"Ellerslie" In brief..

Property:

Ellerslie

Address:

Peak Hill

Owners:

Kim Strahorn

Phone:

Area (in hectares)

790 ha

Rainfall (mm/pa)

450 mm

Oldman Saltbush area (hecatares)

70 ha

year of first Planting

1998

Q & A: an interview with Kim Strahorn

Why OMSB planted?  To help drought proof the farm. A plant that when established, would produce feed through the dry times.

What grazing and pasture benefits have been observed?  Still early days. The OMSB does produce throughout the year. When grazed correctly (ie intensively for 3-4 weeks then closed up for 6-10 months) the clovers and natural grasses recover and proliferate. A much better ground cover of feed. Fewer bare areas.

What financial benefits have been observed?  Very hard to put a figure on at this stage. The paddocks planted were two of the least productive paddocks and they are now producing a much greater bulk of feed. Possibly even better than my best paddocks.

Biggest OMSB impact?   OMSB grows throughout the year. The long recovery period that is recommended allows a proliferation of clovers and natural grasses between rows of OMSB. Much better retention of available water. Very little run-off. Bio-diversity. Provides excellent shelter.

Any problems with OMSB?  Initial establishment was the biggest problem. Long recovery period also a problem. Establishment costs a problem.

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, once the OMSB was established. Vulnerable for the first 3-6 months. 

Would you like to increase your area sown to OMSB? Yes.

What limits your planting of a larger area?  The high establishment cost.

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