A conference to be held at Atherton in North Queensland next month will provide an extensive update on Leucaena production.

More than 250,000 hectares of country in Queensland is now developed to Leucaena and grass pastures, and the area is increasing each year according to the Leucaena Network.

Network chief executive officer Michael Burgis said the conference will provide the latest information on establishing and managing Leucaena grass pastures, including talks from scientists and beef producers on successful Leucaena development.

“These cattleman have unlocked their herd genetic and nutritional potential using Leucaena grass pastures to produce more kilos of beef per hectare,” Mr Burgis said.

The conference will also include an update on the new psyllid resistant Leucaena variety, Redlands.

Participants will see Redlands growing in the paddock as part of a palatability trial, being tested against existing Leucaena varieties.

The conference will be held on Thursday, May 12, followed by a dinner with locally grown MSA accredited grass fed steak, and an address from guest speaker Emma Golder, Export Manager, JBS Australia, Brisbane.

A field trip will follow on Friday May 13 showcasing paddock palatability trials involving four Leucaena varieties, a newly seeded Leucaena planted area in between paddock timber and a legume and grass evaluation trial site at Whitewater Station.

The Leucaena Network is also offering two Leucaena ‘seeding to grazing’ workshops on Wednesday May 11 and Saturday May 14, either side of the conference and field day, for people wishing to learn about growing Leucaena or to enhance their Leucaena production skills.

For more information and to download the registration form visit www.leucaena.net or contact Michael Burgis on 0490 142 408.