Evergreen Farming would like to invite interested members on a study tour to visit South Africa to explore the vast pasture and grazing initiatives that are prevalent within 500km of Cape Town.
The study tour will be led by Neil Ballard, Global Pasture Consultants, who has spent many years working in this region with local farmers, and identifying species of relevance to their farming systems.
This Study tour will provide a unique insight into the people, their practices and the environment they work in, as they go about their livestock activities in an effort to build their businesses.
Participants will gain an understanding of a variety of different systems and species utilised in this part of South Africa.
Evergreen Farming has been built on people looking outside their own businesses, seeking new and maybe different ways of doing things in an effort to develop their enterprises.
This trip will offer an opportunity to do just this with a group of likeminded individuals, outside the borders of WA.
It will take you to a country of hardships and challenges, but also opportunities and innovation, leaving you brimming with new ideas and enthusiasm and some new contacts in the world of pastures.
The tour will take in:
- Farms and local farmers with knowledge and experience in a wide variety of pastures in various areas under different management practices and purposes, livestock (cattle and sheep), sustainable systems and the new concept of developing cover crops in marginal areas
- Full range of pasture types both annual and perennial, over cropping and native pastures
- Sustainable pastures with maximum ‘green root days’ (green roots all year round)
- Winemaking, including cover crops in vineyards
- Seafood experience
- A visit to Groenkloof at Darling where Australian Merinos originated from and medic pastures
- Karoo National Park, expert in natural veldt (pasture) and management of Indigenous forest of Knysna including a boat trip to Featherbed
- Caledon to see the Swartrivier Dohne Stud, biological farming operation
- Whale watching in Hermanus
- Free day in Capetown for shopping prior to departure home
- Plus a game park, of course!