Elements and Performance Criteria
- Develop a pasture management program
- Assess pasture types on property and seasonal production potential and limitations
- Confirm or modify livestock production and enterprise objectives to develop production targets achievable by each pasture type
- Assess grazing and rest period requirements of pasture types for pasture quality, quantity and persistence considerations
- Assess nutrient requirements for pastures to determine appropriate fertiliser and soil ameliorant program
- On properties / paddocks with irrigation, determine appropriate irrigation schedules for each soil and pasture type using assessed water requirements, rainfall, Readily Available Water and evapo-transpiration data
- Identify and plan grazing and fodder conservation strategies
- Determine infrastructure and resources required to support grazing management
- Identify and account for budgetary constraints appropriately
- Develop appropriate pasture management program
- Identify hazards in pasture management and assess risks
- Implement pasture management program
- Identify work health and safety hazards and implement controls
- Monitor pasture capacity appropriately
- Implement planned strategic grazing to reduce or eradicate areas of weed infestation and maintain ground cover
- Determine fertiliser and soil ameliorant applications and rates appropriate to pasture type, soil analysis and production targets, and applied accordingly
- On properties / paddocks with irrigation, monitor soil moisture and schedule watering
- Apply technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations
- Develop and implement appropriate processes to minimise waste, soil degradation and environmental impacts
- Monitor pasture growth and fodder production
- Determine longer term trends in weed, pest and disease incidence and implement any identified changes to control measures
- Monitor soil structure and risks of erosion, determine changes to cultural practices, grazing management and drainage to improve soil quality
- On properties with irrigation, check and maintain irrigation and drainage systems
- Monitor grazing management to ensure sustainable pasture and optimal livestock production levels
- Identify feed surpluses and deficiencies and rectify appropriately
- Monitor pasture maturity and conduct seed harvesting to meet any marketing and production targets
- Review production level