The Elders agronomy team at Moora had an excellent pasture trial site just east of Moora in 2005. These are some of the results up to mid Spring. The Diploids (Dargo) and Tetraploids (Winter Star and New Tetlia) were hard to split in terms of biomass and quality. The earlier maturity of Dargo and New Tetila may see them set some viable seed if well managed (de-stocked in late spring), whereas Winter Star is so late maturing it is unlikely to set viable seed in this environment. Photo 26 October 2005.

This photo shows the difference in maturity between Winter Star (left) and Dargo (right) annual ryegrass. Dargo is a mid season variety which if well managed can produce viable seed for the following year's pasture. Winter Star is so late maturing it is unlikely to set viable seed in an environment like Moora. As a result Winter Star is more suited as a specialist one year grazing or fodder conservation variety. Photo 26 October 2005.

A mass of kikuyu seedlings germinating in cow dung at a property east of Esperance. The area of kikuyu is rapidly expanding on this property solely due to this natural spread. A few serradella seedlings can also be seen gerimating in the cow dung. Photo 10 May 2005.

Kelvin Ridgeway of Narrikup sowed this paddock to a mix of 3 annual clovers and 3 long season annual ryegrasses. The sowing rate was high and as you can see the density and production is something else!

This paddock at Mt Barker Research Station is part of the perennial vs annual demonstration. The lucerne was sown under with a canola crop to reduce the cost of establishment.

Robert and Caroline Rex of Arthur River have set up some grazing "cells" in their hilly country. Old car tyres are a cheap way to stop stock removing soil from around the trough.

Mixtures of Veldt grass and serradella have been sown on light sands around Esperance for years. This is an excellent example. Other perennials including Panic, Rhodes and Lucerne are being sown in adjoining paddocks - so it will be interesting to see h

These perennial grasses were sown by Grant Bain at Walkaway in autumn 2005. The good early rains produced an excellent germination.

Photo taken 31 May 2005

Light weight beef weaners running on an excellent stand of Lucerne at Esperance.