"Arcadia" In brief..

Property:

Arcadia

Address:

Narrandera

Owners:

Garth Strong

Phone:

(02) 69598644

Area (in hectares)

1821 ha

Rainfall (mm/pa)

425 mm

Oldman Saltbush area (hecatares)

100 ha

year of first Planting

1996

Q & A: an interview with Garth Strong

Why OMSB planted?  

To prevent salinity that is on my neighbours coming onto this property and to create a Green Haystack for our grazing operation.

What grazing and pasture benefits have been observed? 

Being able to extend the rest period of the pasture country. It is certainly very clear to us that the omsb takes moisture from deep in the soil. We very rarely see water running of our saltbush paddocks now, every bit is soaking in to be used later. The diversity of grasses coming back between the rows is encouraging.

What financial benefits have been observed? 

We havent needed to handfeed during late summer and early autumn. That saves us bi money. Our other grass paddocks are becoming more productive because of the ability to be able to de stock at strategic times.

Biggest OMSB impact?  

Providing ground cover all year and allowing the return of a strong biological diversity  including that of insects along with the associated small insect-eating birds.

Any problems with OMSB? 

None observed so far except for getting the grazing management right.

Do you / if you had a salinity problem, do you think OMSB would help with controlling deep drainage and/or lowering the water table?  Yes it does.

Would you like to increase your area sown to OMSB? 

We plan to keep planting it in the future.

What limits your planting of a larger area? 

Our cropping program and economic returns from livestock.

Our Comments:

Garth & his family were one of the first properties to plant extensive areas of oldman saltbush in the Narrandera area. It has been very rewarding for us to watch the benefits that Garth has gained from having omsb as a backbone to his grazing, particularly during the last drought.