mediumrainfall areas. Early results from the Future Farm Industries CRC and Meat and Livestock Australiafunded Enrich project site at Monarto, South Australia, reveal that perennial shrubs can provide valuable feed during autumn supporting, but not outcompeting, the interrow pasture mix. SARDI senior research scientist, Jason Emms reveals that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Monarto site, established during 2006 on a 15 hectare paddock, now contains about 14,000 perennial shrubs — a dramatic four-year transformation. “The focus of the site is to provide information on individual shrub species production, the performance of the shrub and inter row pasture mix and plant and animal interactions,” Jason explained. “In the early days of the project, the performance of about 80 different native
i key points • A diverse mix of perennial native shrubs and pasture can provide significant plant, animal and environmental benefits
• Perennial shrubs are a valuable
addition to the pasture system, giving farmers a more predictable feed supply during autumn
• A long rotation allows plants to recover from grazing and maintain their productivity.
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By Kylie Nicholls Kondinin Group
shrub species was investigated for their potential as perennial forage.
Results from the Enrich project site at Monarto in South Australia show that a diverse mix of perennial shrubs and pasture can provide significant plant and animal benefits. (Photo: Jason Emms)
“From this early research, the project has shown that a diverse mix of plants can be grown and grazed without affecting pasture production and we have now developed a shortlist of species with significant potential.”
“The autumn feed gap is a limiting period for many farms, and we have been grazing shrubs from March through to June under high stocking rates, depending on the season — anywhere from 50–80 sheep per hectare.
Jason believes the results demonstrate there is no single silver bullet species that will provide the total forage and animal production benefits, but the key is a mix of complementary species (see Table 1). This approach fits with the Enrich project’s overall hypothesis that having a diverse mix of native shrub species in the perennial feed base will give multiple plant, animal and environmental benefits.
“We then rest the shrubs for the remainder of the year, although one experiment is testing whether a twice-yearly grazing event is possible without reducing plant productivity.”
Some of the benefits of perennial shrubs include:
• Providing green feed during summer and autumn
• The ability to respond to out-of-season rainfall
• Improving animal health through unique
nutritive and bioactive properties, such as reducing methane production
• Providing shade and shelter and reducing erosion, soil degradation and salinity.
Persistence and production The ability to survive and persist under high grazing pressure and continue to be productive has been particularly impressive during the past four years, especially considering the potential adoption in mixed farming systems, according to Jason. “We have been growing and managing a diverse mix of plants under what we would call a low management regime, which has significant on-farm adaptability,” Jason said.
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But as Jason explains, a long rotation is the key to success with such a system, as the rest period allows plants to recover between grazing events, particularly in low- to medium-rainfall areas. “The long-term average annual rainfall at Monarto is 370 millimetres, which has not been recorded since the project started, although if this season continues as it has, 2010 might get there,” Jason said. “But despite the dry seasons, during the past three years, the more productive shrub species are providing an average of nearly two tonnes per hectare of edible biomass per year, which is certainly more stable than annual pasture and gives farmers a predictable feed supply during the autumn feed gap.” The more productive shrubs, which have responded well to grazing so far, include various saltbushes, wattles and Rhagodia species.
Pasture performance in the mix The performance and productivity of both the shrub and inter row pasture mix also have been monitored at the Monarto site.
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Bioactive benefits — an Australian first As part of the overall Enrich project, the Monarto site was the first in Australia to provide plant material for nutritive and bioactivity analysis by its collaborating partners CSIRO Livestock Industries and the University of Western Australia (UWA).
Preliminary results show the shrub Rhagodia spinescens is responding well to grazing at Monarto, SA. (Photo: Jason Emms)
Table 1 The five most productive species at Monarto* Species
Edible biomass 2008 (kg/ha)
Edible biomass 2009 (kg/ha)
Edible biomass 2010 (kg/ha)
Old man saltbush
4364
1512
1432
Silver saltbush
1803
3140
1703
Mealy saltbush
2031
1463
1860
Rhagodia
1891
1401
1418
River saltbush
1599
1678
1991
*Plants were grazed during 2008 and 2009
“Five different pasture types have been grown between the shrubs including annual medics, lucerne, volunteer annual grasses, a mix of medics and grasses and a control treatment which has no understorey,” Jason explained. “Our research shows that companion pasture, such as the medics and grasses, are an important part of the feed system and that overall pasture growth is not reduced when pastures are grown between the shrubs.” At the project site, 1.5–3 tonnes of dry matter per hectare of spring pasture has been produced annually, which is significant according to Jason, and in particular, the annual medics seem to be thriving when grown between the shrubs (see Figure 1). “The results suggest that including shrubs provide a valuable and complementary addition to the feed base and do not outcompete the understorey pastures,” he said.
