New EDGE program targets southern rangelands producers

MLA is set to launch the Grazing Fundamentals (Southern Rangelands) EDGE program, aimed to further support producers in the southern pastoral zone to succeed in their unique environment.

In 2024, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is set to launch the Grazing Fundamentals (Southern Rangelands) EDGE program, a tailor-made initiative under the EDGE network, aimed to further support producers in the southern pastoral zone to succeed in their unique environment.

Grazing Fundamentals (Southern Rangelands) EDGE is built on the existing northern Grazing Fundamentals EDGE product. The program was designed by rangeland researchers, and experienced advisors. In 2023, 11 of these courses were run across South Australia.

These workshops were specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the SA Arid Lands pastoral context, where over 150 people from various pastoral businesses were able to gain valuable insights into rangeland forages and soils, land management, and livestock production.

Off the back of this, the Grazing Fundamentals (Southern Rangelands) EDGE program is set to be available nationally next year, with workshops covering key aspects of rangeland and livestock management.

These workshops will be accessible and practical, focusing on three core modules:

• Nutrition requirements for animal production: This module will cover the fundamentals of animal digestion and nutrient requirements, diet quality, and forage demands, ensuring that producers have a solid understanding of the nutritional needs of their livestock in a rangeland context.
• Factors affecting forage production: In this module, participants will explore the many factors that influence forage production in rangelands, including ecology, climate, soils, landscape function, and land condition.
• Grazing management: This module is dedicated to understanding safe pasture utilisation, managing grazing pressure, and forage budgeting. It equips producers with the tools to optimise livestock production while sustainably managing or improving the natural resources base.

Considering the unique arid and semi-arid environment of the southern rangelands, MLA is excited to launch Grazing Fundamentals (Southern Rangelands) EDGE next year, to support producers by sharing regionally relevant knowledge and skills.

With much of Australia’s goat production occurring in the rangelands, producers are encouraged to keep an eye out for more information to come.