A three-legged approach towards improved development and adoption of best-bet practices for managing grazing lands across northern Australia

A novel combination of industry knowledge and experience, bio-economic modelling and research findings produced compelling whole-of-enterprise propositions for the improved adoption of best-bet management practices in the extensive beef grazing industry of northern Australia. The Northern Grazing Systems (NGS) project brought together three multi disciplinary teams cooperating towards a common goal for four key grazing land management issues identified by Meat and Livestock Australia: property infrastructure; pasture spelling; stocking rate management; and use of fire. On-property development and demonstrations by the regional teams allowed for further evaluation of strategies, improvements in research, and extension of findings to the broader industry. Identifying interactions, trade-offs, research gaps and cost-effectiveness of guidelines was a focal point for each team’s work. Coordination and communication between the teams was essential to gather, understand, review and provide constructive feedback on new information generated. This three-legged approach has allowed a systematic and rigorous approach to evaluating the evidence base for current grazing land management recommendations and provided a participatory and adaptive framework for future Research, Development and Extension.