Mitchell pastures for productivity field day

Local producers gathered on 3 December for the Mitchell Pastures for Productivity Field Day, hosted on a local property and delivered by Mitchell and District Landcare Association in partnership with the Queensland DPI Pastures team, ConnectAg, SQNNSW Innovation Hub, Meat & Livestock Australia.

Despite the busy time of year, it was a great turnout and a valuable opportunity to step into the paddock with fresh eyes, share experiences and learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing pasture productivity in the Mitchell district.

The afternoon began with a pasture walk, giving participants the chance to look closely at current pasture condition and discuss what was happening on the ground. A key focus was leucaena, with practical discussion around establishment, management and its role in supporting long-term productivity and resilience in grazing systems.

Presentations followed on pasture dieback and mealy bugs, two issues of growing concern across the region. The DPI Pastures team shared the latest research findings, helping producers better understand how to identify symptoms in the paddock, what signs to look for early, and how mealy bugs can impact pasture health and grazing land condition. Importantly, the sessions also covered practical management options and tools available to producers when responding to these issues.

The day provided plenty of opportunity for discussion, questions and the sharing of local knowledge, with many producers reflecting on how the information related directly to what they were seeing on their own properties. Just as valuable was the chance to catch up with neighbours, compare notes and strengthen local connections, something that remains a vital part of building resilient farming communities.

This approach obviously worked, with landholders telling us they had increased their knowledge and understanding of pasture dieback and tolerant grasses because of the day, from an average of 3 on a scale of 1 to 7, to 5.65 out of 7.

In all, 94% of participants said they learnt something new from the event including, and we quote, “I learnt I only thought I knew what I was doing”.

And it looks like the change will continue, with 76% indicating they’ll make changes on-ground, including actively monitoring for dieback, planning out management strategies, and establishing legumes.

The field day concluded with a relaxed barbecue dinner, and a chance to continue conversations well into the evening and highlight the value of learning together locally in the paddock.

A special thank you also goes to the property hosts, John, Cathy, Liam and Hannah, for opening their paddocks and sharing their experience.

You can check out photos from the day via the ConnectAg Facebook page.