Summer fodder crops are an extremely valuable out of season feed source. By January/ February when feed is limited, farmers will wish they had a summer forage crop in the ground as they produce large volumes of feed and are relatively inexpensive to establish. They...
In the Southern Region we have a lot of soils which are highly alkaline and prone to waterlogging through winter months. One of the biggest frustrations amongst livestock producers with these soils is choosing a suitable long term perennial grass. Ryegrass, phalaris,...
Forage cereals are a very reliable option for prolific winter/spring forage. Most forage cereals will prefer soils of a well drained nature, but there are varieties that handle periodical waterlogging better than others. Oats/barley/wheat and triticale are the most...
Perennial herbs fill a niche market in our region. They bring a blend of persistence, palatability, digestibility and the ability to collect nutrients from the soil which leads to increased animal production. When included in pasture mixes, perennial herbs have been...
Lucerne is commonly known as the king of forages. Lucerne is an extremely valuable feed source with the ability to grow 12 months of the year depending on the winter activity of the variety. Lucerne, with its deep root system, has the ability to stay green throughout...
Medics, are self-regenerating annual clover varieties that grow in autumn, winter and spring. Medics will thrive in lower rainfall regions and are well adapted to coastal regions, high pH and slightly acid soils. Medics will regenerate readily if allowed to set seed...
