Managing for a variable climate: long-term results and management recommendations from the Wambiana grazing trial

Abstract

The Wambiana grazing trial, south-east of Charters Towers, began in 1997 with initial funding from the Federal Government’s Drought Regional Initiative and NHT. MLA has provided funding support of $1.16m for the Wambiana trial since 2002. The findings from this long term trial have been critical in demonstrating the linkages between moderate stocking, good land condition, reduced runoff and erosion, reduced risk, and increased productivity and profitability. An external review of the Wambiana grazing trial (March 2014) reported that the trial had largely achieved the original objectives but recommended it’s continuation to allow completion of the embedded projects and permit a full assessment of the new treatments. This project is to enable the continuation of the grazing trial until September 2016 and undertake more detailed analysis of the trial results, to inform a decision on the future of the site.