Do livestock systems act as a buffer against income volatility

2013

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Michelle Chappel (ORM)
Brett Collins (BCG)
Jane Crane (BCG)
Dannielle McMillan (BCG)
Year(s) 2013
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Birchip, VIC
Do livestock systems act as a buffer against income volatility locations
Aims

To quanitfy the role of livestock in the financial performance of Wimmera and Malle farming systems.

Key messages

This comparative study focused on the role of livestock in whole farm performance and has shown:

  • the Wimmera and Mallee farming systems that achived the highest profits typically operated with approximately 75% cropping and 25% non-cropped, with some livestock
  • livestock income is less volatile than crop income;
  • farms with livestock use fewer herbicides, livestock being effective as a tool to delay the developmet of herbicide resistance in crops;
  • labour costs are higher when runinng livestock
  • livestock do not substantially decrease from total farm operating expenses;
  • the most profitable farms are not making their profit from thier livestock enterprise.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC BWD00018
Related program Grain & Graze 2
Acknowledgments

This project was supported by Northern Victoria Grain and Graze 2 (GRDC project BWD00018); funded by GRDC and Caring for Our Country). The analysis and project work was completed by ORM.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type None: No crop specified
Treatment type(s)
  • Grazing: Application Method
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Not applicable

Birchip 2013

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Birchip, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Birchip, VIC Vertosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Birchip VIC
2013 323.9mm
2012 365.4mm
2011 431.2mm
2010 344.5mm
2009 292.7mm
2008 275.5mm
2007 274.8mm
2006 283.6mm
2005 316.0mm
2004 281.0mm
2003 275.8mm
2002 240.1mm
2001 285.1mm
2000 290.6mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Birchip VIC

CAUTION: Trial site locality unknown; Climate data sourced from Birchip Cropping Group office location
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2013 trial report



Trial last modified: 07-05-2019 20:53pm AEST