Selection supports balanced diet Another key project aim is to monitor what species the animals choose to graze when
offered a diverse range of forage species. This approach uses the animals to help guide the research. “The results are obvious — the sheep want to consume a mixed diet and their preferences are clear,” Jason said. “One interesting result we have observed is that a sheep’s early experiences influence their later grazing choices.” “When we initially introduce what we call naïve sheep onto the shrubs, a particular species may be avoided the first time they see it but with increasing experience it can become a preferred species — the animals learn over time.” Jason believes these observations could be an important management tool for farmers. For example, the green pasture between the shrub rows could be grazed during spring, using naïve sheep and a short rotation to ensure the shrubs do not get overgrazed. “The sheep may nibble the shrubs, which is fine, but the green pasture will be preferred, leaving the shrubs for the autumn feed gap,” he explained.
Figure 1 Mean pasture production (±se) during spring in combination with different shrub densities 1200 Annual legume Annual grass Lucerne
Biomass (kg/ha)
1000 800
Initial results demonstrate that these benefits could exist in a significant number of shrub species, which also highlights the importance of shrub and pasture diversity.
On-farm application The Enrich site at Monarto has had significant farmer interaction since the project started, with regular visits by farmer groups. The project has also joined forces with more than 10 farmer and Landcare groups across southern Australia, which are carrying out small-scale trials to evaluate some of the more promising perennial shrub species in their own region. “We are also in the process of developing a small Enrich booklet, which we expect to release during autumn 2011,” Jason said. “The booklet will provide practical guidelines for farmers considering the inclusion of shrubs in their grazing systems.” ”It will include information on the attributes of each promising shrub species suitable for grazing, for example their protein and mineral content, production, bioactivity and animal health benefits. “Farmers can then use this information to choose their own suite of shrubs to plant and adapt the information according to their individual farm situation and fodder requirements.” “The information is suitable for the low- to medium-rainfall zone throughout Australia however I have had increasing interest from farmers in high-rainfall areas investigating the inclusion of perennial shrubs as potential shelter, an alternative source of minerals and potential bioactivity benefits.” The Enrich project is also planning to run forums throughout Australia during 2011 to release the booklet and explain the results of the project in detail and how it is applicable to pasture systems across Australia.”
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Mid-point highlights positive impacts By Catriona Nicholls
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Kondinin Group
hrough an innovative approach to research and development, education and training and commercialisation and utilisation the Future Farm Industries CRC aims to change the face of Australia’s mixed farming systems.
New options The FFI CRC’s focus on new and improved pasture options for Australia’s southern grazing and cropping systems has yielded a range of exciting contenders, some of which are now close to being commercially available. Focus on Perennials has showcased these during the past three years and they include:
At the half-way point in its seven-year life cycle, the CRC is reflecting upon its achievements and impacts to date — and the process is an enlightening one. During the past three years Focus on Perennials has profiled much of the research in progress and shared the highlights along the way.
• Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) — drought and waterlogging-tolerant perennial legume.
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Rhagodia show the shrub Preliminary results to grazing at responding well spinescens is Emms) (Photo: Jason Monarto, SA.
ve most Table 1 The fi
productive species
Edible biomass (kg/ha)
Species
key points • •
native of perennial A diverse mix can provide shrubs and pasture animal and significant plant, benefits environmental are a valuable Perennial shrubs pasture system, addition to the a more predictable giving farmers autumn feed supply during allows plants rotation A long grazing and to recover from productivity. maintain their
•
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project has research, the “From this early plants can be diverse mix of pasture shown that a without affecting grown and grazed have now developed a we potential.” production and with significant shortlist of species e the results demonstrat that Jason believes silver bullet species animal there is no single total forage and will provide the ts, but the key is a mix production benefi species. This approach tary of complemen overall Enrich project’s mix of fits with the having a diverse feed hypothesis that perennial species in the native shrub animal and multiple plant, base will give benefits. environmental shrubs ts of perennial Some of the benefi
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feed gap.” production have shrubs, which under The more productive far, include survive and persist to be to grazing so The ability to and continue responded well wattles and Rhagodia high grazing pressureparticularly impressive various saltbushes, been productive has four years, especially species. in mixed during the past potential adoption ce in the mix considering the Jason. according to Pasture performan of both farming systems, a e and productivity also mix The performanc growing and managingwould we inter row pasture “We have been what site. the shrub and plants under at the Monarto has diverse mix of t regime, which have been monitored Jason said. call a low managemen have been adaptability,” pasture types annual significant on-farm “Five different including the shrubs limiting period grown between feed gap is a “The autumn been grazing and we have for many farms,
