Tool 1.12 The Sustainable Grazing Systems one-page planning process
Tool 1.12 The Sustainable Grazing Systems one-page planning process
The Sustainable Grazing Systems program (SGS) aimed to increase enterprise productivity at the same time as improving the environment across Southern Australia’s high rainfall zone. One of the many SGS outputs was the planning framework (below). The framework draws on your existing knowledge and aspirations to assess the benefits, potential flow-on effects and implementation challenges of any change you’re considering.
The following framework is an extract from MLA’s ‘Towards Sustainable Grazing – the professional producer's guide’.
Step 1 — Deciding the options and priorities
Where am I now? |
Where do I want to get to? |
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This is where you describe your current situation, and perhaps why you are not satisfied with what you are doing, or the results you are getting.
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This is where you describe your vision, where you are heading, or what you want to achieve. It is important that this section highlights as specifically as possible what you want to see or achieve from any changes you plan.
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What are my options? |
What is the highest priority? |
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Can I modify my enterprise mix? Is there a pasture management solution? Are there off farm options?
There are often many different options or approaches to achieving your vision of where you want to be. List as many as you can. |
From the list of options, select the one that you think is most appropriate/the best option for you. This may require some further information seeking, and/or discussion with others (advisors or co-decision makers).
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Step 2 — Planning the change
Possible impacts on the farm |
Possible impacts off the farm |
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What are the likely impacts on (for example): Pastures and animals
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What are the likely impacts on (for example): Your customers
Your community Catchment priorities for natural resources |
Likely impact on profitability |
Overall assessment |
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Profitability What is the expected impact on profitability and where will it come from? Reduced costs? Increased returns? How sure is the gain from year to year?
Other key considerations
What other issues have to be considered? Some examples might include:
Are extra skills needed? How will the change be financed? Are additional animals required? How long before the change breaks even? How committed am I to the change? |
Main advantages What are the key advantages (small number only) you expect from the change?
Main disadvantages/risks What are the most critical potential downsides and risks to be considered and managed? How will you know if things are not going according to plan?
Conclusion/implementation Final, and individual decision and steps for implementation.
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Example – “I want to increase pasture production and animal output”
Step 1 — Deciding the options and priorities
Where am I now? |
Where do I want to get to? |
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I don’t have a lot of spare winter feed, but my current stock numbers (12.5 DSE/ha) are not high enough to generate the income I’m going to need over the next few years. I’ve been rotationally grazing for several years, and I have a reasonable paddock layout to handle more stock. Rotational grazing allowed me to increase my stock numbers and cut fertiliser but I seem to have hit a barrier. I’ve seen demonstrations that improved pastures can boost feed supply by 50% or more. |
I think I need to increase my stocking rate by about 20% over the next 2 years in order to increase my income, but my facilities could handle an even larger increase. However, I want to make sure that as I increase my stock numbers, I do it in a sustainable way. My property has some quite steep sections that, if overgrazed, may start to erode. I would like to reduce grazing in these areas and possibly use them for NRM objectives such as trees. |
What are my options? |
What is the highest priority? |
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Try to manage my rotational grazing better to increase utilisation. |
My soil tests are moderately low, but I don’t have the species in some paddocks to respond to extra fertiliser. Buying additional land is always at the back of my mind, but optimising production at home comes first. |
Step 2 — Planning the change
Possible impacts on the farm |
Possible impacts off the farm |
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There will be extra pressure on other paddocks so some overgrazing is likely. Contract labour will be needed. Direct drilling should avoid any erosion risk. Should not be any impacts on water use or on any remnant vegetation. Highly productive pastures will be beneficial for soil structure and increase organic matter. Will need capital to fund both the new pastures and more stock. |
The paddocks are already pasture, so additional impacts should be minimal. |
Likely impact on profitability |
Overall assessment |
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Profitability |
Main advantages Conclusion/implementation |
