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19 / 04 / 2011
Hi #subname#
Welcome to the April edition of Specialty Seed's SeedData Newsletter.
March seems to have come and gone very quickly again this year. I hope it has been because we were so busy and not because the months seem to pass quicker as you get older. It certainly was a case of all hands to the pump during March and I'm not sure we have ever been busier.
A couple of issues arose in March which we found frustrating.
- The first was running out of some ryegrass seed lines quicker than we had been expecting. The biggest names to fall early were Trojan NEA2 and One 50 AR1 and AR37 ryegrasses. I think, in both cases it was a combination of slick marketing leading to big demand and lower than expected seed yields.
If you are still wanting to sow down some new pasture and are wanting to know whiyear
ch seeds are still available please click here to check out the Specialty Seed's Seed Supply Update page.
I spoke to many cropping farmers while attending the South Island Field Days recently and even the irrigated growers expressed their general disappointment at the yields across the boards; ryegrasses and cereal crops in particular.
- The second frustrating issue was getting ryegrass seed released for us to mix and dispatch. Seed companies, quite rightly, will not release cultivars unless they are fully satisfied that what you buy is fit for use and true to label. This is particularly true of cultivars that contain novel endophytes (i.e AR37). It would be good to think they are working on systems that will speed up this job.
This similar issue has now been solved with germination tests, which can now be done almost overnight.
In this edition we will preview:
Sowing options for this time of the year
As the days get shorter and the ground temperatures drop, we are often asked what can be sown at this time of year to provide winter feed and in most cases a spring silage / hay option.
- Devour Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass.
If you are looking at drilling something now and then re drilling in the spring (i.e. maize to maize or brassica to brassica) we would suggest the use of Devour tetraploid annual ryegrass. Over the years we have sold many tonnes of Devour. It's excellent as it provides quick, highly palatable and very nutritious green feed at a very low cost per hectare.
Devour sown at this time of year will typically provide a good amount of winter green feed followed by either spring grazings and /or silage cuts. It can be regarded as a multiple feed option.
Sown at 25 kgs per hectare you can sow Devour right through until late May.
Website Link: Click here to go to our Devour Annual Ryegrass website page.
Contact Link: Please click here to contact Specialty Seeds today .
- Forage Cereals.
Ryecorn, Oats and Triticale are also all good candidates for people looking for quick to establish feed, suitable for winter grazing and then options in the spring.
Oats tend to be a bit of a one hit wonder and may be better for people looking at building up a feed supply and then using it as a one off.
Ryecorn and Triticale are very suitable for winter feed, followed by spring options.
There is a wide range of Oat, Ryecorn and Triticale cultivars to select from. Please the links below to help with your sow down decisions.
Website Link: Click here to go to our Forage Cereals website page.
Contact Link: Please click here to contact Specialty Seeds to help you select the right Forage Cereal for your situation.
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Tips for good New Pasture Management
The first grazing of your new ryegrass / clover pasture.
Some would say that the first grazing is the most important as it will stimulate your young plants into action. After the first grazing your new pasture will tiller better, grow quicker and provide a better environment for the slower establishing clovers.
Before the first grazing we recommend you test how well the new pasture has established using the pull test. If the new pasture pulls out of the ground during a gentle pull on it, then it's not ready to be grazed.
Grazing your pasture for the first time normally occurs between 6 - 10 weeks after sowing. This will depend on the sow date and soil conditions that follow drilling. The new pasture is typically at between 8 - 10 cm high and should be grazed, by young stock, down to between 4 - 6 cm in height.
Subsequent grazings
After the first grazing your new pasture should be grazed more frequently than established pastures and kept shorter as this once again encourages the plant to tiller and helps stop clovers from getting shaded out.
As a general rule it is best to graze down from 3500 kg's DM/ha to 1500 kg's DM/ ha, the correct time is when the ryegrass has between 2.5 and 3 leaves per tiller.
Weed Control
The control of weeds in the first few weeks is a very important step that will help ensure maximum long term production from your new pasture.
The weed control has to occur early for best results.
Below are three links to labels of chemicals that we feel offer a wide range of weed control and more importantly are gentle on the newly establishing pasture.
Please note that if you have pasture herbs, (i.e. chicory and plantain) special care is required when chemically treating them.
- Tropotox Plus:
Tropotox Plus is a selective weedkiller recommended for the control of broad-leaved weeds in young and established pasture, grass and white clover seed crops, peas and in cereal crops.
Click here to download more details.
- Preside:
For post emergent management of broadleaf weeds in clover, lucerne, chicory, new and mature pasture and maize.
Click here to download more details
- Pulsar:
Selective post-emergence herbicide for use in cereals, clover, new and established pasture, and peas.
Click here to download more details.
Specialty Seeds strongly recommends that before you commence any spray program, you should consult with your local Chemical expert, also always read the label of any chemicals before use.
Fertiliser
Fertiliser requirements in new pastures will vary widely in each different situation.
Prior to any new pasture being sown we recommend that you obtain a soil test and once you have the results go over them with your fertiliser representative and work out the requirements pre drill and apply them.
The clover in your paddocks will not start producing nitrogen for between 9 - 12 months depending on your drilling situation. We therefore recommend that small amounts of nitrogen be applied during this period at least. After the first grazing we would recommend a rate of 25 kg N/ha is applied.
The amount of nitrogen applied after this period should be determined after consultation with you local fertiliser representative.
Things to avoid
The two main issues to avoid doing with you new pasture are grazing during dry periods and making silage or hay crops in the first season as this will have a big effect on the establishment of your clovers. Both these practices should be avoided at all costs.
Also extra care when grazing the new pastures during the winter months is very important as winter pugging is a quick way to do significant damage to it.
Downloads Link: Click here to go to our downloads website page to download our Post Drill Pasture Care Guide.
Contact Link: Please click here to contact Specialty Seeds to help you swith any of your sow down decisions.
We hope this issue has been of some value to you. If you have a comment on this newsletter or the rest of the content in this newsletter please feel free to call us on our Freephone: 0800 727 8873 or send us an email at: mail@specseed.co.nz
Kind Regards
Stephen Finch & David Percival
Specialty Seeds
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