An economic evaluation of native pasture systems in south-eastern New South Wales

Abstract The economic productivity of native pasture systems on the New South Wales tablelands has undergone significant change over the past 40 years. The continued modification by landholders of native pastures with fertilisers and introduced species has been an important contributing factor. Using the economic methods of productivity analysis and linear programming, this paper investigates the extent of native pasture productivity change and the relative economic returns to four general native pasture systems. The results quantify declining productivity trends in native pastures overall, but also establish that the native pasture type systems based on high-quality indigenous species can yield good economic returns under sound management. Some implications of these results for research into and the promotion of native pasture systems are discussed.