Southern Farming Systems
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Pasture / LivestockProjects
Project

Clover for Crops – Introducing clover into crop rotations

  • Meat & Livestock Australia and Grains Research and Development Corporation
  • 2028
  • Skipton/Rokewood Regions
  • Current
canola and persian aug 2025

Research Question

How can different clover species be strategically integrated into crop rotations to improve nitrogen input, grazing opportunities, and overall farm profitability and resilience in South West Victoria's mixed farming systems?

Research Information & Objectives

Mixed farming systems in South West Victoria are facing growing challenges: declining soil organic carbon (SOC) levels are reducing natural nitrogen availability, driving up fertiliser costs, and raising environmental concerns. Limited crop rotation diversity is increasing weed and pest pressures, while seasonal feed gaps are affecting livestock productivity and leading to greater reliance on expensive supplementary feed.

The “Clover for Crops” Producer Demonstration Sites project is being delivered by Southern Farming Systems with support from Meat & Livestock Australia and GRDC — aims to demonstrate how integrating clovers into crop rotations can address these issues. Through six demonstration sites and collaboration with a core group of producers, the project will assess:

  • Nitrogen contribution from different clover species
  • Improvements in soil health
  • Weed and disease suppression
  • Livestock feed benefits

The goal is to provide farmers with region-specific, practical insights and tools to improve whole farm profitability, sustainability, and resilience through clover-based systems.

Resources

SFS Trial Results Reports

Conboy C and Hartwidge R (2009) Evaluation of annual clover varieties in a cropping system- Dunkeld, SFS Trial Results

Other Useful Resources

Hall E and Hurst A Arrowleaf clover cv. Arrotas Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Available: Herbage fact sheet 1 Arrotas.indd

Evan P and Rifkin P (2006) Chapter 12. Integrating legume pastures and crops. In Green Pastures for south west Victoria. Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

Hackney B, Wicks T and Rigg J and Orgill S (2023) GRDC Update Nitrogen and other legacies of pasture legumes grown in crop rotations - GRDC

Information on this website is not a scientific journal and has been prepared solely as a means of disseminating information to the members of SFS and the community. Content on this website has been prepared in good faith on the basis of information available at the date of publication. Although all reasonable care has been taken in producing the reports within, the authors do not warrant that the content is free from errors or omissions.

The authors and SFS does not accept any liability for the contents of this publication or any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred from relying on the information within. Readers are responsible for assessing the relevance and accuracy of the contents of this website. Products may be identified by propriety or trade names to help readers identify them, however, this is not an endorsement or recommendation of any product or manufacturer referred to.

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