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project, the overall Enrich As part of the Australia to was the first in and Monarto site material for nutritive g provide plant by its collaboratin and bioactivity analysis Livestock Industries (UWA). partners CSIRO of Western Australia the University potential examining the species, The project is many of the shrub bioactivity of reducing potential for and including the rumen health methane, modifying parasites. controlling internal that these demonstrate Initial results a significant number in exist the benefits could which also highlights diversity. of shrub species, shrub and pasture importance of
2010 (kg/
1432 1703
3140
1860
1463
1418
1401
1599 River saltbush 2008 and 2009 grazed during *Plants were
site at Monarto the Enrich project mix Results from show that a diverse in South Australia and pasture can provide of perennial shrubs animal benefits. and significant plant Emms) (Photo: Jason
2009
1512
1891
Rhagodia
under through to June shrubs from March depending on the season rates, hectare. high stocking 50–80 sheep per — anywhere from the remainder the shrubs for is “We then rest one experiment of the year, although y grazing a twice-yearl plant testing whether without reducing event is possible productivity.” is the a long rotation as the But as Jason explains, with such a system, between key to success plants to recover rest period allows low- to particularly in grazing events, areas. medium-rainfall rainfall at average annual has not “The long-term millimetres, which started, Monarto is 370 include: since the project and as it has, been recorded feed during summer season continues • Providing green although if this said. there,” Jason autumn n 2010 might get out-of-seaso to respond during the • The ability to the dry seasons, shrub “But despite rainfall the more productive unique nearly past three years, health through an average of such as • Improving animal species are providing of edible biomass bioactive properties, hectare nutritive and stable two tonnes per production is certainly more reducing methane a reducing per year, which and gives farmers and shelter and than annual pasture • Providing shade the autumn and salinity. supply during erosion, soil degradation predictable feed
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Edible biomass (kg/ha)
2031
Mealy saltbush
1991
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• Improved cultivars of temperate perennial grasses including cocksfoot, tall fescue; and the subtropical grasses Panicum maximum and P. coloratum.
n
On-farm applicatio
had significant at Monarto has started, The Enrich site since the project farmer interaction by farmer groups. with regular visits with more also joined forces across The project has groups and Landcare out than 10 farmer which are carrying southern Australia, evaluate some of the to species in small-scale trials perennial shrub more promising their own region. developing of in the process “We are also we expect to booklet, which a small Enrich Jason said. autumn 2011,” release during guidelines will provide practical of “The booklet the inclusion farmers consideringsystems.” for time.” over learn grazing s could be shrubs in their these observation farmers. the attributes Jason believes information on tool for suitable ”It will include management shrub species between the an important of each promising protein and the green pasture spring, For example, example their and be grazed during for grazing, for to production, bioactivity shrub rows could and a short rotation mineral content, using naïve sheep benefits. do not get overgrazed. animal health ensure the shrubs information to which is then use this he said. to plant “Farmers can nibble the shrubs, suite of shrubs “The sheep may will be preferred, to choose their own balanced diet green pasture feed gap,” information according fine, but the Selection supports what and adapt the and fodder for the autumn farm situation aim is to monitor leaving the shrubs their individual Another key project choose to graze when explained. ts.” he requiremen species. species the animals the low- to range of forage is suitable for offered a diverse with different Australia “The information in combination nfall zone throughout during spring from (±se) medium-rai interest production had increasing shrub densities Mean pasture g however I have Figure 1 l areas investigatin as potential farmers in high-rainfal of perennial shrubs minerals and the inclusion source of shelter, an alternativebenefits.” 1200 Annual legume potential bioactivity Annual grass to run is also planning Lucerne 1000 The Enrich project Australia during 2011 to forums throughout and explain the results of release the booklet and how it is applicable 800 detail the project in across Australia.” to pasture systems 600
grasses, volunteer annual a control medics, lucerne, and grasses and ,” a mix of medics has no understorey treatment which Jason explained. pasture, shows that companionan “Our research and grasses, are and that such as the medics of the feed system important part reduced when growth is not shrubs.” overall pasture between the pastures are grown of dry site, 1.5–3 tonnes has At the project pasture spring of is significant matter per hectare annually, which been produced particular, the Jason, and in when according to thriving seem to be Figure 1). annual medics the shrubs (see grown between shrubs that including “The results suggestand complementary provide a valuable base and do not feed addition to the pastures,” understorey outcompete the
Biomass (kg/ha)
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Industries the Future Farm Early results from Livestock Australiaand CRC and Meat Monarto, project site at shrubs funded Enrich reveal that perennial South Australia, feed during autumn can provide valuableoutcompeting, the internot supporting, but row pasture mix. Emms scientist, Jason SARDI senior research established site, Monarto reveals that the paddock, now a 15 hectare shrubs — a during 2006 on 14,000 perennial ion. contains about transformat dramatic four-year provide the site is to species “The focus of individual shrub information on of the shrub performance plant and production, the pasture mix and and inter row explained. Jason ,” animal interactions the days of the project, native “In the early of about 80 different for their performance was investigated shrub species forage. potential as perennial
Kondinin Group
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1803
Sliver saltbush
By Kylie Nicholls
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Old man saltbush
rubs support Perennial shpastures productive perennial diverse mix of a productive shrubs is proving solution to the and practical mediumgap in low- to autumn feed rainfall areas.
