Peter Ball

Agricultural Extension Officer

I’ve been learning about the complex interactions of pastures, livestock and people for 30 years. There’s a lot to make sense of, and nothing like a grazing system to stimulate critical thinking and challenge the pursuit of value. My expertise is founded in the feedbase, in understanding how pastures respond to the environments we seek to grow them in and how they interact with grazing and grazers. When we look, we can see the huge impact grazing decisions have on production and sustainability.

I’ve learned from conducting pasture trials, grazing research, pasture surveys and demonstration sites, and by delivering grazing courses, field days, forums and discussion groups. Working with inspiring producers, experts and scientists across Tasmania has been helpful too. Pastures and livestock benefit from management. People do that. I enjoy working with people to share learning and achieve more.

While I know you can never have enough pictures of grass, I’m also captivated by the complexity of the natural world in general, and by our human history and the civilisations that have come before us. Natural systems are incredible, but people do incredible things too.