About FTA

Forage Trials Australia (FTA) is a collaboration between seed companies and independent researchers. Its purpose is to test pasture cultivars in a wide range of regions so that farmers and advisers can easily access accurate information on their relative performance.

There are three key pillars to the research program:

Integrity.

All members are experts in cultivar evaluation and are drawn from research companies as well as seed companies.  All have agreed to work together, putting aside any commercial interests or bias, to deliver a cost-effective program focussed on testing the cultivars of the future.  There is a strong oversight of the program by members with regular meetings, strong peer review processes, a commitment to working together, and ensuring that decisions are unanimous.  This ensures that there is no commercial bias.

Transparency.

This is important at all levels of this program.

  • Entries in a trial are identified at all times and the results of all commercially-available cultivars are published
  • Trials are audited by skilled pasture researchers. Data is available for review by the members of the program as it is generated, and final trial analysis and output is reviewed and approved by the group prior to release
  • Data is presented clearly and available for advisors and farmers to use when considering their own specific situation and needs.

Quality.

Trials are run by researchers with a proven track record and a focus on delivering accurate trial data, and they follow agreed protocols to ensure:

  • Trials are well designed
  • Soil nutrients are not limiting and regularly replaced after harvest
  • Harvests occur in a timely manner and reflect potential growth in that region and season.
  • Trials are kept free of weeds
  • The harvest and collection of data is scientifically robust and reliable.

In addition, we regularly inspect and audit trials to ensure they are measured and managed at the standards we set.  The processes and software for reviewing and analysing the data prior to its release are industry recognised.