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to help guide uses the animals This approach the research. sheep want to obvious — the preferences “The results are diet and their consume a mixed said. are clear,” Jason observed is result we have influence “One interesting early experiences that a sheep’s choices.” their later grazing we call introduce what “When we initially shrubs, a particular the naïve sheep onto rst time they avoided the fi it can species may be increasing experience animals see it but with species — the become a preferred
• Salt- and waterlogging-tolerant, annual legume messina (Melilotus siculus) and its associated rhizobia — Both are showing considerable promise in trials under both alkaline and acid soil conditions.
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Enriching experience
energy systems based on farm-grown woody biomass through concentrating its activities on three priority challenges in supply chain development: superior genetic material; sustainable on-farm production; and efficient harvest and handling.
Now in its second phase, Enrich has made regular appearances in Focus on Perennials during the past three years. Pages 4 and 5 in this issue highlight the progress being made at the Monarto site in South Australia, but equally impressive gains are being made at other Enrich sites across the country. Part of the project’s success is the level of producer involvement, in a model similar to that of EverGraze, with on-farm support sites allowing producers and researchers alike to test the theory on a farm scale.
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• Cullen australasicum has been identified as the most promising native herbaceous legume and the diversity of 80 accessions is being assessed to identify potential breeding parents.
• Tedera (Bituminaria spp.) — droughttolerant and highly productive perennial legume, with a total of 8640 individual plants evaluated since 2008–09 as a precursor to a targeting breeding project
We take a moment to revisit some of the key success stories and quiet achievements.
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• Wild lucernes (Medicago spp.), especially those with grazing tolerance, were sought for potential application on alkaline sites in south-eastern Australia (comparisons established for 63 genotypes at three sites).
The prototype mallee harvester was launched during April 2010 and galvanised farmer and industry confidence in the mallee industry as a player in bio-energy production, to achieve renewable energy targets and carbon bio-sequestration in Australia.
Moving from shrub-based grazing systems to woody perennials on a grander scale, progress in the development of a sustainable biofuels industry have seen FFI CRC achievements feature far more widely than the pages of Focus on Perennials.
An assessment of supply side feasibility of mallee biomass for renewable electricity production was provided under contract to Verve Energy. The report has led to a request for additional services and future collaboration in further assessment then development of a business case for the first such plant in WA.
The CRC has consolidated its status as the primary national R&D provider for bio-
Pages 2 and 3 further explore the potential for tree-based energy crops for the future.
Reaping rewards
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The future is in our hands on an estimated 180,000 hectares have changed their management due to insights gained through EverGraze. Seventy-five per cent of farmers participating in EverGraze made these changes compared with 59% for nonparticipants.
EverGraze® — ever-growing A partnership between the Future Farm Industries CRC, Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation, the EverGraze — More livestock from perennials program continues to be a success story in terms of producer engagement and profitable on-farm impacts.
They were no doubt influenced by the 55 farmer demonstration Supporting Sites that support the six research Proof Sites.
Quality researchers are essential for the future of sustainable agriculture in Australia. The Future Farm Industries CRC’s Postgraduate Professional Development Program (PPDP) plays a key role in ensuring the continuity of research and fostering the next generation of researchers. The PPDP recently reached its life-of-CRC milestone with 53 postgraduates financially supported by FFI CRC; with seven students recruited and one graduating during 2010.
The results from EverGraze Proof Sites, such as that featured on pages 10 and 11, also appear regularly on the pages of Focus on Perennials. Success stories from producers actively engaged with EverGraze Supporting Sites continue to be showcased through Future Farm magazine. As highlighted in the current edition of Future Farm magazine a recent phone survey indicated that 3100 producers
Extending education
Better ways of managing FFI CRC research influences the management of environmental resources in a number of areas — through application of the environmental weed risk policy and protocol,
observation of biodiversity benefits in planted mallees and grazed native perennial grass pastures, application of hydrological modelling tools and implementation of the Investment Framework for Environmental Resources (INFFER). Participants in Australian forage improvement programs now have online access to the newly revised and userfriendly weed risk assessment protocol along with a developing range of management guides for use by land managers.
Outside the academic arena, the EverTrain project has now completed national online training for several modules covering salinity management and INFFER, and developed course materials for soil biology and soil carbon. According to EverTrain coordinator, Deb Slinger, Industry and Investment NSW the combination of attendees completing online modules before attending the ‘face to face’ workshops has been very positive, with the researchers acknowledging the huge improvement in understanding of difficult concepts.
