Murdoch University’s Whitby Farm opened its doors to the fourth field day series of the Landcare SJ Equine Landcare Project. The project is funded through the State NRM Community Action Grants and Supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through the National Landcare Programme.
Attendees were lucky to have farm manager Bob Fawcett introduce the Whitby Farm and describe the farms history and describe present day practises.
On Whitby Farm they use crops of oats to help manage broadleaf weeds. After several knock down sprays they sow an oaten crop and then continue with follow up selective broadleaf herbicide. Paddocks are sown with oats for two years and after the second harvest another knock down spray is done before a pasture mix is sown. At this stage broadleaf weeds have been managed to a low level and low strength selective sprays can be used without harming broadleaf pasture species such as clover.
Attendees were interested in using this practise on their own properties, even on smaller acreage using oats can be a way of providing a commercial crop or animal forage in an area that was before dominated by weeds or even unusable.
Property owners were able to network with like minded people and share experiences and knowledge. Lunch was sandwiched from the Jarrahdale tavern and cakes from the local Rusty Nut Café.
Belinda Taylor from Hoof Hearted Hoof Care then gave a talk on pasture establishment. Belinda went through the do’s and don’ts of grass farming. One of the major issues facing horse owners is knowing when to take your horses off a pasture to let it rest and recoup. A great way to tell is to find the grass the horses are actually eating (not the long stuff they have turned their noses up at) and take them off when it is 5cm with horses going back on at 12-15cm. It is also important to spread out manure and mow long grass every time horses are taken off a paddock to reduce sour spots. Rotation was an important aspect of keeping pasture healthy and growing well which was a great way to encourage all attendees to attend the next field day which is on this very subject.
Belinda Taylor from Hoof Hearted Hoof Care then gave a talk on pasture establishment. Belinda went through the do’s and don’ts of grass farming. One of the major issues facing horse owners is knowing when to take your horses off a pasture to let it rest and recoup. A great way to tell is to find the grass the horses are actually eating (not the long stuff they have turned their noses up at) and take them off when it is 5cm with horses going back on at 12-15cm. It is also important to spread out manure and mow long grass every time horses are taken off a paddock to reduce sour spots. Rotation was an important aspect of keeping pasture healthy and growing well which was a great way to encourage all attendees to attend the next field day which is on this very subject.
This project is supported by; Landcare SJ through funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM
Program, and the Peel Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Federal Government’s National
Landcare Programme.