The Paired-Paddock Model as an Agent for Change on Grazing Properties Across Southeast Australia

From the mid 1970s to the mid 1990s the low productivity of wool and beef producing farms in the high rainfall zone (\u3e550 mm annual rainfall) in south east Australia has been a major contributing factor to the difficulties faced by farmers in this region. This was despite research from the Long-term Phosphate Experiment at Hamilton in south west Victoria indicating that there is considerable potential to increase the productivity and profitability of wool production (Saul, 1994). By implementing the productive pasture technology (PPT) that involves increased rates of fertiliser on pastures containing productive species and increased stocking rates to utilise the extra pasture grown (Trompf & Sale, 2000), gains in excess of $A200/ha on a gross margin basis can be regularly achieved. However wool and beef producers were reluctant to adopt the technology. In 1993 the Grassland\u27s Productivity Program (GPP) was initiated to assist producers to develop skills and gain confidence in their ability to manage more productive pastures on their farms. In brief, groups of 4-6 farmers were assisted by an experienced facilitator to compare current management practice in one paddock with PPT in an adjacent paddock. Over 500 wool and beef producers in south east Australia have been exposed to the paired-paddock model, firstly in the GPP from 1993 to 1997 and more recently in the Triple P Program. This paper reports on the effectiveness of the paired-paddock model in assisting pastoral producers to adopt PPT