Through a step-by-step questioning process, INFFER is helping communities across southern Australia identify what it is they are trying to protect, the environmental goals and with the information gained, what is feasible and required to achieve this goals.
More than just pastures Cropping systems dominate agriculture in low- and medium-rainfall areas and the cropping zone initiative, EverCrop, has continued in three contrasting climatic zones, each with a different perennial plant focus. In WA researchers are investigating potential of pasture cropping and this edition of Future Farm highlights the opportunities harnessed by one Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) farmer. In the Mallee, Victoria, the focus is on low-input and low-risk perennial systems, while in New South Wales researchers are striving to develop perennial alternatives to lucerne, particularly chicory.
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Looking forward Building on the achievements of the CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity the FFI CRC’s goal is to progress these new technologies and innovative farming systems to set up farmer adoption across more than seven million hectares by 2030. At this, the half-way point in the sevenyear life cycle, farmer participation and support for Profitable Perennials™ choices, and anticipation of their benefits, is hugely satisfying, as is the support created by a new crop of postgraduate researchers. The next three and a half years will deliver on the initial promise.
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Pasture cropping was one innovation under investigation using the FFI CRC Adoptability planning tool. (Photo: David Ferris)
The adoptability tool explained
Adoptability tool put to the test
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s scrutiny increases on the returns on investment of limited research, development and extension dollars, the Future Farm Industries CRC-funded Adoptability planning tool project is proving beneficial. A preliminary version of the tool was recently tested with CRC project teams and through collaboration with the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Grain and Graze 2 program. According to CRC team member Geoff Kuehne (CSIRO), responses to the evaluation process have been positive and the tool is currently being modified to yield Version 2. “It is well understood that a wide range of factors influence adoption however, these understandings do not easily translate to practical tools and recommendations that
i key points • Early field testing has revealed the potential power of the FFI CRC Adoptability planning tool project for research, development and extension stakeholders
• The tool allows early assessment
of the adoptability of research innovations in a given target audience and location by posing a number of key questions early in an innovation’s lifecycle
• Users identified that the tool provided a more realistic estimation of time to peak adoption and allowed the identification of risks and opportunities of individual innovations.
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By Catriona Nicholls Kondinin Group
The adoptability tool is based in Microsoft Excel® and requires users to consider and answer questions that relate to the four aspects of adoption (see Figure 1). Before answering the questions users specify the innovation and the target population. Questions are then to be answered with that population in mind. For example, the specified target population may be a sub-population of farmers from a region, such as mixed farmers with cattle from the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) of Western Australia. The questions are only to be answered with this particular population in mind.
allow R, D and E projects and programs to use this broad knowledge when developing and extending a specific innovation,” Geoff said.
To answer questions relating to adoptability factors requires a choice from five options. Examples are shown below:
“As such, the expected impacts of these innovations have seldom been based on rigorous estimates, instead the case for investment has often been based on limited information or anecdotal claims.”
• Innovation trialability — To what extent can a farmer trial the innovation on their farm before deciding to invest in full adoption? (Not trialable at all/ Difficult to trial/Moderately trialable/ Easily trialable/Very easily trialable).
“We expect the adoptability tool will improve our understanding and strategies relating to adoption of new agricultural technologies.”
GRDC’s Grain and Graze 2 program aims to benefit the profitability and natural resource outcomes of mixed farming systems across Australia, using a regionally-based and nationally-coordinated approach.
• Relevant existing skills and knowledge — To what extent does successfully adopting the innovation demand new skills and knowledge that the target potential adopters may not currently have? (All will need new skills and knowledge/A majority will need new skills and knowledge/About half will need new skills and knowledge/A minority will need new skills and knowledge/Almost none will need new skills and knowledge).
The chance to work with the GRDC project team to evaluate the preliminary adoptability tool was opportune according to Geoff.
Each response contributes to a score, which is used to generate an output category for both peak adoption and rate of adoption.
“In order to justify investment in R, D and E activities we worked with regional Grain and Graze 2 teams applying the adoptability tool to evaluate the impact of between four and six practice changes,” he said.
Factors relating to learning were determinants of rate of adoption while factors while those relating to relative advantage were primarily determinants of peak adoption level.
A wide range of practice changes was considered, ranging from those with an obvious direct benefit to livestock production (for example, changing sheep breeds), grain production (for example, new grain break crops), or both (for example dual purpose cereals). Few practice changes were concerned only with reducing the costs of production (for example Integrated Pest Management to reduce pesticide costs).
Relative advantage was also a factor that contributed to the expected rate of adoption — high relative advantage can lead to higher rates of adoption as learning of relative advantage is easier when the advantages are larger.
“Essentially we want to the tool to predict, inform and engage.”
