autumn re-seeding

Dead Rabbits

Member
Location
'Merica
89E11937-3F23-456F-9BD4-CDAA40F03248.jpeg

The one that dies the least. This is the only variety that will persist beyond 1 year here.
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
is that because new leys, are just not lasting, in adverse conditions, or are farmers, just looking to increase production ? There must be a reason, or perhaps your leys are great ! We decided, not to try your base PRG, this year, for 2 reasons, 1st, nobody recommended it, which, for us, wouldn't matter a jot, but 2nd, we are 'trying' a lot of different 'things', with grass, and if you try to many things, at once, you aren't really going to know, what, we hope, makes the bell ring ! But, it will be tried, as will other 'things'.
8 years old and still going strong! Brian trialled Base before it was commercial and has been impressed with how his paddocks have produced and persisted through challenging years. Brian says "cows lift in milk productions after grazing the Base paddocks. It stands out during the summer and we try to manage the tetraploid well but occasionally we do nail the paddocks when feed is tight - but Base recovers!"

BRIAN PIRIE, HAURAKI PLAINS
 

Dead Rabbits

Member
Location
'Merica
Thats noted for its drought tolerance isn't it - you tried Base ?
Base tetraploid perennial ryegrass was selected from high yielding, densely tillered plants that survived two years of severe drought and hard sheep grazing
I haven’t tried it personally but I’m sure they have in the past. University does various trials with ryegrass and thus far Albion is the only one makes it.
Ryegrass in general will never have drought tolerance. The best thing it can do is go dormant
 

Jdunn55

Member
I haven’t tried it personally but I’m sure they have in the past. University does various trials with ryegrass and thus far Albion is the only one makes it.
Ryegrass in general will never have drought tolerance. The best thing it can do is go dormant
What do you grow for grazing and forage if ryegrass wont last in your climate?
 

Dead Rabbits

Member
Location
'Merica
What do you grow for grazing and forage if ryegrass wont last in your climate?
Good question, yield. We can grow 14t DM/ha most years if we dump the N to it. Problem is it doesn’t grow mid June-sep.

I hate on ryegrass a lot but nothing can touch it’s production feb-June. I don’t think the whole damn farm should be in it though and we are changing that. Alfalfa will do similar yields but doesn’t grow through winter or early spring.
 

Jdunn55

Member
Good question, yield. We can grow 14t DM/ha most years if we dump the N to it. Problem is it doesn’t grow mid June-sep.

I hate on ryegrass a lot but nothing can touch it’s production feb-June. I don’t think the whole damn farm should be in it though and we are changing that. Alfalfa will do similar yields but doesn’t grow through winter or early spring.
Does that mean you just do short term leys that are put in after the dry period (so after september) and take as much as you can during the beginning of the year?
Then alfalfa/lucerne for mid year?
Excluding the variety you put up earlier which I'm guessing you just accept will grow in any months except from June-September?
Anything else grown other than maize?

Do you graze any of it? If so when and what?
Thanks!
 

Dead Rabbits

Member
Location
'Merica
Does that mean you just do short term leys that are put in after the dry period (so after september) and take as much as you can during the beginning of the year?
Then alfalfa/lucerne for mid year?
Excluding the variety you put up earlier which I'm guessing you just accept will grow in any months except from June-September?
Anything else grown other than maize?

Do you graze any of it? If so when and what?
Thanks!
I’ll reply in your thread
 
Like cocksfoot?

I'm not sure if cocksfoot is a cool or warm season grass, but in other parts of the world they grow warm season grasses, these are more tolerant of heat and drought but are not very winter hardy. Some forage species are technically grasses but are distinctly different- for example sorghum and sudan grass. Sorghum in particular is a C4 plant so is physiologically adapted to hot conditions, too.
 
Oliver Seeds - they do some good mixes
Lot of interest in Plantain- Tonic being the top variety
Lot more use of Tetraploids for grazing now. not as dense but being more open the clover does better. The newer ones are later heading more persistent and good drought tolerance. Bang some red in as well and don't graze it as hard
Tonic is surley old had compared to Boston? 28 day later heading has to be a winner? Or am I missing something?
 

Great In Grass

Member
Location
Cornwall.
The sceptic in me would say its cheaper to grow so a higher margin seed. View attachment 907409
I would say when seed houses were buying seed last September for 2020 Boston wasn't available in large enough quantities and Tonic is well proven. If the bigger seed houses buy (have bought) Boston for 2021 I would expect a very similar price to Tonic.
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
we are umbilicaling our lagoon today, did a few strategic runs, across the field, to ensure no run off, with the subsoiler, 2/3 ins down, completely dry, but, doesn't look as though there is a pan, so, might get away with not ploughing !
 

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