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CSIRO CORPORATE MEDIA RELEASE 95/62

SOWN TROPICAL PASTURES UNDER CHALLENGE

More than 450 farmers, graziers and agricultural scientists in northern Australia share concerns about the future for sown tropical pasture plants, according to the response to a recent CSIRO survey.

This has implications for the future viability of livestock industries in northern Australian, especially the beef industry.

The survey, conducted by CSIRO Division of Tropical Crops & Pastures, showed considerable concern about eight significant issues facing the development of sown pastures in northern Australia.

Chief of the Division, Dr Bob Clements, said that issues identified by both producers and scientists included the high cost of establishing sown pastures, the uncertainty of commodity prices, the unreliable climate and the costs of maintaining sown pastures.

"There is also a lack of suitable pasture legumes for some agricultural regions," Dr Clements said. "The challenge for researchers lies in developing opportunities for reducing the costs of establishing and maintaining pastures."

Dr Clements is keynote speaker at today's 5th Australian Tropical Pastures Conference in Atherton, north Queensland. The Conference, hosted by the Tropical Grasslands Society of Australia, Northern Australian Beef Research Council and Northern Dairy Group, is focusing on `Pastures for Prosperity'.

Dr Clements said there was no doubt that improved pastures were a crucial element in lifting the productivity of livestock industries in northern Australia, as already proved in southern Australia.

"The use of stylo legumes in northern Australia is already adding an extra $25 million to the beef industry every year," he said. "Research now needs to focus on overcoming some of the problems identified by graziers and producers in northern Australia."

Dr Clements stressed the need for researchers to work with government agencies and rural industries to ensure the responsible use of pasture plants. "We recognise that conservation groups are concerned about the potential impact of introduced plants on Australia's northern environment," he said.

"We are currently working with such groups to better understand their concerns and to develop and implement guidelines which will help to ensure that introduced plants will benefit the industries concerned without damaging the environment."

The CSIRO survey will be used by a multi-organisational taskforce seeking to promote the responsible use of pasture plants in northern Australia.

The taskforce plans to use further surveys and focus group discussions to better understand the perceptions and concerns of conservation groups, policy makers and environmental scientists.

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