Putting the tool to the test
“We selected a number of practice changes in common across the regions — four regions examined pasture cropping, five examined grazing of dual-purpose cereals, and four
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examined planting of fodder shrubs on marginal land,” Geoff explained. The team used the adoptability tool in each region to identify a likely peak extent of adoption for each practice change within a specific population and the likely time scale for reaching that peak (rate of adoption).
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Cam believes this risk assessment process is an important step in being able address any issues early in the innovation lifecycle.
Figure 1 Factors affecting adoption Population-specific influences on the ability to learn about the innovation • Relevant existing skills and knowledge • Existing local awareness and knowledge • Advisory support • Group involvement
Relative advantage for the population • Time to profit benefit • Capital resource constraints • Enterprise scale • Risk orientation • Profit orientation • Outlook • Management horizon/family succession
Learnability characteristics of the innovation • Innovation trialability • Innovation complexity
Relative advantage of the innovation • Profit benefit • Non-profit benefit • Risk/reliability • Adoption cost • External environment • Reversibility
“The tool focuses on sets of factors that studies have shown to commonly influence the rate and/or peak level of adoption within a population: characteristics of the technology, characteristics of the population, actual advantage of using the technology, and learning of the actual advantage of the technology,” Geoff explained. “It focuses on a particular innovation within a population and does not aim to predict adoption behaviour of individuals.” Most practices chosen for the evaluation were considered to be easily trialable on a small scale and were expected to deliver a mix of profit and non-profit benefits. Growers in the target regions were assessed to have varying levels of prior awareness and knowledge of the practices. And it was found that the projects are being delivered into regions where there is generally optimism about the target enterprise. “Admittedly, there was a skew towards practices with relatively fast expected adoption rates, which most likely reflects the time to impact expectations of the Grain and Graze 2 program,” Geoff said.
Constructive feedback Within three months of using the tool the CRC team interviewed the GRDC Grain and Graze 2 regional coordinators to assess whether the tool had helped quantify expected benefits and adoption rates, changed how they structured proposed management practices,
“By having to respond to the questions and seeing the impact on adoption there is the opportunity to improve an innovation at a cost-effective stage.” The tool highlights the importance of the drivers of adoption, which also allows researchers and extension agents to better market an innovation according to Cam. “We identified that at times we were not putting enough emphasis on the amount of profit or risk reduction associated with an innovation — both key drivers for adoption.”
and to identify the benefits, limitations and potential areas for improvement in the tool. “We asked project coordinators to rate their experience using the adoptability tool according to ease of use, the value and the influence of use,” Geoff said. Overall, responses indicated a favourable response to both the use and impact of the tool (see Table 1). Cam Nicholson, Regional Coordinator for Grain and Graze 2 believes that even in its early stages, the tool already provides a useful method to evaluate project potential. “We were the first to apply it any practical sense, with real live people and real-life examples,” Cam said. “Being a prototype there were a few teething problems, but putting that aside the concept is very good.” “It provides a far more realistic estimate of what adoption is going to be and how long it will take than assumptions alone — most extension officers and other stakeholders think it will happen a lot quicker than it does. “This is useful from an investment point of view as it establishes more realistic expectations in the minds of all involved. “Secondly it touches on the key drivers of adoption and potential risks of any innovation, allowing you to identify an innovation’s strengths and limitations.”
Table 1 Evaluation of the use of the adoptability tool in regions A–F A
B
C
D
E
F
Ave.
4.5
4
4.5
4
5
3
4.1 (n=8)
Overall how would you rate the value of the results indicating the rate of adoption and peak adoption level? (1 = no value, 5 = very valuable)
3
4
4
3.5
3
3
3.3 (n=8)
Overall how would you rate the influence the results had on prompting thinking and discussion about the proposed practice changes? (1 = no influence, 5 = very influential)
2
4
3.5
3
4
4
3.5 (n=8)
Overall how would you rate responding to the questions in the adoption tool? (1 = very difficult, 5 = very easy)
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“In some instances the tool may lead you to question an innovation with inherently long-term drivers and a short-term extension phase — for example, a two-year extension program is a waste of money if adoption of an innovation is estimated to take much longer than this.” According to FFI CRC’s Geoff Kuehne, the highly favourable responses from GRDC participants suggests an on-going role for the tool in pre-program planning.” “The numeric values generated by the tool, while critical to inform and calculate the national impact of the practice change, appeared less important to the GRDC regional teams than the questioning the results prompted,” Geoff said.
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“Several users identified the potential to use the tool in other contexts and also use of the tool by other organisations. This included using the tool in a more consultative way with a number of local stakeholders rather than the relatively brief and individual use that occurred in the time-constrained Grain and Graze 2 process.”
