NEW Grassland Society of Southern Australia president Steve Cotton is urging farmers to consider themselves first and foremost as grass growers.
“Whether they are sheep, beef or dairy farmers, it’s the pasture system that drives production and live weight gains in animals,” Mr Cotton said.
“It is all about getting soil fertility right, growing the grass and then getting good utilisation of that grass.”
Mr Cotton said the grassland society had a significant role to play in helping farmers to achieve success.
The society has around 540 members with branches in the Limestone Coast, Albury-Wodonga, Central Ranges, Central West, Gippsland, East Gippsland, Western District in Victoria and Tasmania.
As president Mr Cotton hopes to increase the society’s membership, reinvigorate the Gippsland and Central West branches, improve collaboration with like-minded agencies and organisations and become involved in more research.
“The society provides relevant and robust information suited to people who are keen to grow grass,” he said.
The society’s central committee will focus more on strategic issues while giving branches the freedom to drive local activities.
“I would also like to see more collaboration with other agencies and organisations in the field,” Mr Cotton said.
“We could look at joint field days and conferences and ideally the society will get involved in any relevant research work that is happening.”
