Across the region, producers are reporting tightening feed availability, uneven pasture growth and declining soil moisture reserves following a run of warm conditions and inconsistent rainfall. In some areas, summer pasture responses have been short-lived, placing additional pressure on feed budgeting and grazing management decisions as producers look ahead to autumn.
Hunter Local Land Services is continuing to support landholders through seasonal updates, dry time planning resources and upcoming agriculture events focused on pasture management, livestock nutrition and risk mitigation strategies. These activities are designed to provide practical, locally relevant advice to help producers prepare early and respond confidently to changing seasonal conditions.
The Farming Forecaster program aims to equip farmers with practical, predictive information on weather, soil moisture and pasture production to support informed grazing and feed management decisions. Monitoring sites in the Hunter are incorporated into a wider national network of soil moisture probes and weather stations across Australia.
The program operates by collecting real-time data from soil moisture probes and on-farm weather stations. This data is transformed into clear, user-friendly information that is readily available online, allowing producers to track local conditions and trends as the season unfolds.
Farming Forecaster also provides estimates of future pasture growth over the next three to four months, comparing current conditions with historic seasons and climate forecasts. This is particularly valuable for Hunter producers managing variable rainfall, helping them understand how stored soil moisture may influence pasture growth into autumn and winter.
The website’s outputs are a valuable resource for Hunter landholders, supporting decisions around stocking rates, grazing pressure and feed budgeting during periods of uncertainty.
Teresa Hogan, Livestock Officer with Hunter Local Land Services, said with seasonal conditions across the Hunter remaining variable, tools like Farming Forecaster give producers a clearer picture of what’s happening in their paddocks now and what may be coming in the months ahead.
“By combining local weather data, soil moisture information and pasture growth forecasts, producers can make more informed decisions around stocking rates, supplementary feeding and planning for autumn and winter.
“Having access to this type of information helps graziers manage risk, respond earlier to changing conditions and make the most of any rainfall that does arrive.”
The pasture forecast tool uses validated modelling and historic data that incorporates site-specific data along with information from CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. It provides forecast pasture growth rates (kgDM/ha/day) and production estimates (tDM/ha), along with an indication of the likely range in pasture availability over the next three to four months.
This type of information is invaluable for Hunter producers planning livestock and pasture management, particularly when managing risks associated with potential feed shortages. It can support decisions around conserving fodder, purchasing supplementary feed or adjusting stocking rates ahead of autumn and winter.
Visit the Farming Forecaster website. Livestock producers seeking advice on managing current local conditions are encouraged to contact Hunter Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 or visit www.nsw.gov.au/lls.
Landholders can also visit the Local Land Services events page and Facebook for the latest events, information and resources.
Media Contact:
For more information, please contact Michelle Gapes, Regional Communications Advisor, North Coast/Hunter via email michelle.gapes@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0467 291 890.
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