Where to from here The Adoptability project team is currently validating the tool using existing regional diffusion data for a range of Australian agricultural innovations. “We also will refine and validate the tool by getting it into the hands of users; making sure they use the tool and provide feedback on its usefulness and effectiveness,” Geoff said. “The developmental process of the tool is likely to be ongoing as it is used by more and more people.” “We plan to establish further uses with more R and D corporations and Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) and also will investigate whether it has applicability in other settings.” The Future Farm Industries CRC project team includes Geoff Kuehne, Rick Llewellyn, Roger Wilkinson, David Pannell, Perry Dolling, Diana Fedorenko and Alan Curtis.
More information Geoff Kuehne, CSIRO T: (08) 8303 8410 E: geoff.kuehne@csiro.au
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More lucerne — more lambs A
three-year EverGraze® study into the effects of shortterm grazing of summeractive perennial pastures (lucerne and chicory), leading up to ewe ovulation, suggests this could be a more cost-effective option than lupin supplementation or a long-term grazing strategy. Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers have been looking at economic options to boost reproductive performance in Merino ewes and they may have hit upon a practical solution with environmental benefits to boot.
i key points • Short-term grazing of summer-
active perennial pastures, such as lucerne and chicory, could provide sheepmeat producers with a cost-effective option to boost ovulation rates in ewes
Access to green feed during ovulation can boost lambing rates and be a more cost-effective option than supplementary feeding. (Photos: Kate Fisher and Catriona Nicholls)
Kondinin Group
Increased nutrition or ‘flushing’ before mating is well recognised as being able to increase ovulation rates leading to more lambs on the ground. This effect occurs through either a ‘dynamic’ effect — a rising plane of nutrition and gaining weight at, and for some weeks leading up to, mating, and/or a ‘static’ effect — as a result of higher liveweight or condition at the time of mating. An ‘acute’ effect also occurs where ‘shortterm’ or ‘spike’ feeding with lupins for four to six days increases ovulation rates without affecting liveweight or body condition. According to CSU researcher Dr Michael Friend, this short-term supplementary feeding targets a critical period in the ewe breeding cycle.
with ewes given a supplement of 500 grams per head per day of lupins (see Table 1). Synchronised ewes grazed the different treatments for nine days before ovulation. This response was closely related to the amount of green pasture available, with 90 per cent of the maximum response occurring with as little as 350 kilograms of dry matter per hectare of green feed. “The results show small amounts of green feed offered to sheep before ovulation increased ovulation rate by 10% on average,” Dr Friend said. “The level of increase depends on the amount of green feed and the condition of the ewes (in one year the increase was 22%).”
“The benefit of this strategy is that limited feed resources can be used more efficiently than if a longer feeding period is required,” Dr Friend said.
The best results in the study occurred when ewes were in condition score 3.
From a practical viewpoint, synchronisation is a substantial cost and effort.
• Where suitable pastures already
“Supplementary feeding with lupins can increase ovulation rates by up to 60 per cent and as such, lupins are the most common feed supplement used for this purpose.”
• The amount of green feed
“But grain feeding can be expensive and not readily available in all localities and the recent trial results suggest more reliable responses can be obtained using existing pasture resources.”
• This approach can increase
ovulation rates without risking triplet pregnancies
exist, this may be a more costeffective alternative to both longer-term grazing and lupin supplementation
required is small, so it does not mean giving ewes access to pastures normally reserved for finishing stock.
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Does it work in unsynchronised ewes?
During 2010, researchers repeated the study using unsynchronised ewes grazing lucerne or phalaris.
Rewarding results
“In this study there was no difference in scanning results — both groups scanned 60% twins, due to green feed being available in both pastures during the February joining,” Dr Friend explained.
In the EverGraze trials grazing both chicory and lucerne during February increased ewe ovulation rates more reliably when compared
“The results from farmers collaborating with the research team support the experimental data — on one farm ewes grazing lucerne
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Table 1 A verage ovulation rates and proportion of multiple ovulations for ewes grazing four pastures (2006–2008) Treatment Phalaris
Number of ewes
Average ovulations per ewe
Proportion of ewes with two or more ovulations
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0.38
Source: CSU
during joining in February scanned 67% twins compared with ewes grazing annual pastures who scanned 20% twins.” “On farms where differences were not seen, this was due to the amount of green feed being similar in the lucerne and control paddocks.” “This all suggests providing some green feed during joining can increase scanning results when compared with not providing green feed.”
“While ewes can be left on the green feed for longer, if large quantities of lush green feed were available, it is possible that leaving ewes on these pastures for longer than a week into joining could increase embryo mortality, thus removing the benefit of the approach,” Dr Friend warned.
feed (preferably more than 1.5 tonnes of green feed, or supplementary feed offered) and depending on lambing time and location, consider shelter options.” Twin-lamb mortality will normally be higher than single lambs, but careful management of twins can see similar survival to singles (for more information on lamb survival see Focus on Perennials Issue 11, March 2010 or www.evergraze.com.au). This work was funded by EverGraze® — More livestock from perennials. EverGraze is a Future Farm Industries CRC, Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation research and delivery partnership.
