Media Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Barossa Improved Grazing Group

Working together creates ‘BIGG’ outcomes

November 1, 2017

The Barossa Valley in South Australia is renowned for its food, wine and heritage, which stems from generations of vibrant farming communities learning and working together.

The Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) has applied the same approach to improving on-farm productivity and achieving natural resource management outcomes. With a common focus on sustainable grazing practices, BIGG links five different farming groups including sheep, beef, dairy and two local agricultural bureaus with a common focus on sustainable grazing enterprises.

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BIGG members view the Moculta revegetation site

Demonstrating watercourse rehabilitation with native plant communities

November 2, 2016

Rehabilitating a watercourse improves water quality, reduces erosion, provides habitat for birds and improves on-farm production. However, which are the best plant communities to do the job?

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Measure moisture for better pasture management

November 2, 2016

Measuring subsoil moisture levels can take the guesswork out of planning future stocking rates, a new study by the Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) suggests.

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Flexibility imperative in successful sheep system

May 11, 2016

THE importance of flexibility in sheep system during varying seasons was underlined by grazing and pastoral consultant Tim Prance during a Barossa Improved Grazing Group workshop at Keyneton last week.

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Better bull selection comes down to herd, market

February 26, 2016

THERE is no perfect bull, just the right bull, according to cattle breeder and University of Adelaide agricultural lecturer Darren Koopman, Tungkillo.

“There are so many decisions to make, so you need to ask ‘what’s the best bull for your job?’,” he said.

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US Study trip targets better profits

November 2, 2015

MERINO breeders Ian and Fiona Koch are continuously searching for new ways to make their enterprise more profitable and sustainable.

And thanks to a study grant, the Kochs – who operate Bunyara Merino stud at Moculta – will head to the United States in October to further their research.

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A future direction for property management for a farming system in South Australia

October 2, 2015

Ian and Fiona Koch own and manage 1800 hectares in the northern Barossa Ranges. The property consists of a variety of land classes in three different rainfall zones which require different management techniques. One region of the property, the native grass rangelands, is in a 350 mm rainfall zone.

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Winter pasture project the start of something ‘BIGG’

February 2, 2015

The Barossa Valley region in South Australia has a strong history of local producer groups in the sheep, dairy and beef industries.

Although the Angaston Agricultural Bureau had links with all these industries, there was no organised avenue for farmers from the different industries to get together to share information, ideas and approaches.

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Millie Nicholls examines a native plant on a BIGG field day at Keyneton

Farmers learn to spot native grasses

November 20, 2014

ACCURATE identification is the first step towards improving native grass populations in pastures, according to native grass expert Millie \’Nicholls, Brinkworth. Ms Nicholls helped Barossa graziers develop their identification skills at a field day in Keyneton last month, visiting properties affected by the damaging Eden Valley fires. She said the field day was timed to make it easy to spot the often elusive native grass species.

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Moisture probes offer BIGG scope

April 2, 2014

The use of soil moisture monitoring technology is becoming more common in cropping operations and almost standard in viticulture but remains an unexplored frontier in grazing systems.

A group of Barossa Valley graziers and mixed farmers believe the technology could bring major benefits to their pasture management systems.

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