Pasture Trials Network

14/05/2026

🤝 Collaboration at the Core of PTN

Since 2014, the Pasture Trial Network (PTN) has grown into Australia’s premier collaborative forage evaluation initiative, built on strong partnerships and collaborative relationships across the seed and livestock sectors.

Supported by Meat & Livestock Australia, Dairy Australia and the Australian Seed Federation, along with leading Australian proprietary seed companies, PTN unites members via a reliable national platform that offers benefits beyond individual trials.

These partnerships allow PTN data to feed into established tools such as the Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool and Dairy Australia’s Forage Value Index, as well as our own GxE analysis, enhancing confidence in sowing and breeding choices industry-wide.

As PTN expands into new species, its membership has grown, solidifying its position as a connected, industry-supported network for temperate Australia.

23/04/2026

📍 PTN Case Study | Cluny, TAS

Pasture persistence plays a key to boosting pasture productivity.

To understand its importance, we chat to Will and Ed Bowden from Cluny, a 15,000-hectare farm in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, focusing on:

🌱 The importance of persistence in pasture species selection
🌱 Selecting the right variety to match your environment

PTN continues to invest in persistence within the Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool, with data from 2+ year trials and ongoing analysis of legacy data, and, coming soon, improvements to how persistence data is presented.

Seasonal variability and local conditions can greatly affect pasture performance.

📊 Want to dive deeper? The Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool and PTN GxE analysis can guide which varieties suit a region.

eTool: https://ptntool.mla.com.au/
GxE analysis: https://www.pasturetrials.com.au/resources/

Dairy Australia | Meat & Livestock Australia

09/04/2026

Trial sowings for the 2026 PTN are progressing for the autumn season.

It’s already shaping up to be our biggest year yet – with more sites, more data, and even greater insights for the industry in the years to come.

Stay tuned for trial walkthroughs and updates as the season progresses.

Check out our PTN website for more active trial updates and our GxE analysis:

https://www.pasturetrials.com.au/

Here’s to a big 2026 👏

Meat & Livestock Australia | Dairy Australia

24/03/2026

Irrigated Lucerne Pasture Walk – Lachlan Catchment

Looking to maximise your irrigated lucerne?

Local Land Services NSW will host a PTN lucerne trial walk in Eugowra on 31 March 2026, from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Walk the site and see different varieties side by side.

This trial is part of the Pasture Trials Network (PTN), funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Dairy Australia, and managed by D R Agriculture.

👉 Registration is essential and must be completed online: https://events.humanitix.com/lucerne-variety-trial-walk-eugowra-march-2026

Meat & Livestock Australia | Dairy Australia

23/03/2026

🚀 Genotype × Environment (G×E) analysis is here!

You asked, we listened – PTN’s G×E analysis brings together multi-year, multi-location data to show how pasture varieties perform across environments.

✅ Better insights
✅ Smarter variety selection
✅ More value from PTN data
🟰 More confident, data-driven decisions

Explore the resource hub to learn more – and let us know what you think: https://www.pasturetrials.com.au/resources/

Meat & Livestock Australia | Dairy Australia

16/03/2026

🚀 Fresh Trial Results Just Dropped!

The Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool has been updated with the latest completed trial data, giving you even greater confidence in choosing your next cultivars for sowing.

More trials. More environments. More confidence.

Use the latest results to:
• Compare cultivar performance across regions and seasons.
• Spot stand-out performers for your environment.
• Back your sowing decisions with hard data, not guesswork.

🔍 Jump in and see what’s new: https://ptntool.mla.com.au/

Check back often: there’s always something new.

Meat & Livestock Australia | Dairy Australia

This tool allows you to assess and compare the performance of more than 100 pasture varieties across the key pasture species for the red meat industry, including phalaris, cocksfoot, tall fescue, perennial and annual ryegrass, sub-clover and lucerne.

03/03/2026

📩 PTN Quarterly Newsletter – Just Released!

The latest Pasture Trials Network newsletter landed on Monday, bringing together the newest trial updates, insights from the Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool and key industry events.

It’s a snapshot of what’s happening across the PTN, designed to keep you informed and ahead of the curve.

If you’re not already subscribed, now’s a great time to join the list and stay connected with the latest independent data and industry developments.

Read now and subscribe: https://mailchi.mp/73018daae608/pasture-trials-network-newsletter-march-2026

Meat & Livestock Australia | Dairy Australia

01/03/2026

Updated Dairy Australia Forage Value Index (FVI) Now Available!

The latest update to Dairy Australia’s Forage Value Index (FVI) is now live, supporting Australian dairy farmers to make more informed ryegrass selection decisions ahead of sowing.

Using data from the Pasture Trials Network (PTN), the FVI independently assesses ryegrass cultivars. It combines PTN trial data with regional production values to translate performance into practical, on-farm relevance.

For deeper insights, pair the FVI with the Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool where you can explore independent trial data across regions, seasons, and cultivars. Together, these tools provide a stronger evidence base to guide confident sowing decisions.

Explore the FVI here: https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/en/feeding-and-farm-systems/pastures/forage-value-index

Meat & Livestock Australia | Dairy Australia

The 2026 Forage Value Index (FVI) tables have now been updated with the latest trial results for Northern Victoria, South-west Victoria, Gippsland, Tasmania, Mid-north coast NSW and South coast NSW.

The FVI compares perennial, annual and Italian ryegrass cultivars using independent trial data from the Pasture Trials Network to calculate expected economic returns, supporting your selection of the most profitable varieties of ryegrass to sow this autumn.

View the tables, FAQs and how to use the FVI: dairyaustralia.com.au/feeding-and-farm-systems/pastures/forage-value-index

26/02/2026

Fergus Brown from PTN recently attended the 2026 Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) Conference, held at the scenic Lambert Estate Wines in Angaston.

The event theme ‘Thrive Together: Pastures, Livestock, Farmers’ aligns perfectly with the focus of PTN; it was encouraging to hear how valuable the Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool is for local producers, supporting their success through data-driven choices.

With various speakers, local producers, and businesses present, it was an ideal chance for PTN to support BIGG and engage with SA locals and gain insights into local challenges and interest in further PTN trials in the region.

Meat & Livestock Australia | Dairy Australia

25/02/2026

Foraging for a good cereal? We’re oat-standingly excited to share!

The Pasture Trials Network has expanded its species lineup once again: forage oats has officially joined the list on the Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool!

We’ve got northern and southern regions covered, so wherever you’re sowing your next forage crop, PTN gives you access to the latest independent performance data across regions and even more species.

As always, data includes:
📊 Seasonal & total yields
📈 Easy-to-digest graphs
📄 Detailed trial reports

More species. More sites. More to chew on.

Meat & Livestock Australia | Dairy Australia

12/02/2026

We’re back in Armidale with the University of New England, AU, checking in on grazing cocksfoot and grazing tall fescue trials.

These trials are designed to test durability and tolerance to grazing pressure – critical traits for long-term pasture performance.

📊 Data from these sites will be made available on the Meat & Livestock Australia PTN eTool in the next 3-4 years, and we’re looking forward to seeing how these trials progress over time.

Dairy Australia | Meat & Livestock Australia