Southern Farming Systems (SFS) team hosted a hands‑on Pasture Paramedic (PP) workshop on the 11 February, 2026 that saw 22 farmers and advisors gathered at the SFS Rokewood Pasture Trial Site.

Pasture Paramedic is a practical assessment tool designed to help producers quickly evaluate the condition of their sown perennial pastures and decide whether a paddock should be maintained, manipulated, or fully resown. Built for perennial grass and clover-based systems, the tool combines a quadrat, field manual and assessment booklet, and is used twice a year—winter/early spring and late summer/early autumn.

The late‑summer assessment focuses on three key indicators that help producers make informed decisions before the autumn break.

Groundcover is the first checkpoint, with at least 70% cover required on flat paddocks and up to 90% on slopes to minimise erosion risk.

The second measure is dry matter material, ideally one to two handfuls per quadrat (around 1,000–2,000 kg DM/ha). This  level of dry material helps drive the temperature fluctuations needed to break sub‑clover hard seed and encourage germination.

Finally, participants assessed surviving perennial plants, checking whether enough phalaris, tall fescue, cocksfoot or ryegrass plants remain to warrant ongoing investment. Where plant survival is unclear, farmers are encouraged to “water up” a small patch—applying around 40 mm over a week (equating to 40L in 1m²) —to monitor new shoots and confirm recovery potential. See how too here…

Assessing pastures now, before the break arrives, gives producers the opportunity to make proactive, profitable renovation decisions.

Keep an eye out for more Pasture Paramedic Workshops in your region soon…

Pasture Paramedic is a collaboration between Meat & Livestock Australia and Southern Farming Systems.