Beef producer Stephen Hill had never experienced fire on his property Mt Mittamatite near Corryong, so he had no idea how his paddocks would recover after the entire farm was burnt in December 2019.
"It all burnt, the whole lot, thoroughly burnt," Mr Hill says as he looks around his property. It's clear to see where the fire swept through, but there's an abundance of green on the ground and among the gum trees.
"This is 18 months on and the response of the native pastures is nothing but amazing really," Mr Hill says. "I was surprised at just how well it has come back after the fire."
In a new video from Agriculture Victoria, Stephen talks about why he thinks his property has recovered so quickly, while Agriculture Victoria's Research Scientist Meredith Mitchell explains native pasture recovery after fire and shows how to identify native grasses.
Agriculture Recovery Manager Kylie Macreadie says the video provides valuable insights into farm management after fire, with simple tips on identifying native grasses.
"It's great to hear from a farmer who has firsthand experience of the fire, matched with clear advice on what to look for in your paddock," Ms Macreadie said.
A second video features beef and sheep producer John Blair and Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension officer Ian Gamble sharing their insights and advice on pasture recovery after a fire.
John remembers the fire in December 2019 came through his property at Cudgewa in the Upper Murray so quickly that he had little time to react.
"The fire came through just before midnight and burnt everything, 100 per cent of the place," John said. "The only thing we had left was the lawn."
John shares his insights into the effect of the fire, including the need to renovate pastures and manage weeds introduced through hay bought in to feed his cattle and sheep.
Mr Gamble, and agronomist Graham Martin, share their advice on pasture management, including identifying pasture species, weed control, fodder crops, ground cover management, soil testing and pasture species selection.
Watch the Manage Native Grasses after Fire video
Watch the Manage Pasture After Fire video