Twice the effort
“Summer-active perennials, such lucerne will more reliably provide green feed for summerand autumn-joined flocks.” In an unsynchronised flock, Dr Friend recommends placing ewes on the green feed a week before joining and leaving them there for the first week of joining.
Dr Friend also reminds producers not to overlook the consequences of breeding more twins. “Identify twin-bearing ewes at scanning and maintain them in condition score 3 throughout pregnancy to maximise twin lamb survival,” he advised.
More information Dr Michael Friend, I&I NSW T: (02) 6933 2285 E: mfriend@csu.edu.au
“During the last trimester of pregnancy ensure these ewes have access to the best
New Research Director joins CRC team “I am looking forward to working collaboratively within the CRC and across its partners to help deliver the knowledge that underpins economically and environmentally sustainable farming systems for Australian farmers,” Dr McGrath said “A key component of my previous roles has been in the management of Western Australia’s natural resources and this new role of FFI CRC Research Director will draw on these previous experiences.”
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he Future Farm Industries CRC has appointed a new Research Director — Dr. John McGrath. Based at the University of Western Australia (UWA) Dr McGrath has taken over the role from Dr Mike Ewing. Dr McGrath will be responsible for developing and growing the program and project linkages both within the CRC and between the CRC and partner agencies. Working with the CRC’s Program Leaders, he will also play a key role in ensuring the FFI CRC delivers high-quality science.
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Dr McGrath is well qualified for the role with 30 years experience in research and research management in plantation and farm forestry and land management in WA. “Initially I was involved in research on pine nutrition, which expanded into looking more broadly at the climate, water, soil and nutritional constraints on tree growth in south west WA,” he said. “The limitations to tree growth are similar to the constraints on perennials and I look forward to the challenge in applying my experiences in farm forestry systems in WA to a wider range of Australian perennial systems.”
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Focus on the future Dr McGrath will work closely with the Board research working group to provide advice to the CRC Board on the strategic direction of the research program for the second half of the CRC. Additionally, through involvement with the project evaluation committee, he will have a direct role in assessing the scientific and technical merit of projects and assessing project reviews to determine if they are providing the required outcomes. “We are aiming to increase the number of postgraduate researchers involved in FFI CRC projects from 46 (or 47) to more than 50,” he said. “Working on campus at UWA gives the centre access to students and I will be assisting Education Manager, Dr John Harper from Charles Sturt University, New South Wales by actively involving students in FFI CRC projects.”
More information Dr John McGrath, Research Director T: T:(08) 6488 4841 E: john.mcgrath@futurefarmcrc.com.au
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About Focus on Perennials Focus on Perennials is a quarterly magazine that provides an update on the latest research and activities by the Future Farm Industries CRC Ltd (ACN 125 594 765). Future Farm Industries CRC was established in 2007 under the Commonwealth Government’s CRC Program and builds on the research of the CRC for Plantbased Management of Dryland Salinity. Future Farm Industries CRC is a unique co-investment between meat, grains and wool industry research corporations, the Landmark agribusiness company, and the combined research power of CSIRO, six State agencies and four universities. For further information about Future Farm Industries CRC visit www.futurefarmonline.com.au. Focus on Perennials draws on the work of both CRCs, to describe the potential application of Profitable Perennials™ to innovative farming systems and new regional industries better adapted to southern Australian drylandfarming conditions. The information contained in this newsletter has been published in good faith by Future Farm Industries CRC to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve profitability of farming and sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity. Neither Future Farm Industries CRC nor the Participants in the CRC endorse or recommend any products identified by trade name, nor is any warranty implied by the CRC and its participants about information presented in Focus on Perennials. Readers should contact the authors or contacts provided and conduct their own enquiries before making use of the information in Focus on Perennials.
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kevin Goss T: (08) 6488 2555 E: kevin.goss@futurefarmcrc.com.au
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Commercial Manager Peter Zurzolo T: (08) 6488 1429 E: peter.zurzolo@futurefarmcrc.com.au
Consulting EDITOR Catriona Nicholls E: comm-manager@futurefarmcrc.com.au
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T: (08) 6488 8559 E: enquiry@futurefarmcrc.com.au W: www.futurefarmonline.com.au Design & production: Kondinin Group Front cover: Photo: Jason Emms
Please return this form to: Future Farm Industries CRC The University of Western Australia M081 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009 Tel (08) 6488 8559 Fax (08) 6488 2856 Or email: gmadson@futurefarmcrc.com.au