After consultation with members, and based on the results of the survey of 350 graziers, it was decided to run a trial with the aim to compare the profitability and sustainability of three different systems of farm input and grazing management.  The three pathways were chosen to be representative of those of most interest to grazier members. They may each be successful in one or more ways but the only way to understand how is to compare and measure them using objective measurements. This reflects the project’s motto of “compare-measure-learn-adopt”. 

It was decided that the study would be done at a scale (150 ha) which might be seen as credible by farmer members. The central question asked was:
“How is whole-farm sustainability and profitability affected by:
· different levels of pasture inputs and
· intensive rotational grazing?”
The land was subdivided into three equal 50 ha farmlets taking into account soil type, slope and drainage and soil recharge. Much work went into making the three farmlets as equal as possible by using considerable base data which was entered into a Geographic Information System (GIS). Six iterations of data analysis permitted the three farmlets to be provided with soil resources, slope and fertilizer history as equal as possible. Non-contiguous paddocks were necessary and laneways were developed to help with stock movement.  There were several farm planning work shops to continue to develop and fine tune the farm management over time.

(Link to Farmlet Guidelines)   (Link to Farm Paddock Planning)

Following a workshop attended by some 70 interested people, the issue of benign and virulent footrot was examined in a number of trials. This research has led to the identification of different strains (using DNA analysis) resulting in the further development of improved testing procedures to enable the different strains to be detected. This work has been described in a separate report 

  (Trial Summery)    (Footrot trial  results).

While Cicerone did not run any trials on marketing there were several seminars and newsletter, the most noteable were "Marketing your Wool Clip" and "Meat Market Makover".  These were sucessful seminars with timely information.  There are no proceedings from these days, due to changing market conditions.

The ABC farmlet trials were run from June 2000 until December 2006.  In this time there was the drought of 2002 and of 2006 with some dry years in between.  The farmlet study was somewhat of a defacto droght management trial.  Cicerone did not publish any specific drought management material but did run farm walks discussing stratigies and effects.  There was two stock planning workshops put on by the Dpt. of Agriculture looking at the economics and flock stucture consequences of different stratergies.

Livestock were measured in detail to understand the inputs/costs, production/income, paricite burdens, trace eliment levels and pasture interactions.  This information was reported on over time in the newsletters, but the most complete report is in the 2006 symposium proceedings.

Pasture measurements of quality and quantity were carried out by the farm manager at every stock move, monthly by a pasture assesor and a full botanical composition was taken annualy.  Field days were run and newsletter articles written, the most noteable was the pasture assesment series run in conjunction with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.  A PHD student intensivly measure some paddock trying to find the balance between pasture and livestock needs.  This is reproted on in the 2006 symposium proceeings.

Cicerone's soil management consisted of soil testing every paddock each year and applying fertilizer prescriptivly to each paddock.  All the farmlets reached their Phosphorus and Sulfur targets by 2002.  The scope of the project did not allow for any more detailed soil measurements and interactions to be studied.  Specific seminars were run looking at nutrient loss, soil test interpritation and soil health.

In May 2005 and 2006, Cicerone held major symposia to bring together the knowlage that has been gathered and draw conclusions and make recomendations for the future.  The proceedings of those symposia include papers from researchers, post-graduate students and producers. These proceedings are the most comprehensive reports on the work of the project.

 (Link to Symposium Proceedings 2005)   (Link to Symposium Proceedings 2006)

As part of the 2006 harvest year Ciceorne went on the road to extend the information that was presented at the May 2006 symposium.  The NSW Department of Primary Industries was contracted to deliver these seminars in surounding towns and districts.  Cicerone is greatful for the time and effort that was put into these events by the Armidale and Tamworth DPI staff.