Lucerne is one of the most versatile pasture and fodder options for mixed farms in the High Rainfall Zone and beyond. It’s not just a productive feed or harvest base — lucerne is a regenerative tool that improves soil structure, boosts fertility, and delivers reliable protein through dry seasons.

Well-managed lucerne rotations help break disease and weed cycles, build soil carbon, and provide flexibility across grazing, hay, and silage programs. It fits perfectly into integrated crop–livestock systems, where lucerne can follow cereals or serve as a productive rest phase for paddocks.

Lucerne is characterised by semi erect, shrub like, fast growing, palatable, perennial legume growing to 90 cm tall. Lucerne has trifoliate leaves and spikes of purple, pea type flowers in spring to summer.

Why Lucerne is a great pick:

  • High-value feed: Excellent source of quality protein and energy for beef, dairy, and sheep systems.

  • Flexible use: Dual purpose varieties suitable both hay and grazing

  • Root depth: Accesses moisture long after shallow-rooted pastures dry off.

  • Soil improvement: Restores fertility, fixes nitrogen.

  • Rotational value: Breaks weed and disease cycles, improving subsequent crop yields.

Getting the most from Lucerne:

  • Soil prep: Aim for pH Ca > 5.2 and phosphorus in the “adequate” range before sowing.

  • Ideal sowing window: Spring (August–October) or early autumn when soil moisture is reliable.

  • Sowing rate: 6-8 kg/ha (350-450mm rain), 12-20kg/ha (favourable dryland), 25-30kg/ha (irrigation, high rainfall)

  • Inoculation: Use Group AL inoculant for reliable nodulation and nitrogen fixation.

  • Grazing: Allow lucerne to flower once each season to maintain crown strength.

Not sure which lucerne to pick?
Chat with our agronomists for local advice.

Australian-bred lucernes are made for our conditions — tough, persistent, and proven under grazing. Most are winter-active, establishing fast and regrowing quickly for extended cutting and grazing. Strong early yields make them ideal for hay, silage, or short rotations.

Winter Active Lucerne (Dormancy 5-7)

These popular 5-7 dormancy lucernes strike the best balance of flexibility and persistence. Suited to grazing or fodder production, they perform well in winter-dominant rainfall areas and make use of cool-season growth that less active types can’t capture.

Stamina Warrego GT6

Persistence meets performance.

Dormancy: 6

Stamina Warrego GT6 is the go-to for mixed grazing and fodder systems — vigorous, winter-active and tough under traffic. It hangs on where others thin out, giving consistent yield and quality across seasons.

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SARDI Grazer

Made to handle hard grazing

Dormancy: 6

SARDI Grazer thrives in systems where lucerne cops a workout. It tolerates continuous or set stocking better than most, bouncing back quickly after heavy use — perfect for beef and sheep rotations needing staying power.

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SARDI 7 Series 2

An all rounder lucerne

Dormancy: 7

This is the all-rounder lucerne for southern Victorian conditions — fast to establish, strong through winter, and well-balanced for grazing or hay. SARDI 7 Series 2 suits farmers who want one lucerne that does it all.

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Highly Winter Active Lucerne (Dormancy 8-10)

Fast out of the ground and highly productive, these 8-10 types suit short-term stands or high-rotation fodder systems. They offer strong year-round growth but generally have a shorter lifespan of 3–4 years. Some newer lines are showing improved persistence under Australian grazing.

Stamina Torrens GT8

High output with grazing tolerance.

Dormancy: 8

Torrens GT8 pushes production further — rapid winter growth, quick recovery, and improved persistence for its class. Ideal for irrigated or high-rainfall farms chasing more cuts and feed without sacrificing stand life.

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Titan 9

Fast growth, fast recovery.

Dormancy: 9

Titan 9 brings together rapid establishment, quick bounce-back, and high-quality feed. Ideal for dairy and intensive beef systems where rotation speed and total output drive profit.

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SARDI 10 Series 2

Built for full-throttle production.

Dormancy: 10

Highly winter-active, fast to regrow, and unmatched in yield potential. SARDI 10 Series 2 delivers top-end performance for silage or hay systems — perfect when every tonne counts.

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Common / Public Lucerne Varieties

Aurora 6

A proven, cost-effective lucerne that delivers dependable hay yields and strong persistence, especially on lighter or more fragile soils. Ideal where reliability and value matter most.

Sequel 9

A fast-establishing, versatile lucerne with excellent regrowth and quality feed. Performs well under both dryland and irrigated systems for hay, silage or grazing.

Siriver 9

A trusted all-rounder that combines quick establishment, high yields and leafy hay quality. Reliable performance across a wide range of conditions and farming systems.

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Available from Notman Pasture Seeds