What is the right seed sowing rate?
Over the last two months the hoary old chestnut of seed sowing rates has appeared on the horizon again.
By my recollection about every five to seven years this matter gets raised and normally the message is that most farmers are sowing too much seed currently.
As an experienced seed retailer, I do feel it is my duty to try and put some balance into this argument as I've been hearing stories that we should be sowing seed as low as 12 -15 kgs per hectare.
I'd normally be suggesting a sowing rate between 24 and 30 kgs per hectare depending on the cultivar sown (i.e. diploid vs tetraploid ryegrasses).
As we all know there are many, many factors that come into play when trying to successfully establish your new pasture:
- paddock selection
- paddock preparation
- seed applied with the correct equipment
- and insect pressure at establishment to name but a few
Once we take even one of two of the above factors into consideration as an issue at sow down we often see a drop off in the success of establishment when these low sowing rates are used. Also I have noted that the speed of establishment, slower, and weed pressure, higher, is normally vastly different when you lower sowing rates are used when to higher sowing rates, better on both counts.
I have witnessed over the years very successful sow downs at low seed sowing rates (as above), however in these cases the "planets are in alignment" and normally by farmers who have the keys to success well under their control, in my experience these situations are not the norm.
The other factor to take into account is the total cost of your sow down, the difference between using a low sowing rate compared to a higher rate would often be less than $100.00 per hectare which when compared to the total cost of your sow down is minor. And yet using the higher sow rate will normally (but not always) lead to a much more successful outcome.
A successful outcome should of course be the goal. In the busy life's we all lead and pressure we are under for our farms to produce who needs to revisit jobs more than once, as they say "do it once and do it right".
Specialty Seeds spend a lot of effort behind the scene to ensure all our clients have success in their sow downs this coming autumn.
So if you are thinking about using a lower or higher sowing rate feel free to
contact us and we will be happy to guide you through the key points so you have a successful result.
Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds for any of your sow down enquiries.
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Ryecorn seed supply may be short
It has come to our attention that supplies of rye corn may be in a tight supply situation this coming season. We would suggest that if you are planning to use some it may pay to
contact us and place your order sooner rather than later.
Should rye corn sell out then we would recommend to our clients they should sow either Devour annual ryegrass or White Oats as an alternative to it. Please read on for more information on these options:
Devour annual ryegrass:
Devour annual ryegrass will provide you with a cheap to establish multi graze option during the autumn/winter and spring.
Devour is normally sown at 25 kgs per hectare.
For more information on Devour please click on the image or contact us.
White Oats
Many of our clients are also drilling white oats as part of their normal farming practice with great results.
We would certainly suggest them as a suitable alternative should rye corn become short.
White Oats are either sown alone at 100 kgs per hectare or in a mix with annual ryegrass at between 60 and 70 kg with 20 to 25 kgs of Devour annual ryegrass.
Once again this will provide you with autumn/winter and spring options.
We can supply you with any one of the many commercially available oats currently on the market.
Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds if you have any questions or want any further information.
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As always, we hope this issue has been of some value to you. If you have a comment on this newsletter or anything on our website, please give us a call on our Freephone: 0800 727 8873, send us an email at: 
