Winter grazing of crops can be a significant source of sediment, nutrient and pathogen loss from farms. Reducing losses from winter crops can go a long way to reducing total farm losses.

Damage to soil from poor grazing management of winter crops will impact on the future productivity of that paddock. Too much sediment and nutrients in waterways impacts on their ecology and can kill freshwater species.

What you can do

• Exclude stock from waterways. A 3-5 metres of an ungrazed buffer zone of crop between the livestock and the waterway should increase with slope and instability of soil.
• Leave an ungrazed buffer zone around either side of Critical Source Areas (CSAs). Parts of the paddock that channels overland flow directly to waterways, such gullies, swales, very wet areas, spring heads, waterway crossings, stock camps and vehicle access routes.
• Graze paddocks strategically. Fence across the slope and start grazing at the top of the paddock where the standing crop will act as filter. If a waterway present, start at the opposite end of the paddock.
• Make breaks ‘long and narrow’. According to researches, cattle is able to efficiently utilise the crop.
• Regularly back fence stock off grazed breaks to help minimise pugging damage and to reduce runoff risk.
• Place troughs and supplementary feed in a dry central part of the paddock well away from any waterways or CSAs.
• Look after your stock. Provide adequate feed, shelter and clean, fresh drinking water. This will limit stock movement and help reduce damage to crop and soil.
• Graze the buffer strips around CSAs when soil is not so wet and risk of loss has reduced. Graze quickly and lightly.
• Plant a catch crop. Planting a greenfeed oats, considered as a fast growing crop, can be considered if soil conditions and farm management allow. This will create a dramatic difference to reducing nitrogen losses.
• Plan early. When choosing paddocks for next year’s winter feed crop, think about how to improve the management of CSAs and waterways.