Multispecies Forage Crops at the Conrons in Irrewillipe, VIC

Local trials by HDLN of multispecies cover crops showed:
✔️increased on farm grown feed,
✔️reduced reliance on fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides and
✔️ increased soil nutrients and water holding capacity.
HDLN partnered with 30 farms from 2021 to 2023 to support the rollout of regenerative farming innovations that increase resistance to climate change.
16 farms selected to try multispecies fodder crops and 94% of them showed valuable fodder produced in comparison to conventional pasture blends and are committed to using multispecies after the completion of the project.
Here we visit one such farm owned by Rob and Bernie Conron, to see and hear their results.
Rob and Bernie have been using multi species in their pastures for four years now and were willing participants in the trial.
They are continuing their multispecies journey and have just taken delivery of their Soilkee drill and mulcher. Rob is using it extensively on their home farm and is very pleased with the results. Rob is also contracting with the drill under the business name Heytesbury Regen Ag.
There is no lack of farmer interest in mixed species cover crops as a way of building soil carbon and filling the seasonal “feed wedge”.
This project was supported by the Australian Government's Drought Resilience Fund.