There is plenty of discussion around multi species pastures and regenerative farming, but ultimately a summer forage crop still needs to do its main job – grow useful feed for livestock. That is the thinking behind our Summer EXTRA Multi Species Blend. Summer EXTRA combines 14 different forage species, including millet, oats, vetch, clovers, brassicas, chicory, plantain, sunflower, buckwheat and linseed. Each species has a purpose, whether that’s producing feed, fixing nitrogen, providing ground cover or adding greater root and plant diversity. Here are 10 reasons we like using a diverse multi species seed mix through summer. Produce quality summer feed First and foremost, Summer EXTRA is a forage crop. Shirohie Millet provides the backbone of the blend for summer […]
Category: Pasture Advice
Summer EXTRA – diversity that works through summer
Summer EXTRA is our most diverse summer forage blend, combining 14 grasses, cereals, legumes, brassicas, herbs and flowering species. Gavin Notman explains why we developed the blend, what each species contributes and how to get the best result from establishment through to grazing.
5 Reasons to Choose Halo Seed Treatment
Give every seed the best possible start. Halo Seed Treatment protects emerging seedlings from damaging insects during establishment, promoting stronger, more uniform pastures and forage crops.
Spreading risk with mixed ryegrass + oat crops
This paddock in South-West Victoria was sown late with a mix of oats and annual ryegrass. While oat establishment has been disappointing in places, the annual ryegrass has established strongly and is now carrying much of the crop. Every season presents different establishment challenges. Wet soils, delayed sowing, cold temperatures or dry finishes can all influence how individual species like oats and annual ryegrass perform. That’s why mixing these two species, especially the annual ryegrass to an oat, can add an insurance layer to your paddock. You can clearly see the annual ryegrass filling gaps where oat numbers are lower. While early strike was good, the oat establishment has been patchy across parts of the paddock due to subsequent waterlogging […]
Why Leaf Stage Matters
Leaf stage is one indicator to match current rotation with pasture growth. We explain why. Looking at how many new leaves have emerged since the last grazing, you can quickly see how well a paddock has recovered and whether your current rotation matches pasture growth. Rather than relying on calendar days, it measures how much new leaf has grown since the previous grazing, helping match grazing decisions with actual pasture growth. Leaf stage is a guide, not a rule. While the 2.5–3 leaf stage is the ideal biological target for ryegrass, grazing decisions should also consider pasture cover, feed demand, weather, soil moisture and stocking rate. The best results come from balancing all of the aspects. Why 3 leaves? A […]
Let the light in: Better grazing for stronger clover
If clover is important to you: White clover is a big part of the engine room of productive dairy pastures, supplying high-quality feed and when inoculated it is naturally fixing atmospheric nitrogen back into the soil. Many pastures lose clover over time—not because it isn’t suited to the paddock, but because it simply isn’t receiving enough light over the calendar year. All clovers are sensitive to shading. As ryegrass grows through winter and into spring, dense pasture canopies prevent sunlight from reaching the base of the sward where clover stolons and growing points are located. Without regular light, clover struggles to spread, compete and persist. White clover responds quickly White clover, like Mantra Large Leaf White Clover, is extremely responsive […]
Perennial Genetics – Moving Forward With Confidence
Explore modern perennial ryegrass genetics including Vast, Elevate and Stampede, and how heading date, ploidy and endophyte drive pasture performance.
Andrew Allsop: Rebuilding the Perennial Base After a Dry Season
After a dry 2024–25 summer, many farms face rebuilding perennial pasture base in autumn 2026. Andrew Allsop outlines practical steps for pasture density assessment, renovation decisions and sowing options.
Ryegrass Endophytes Explained
Understand how grass endophytes protect perennial ryegrass from insects while balancing animal health and pasture persistence. A practical guide for modern grazing systems.
Endophytes Explained — A Farmer’s Guide to Picking the Right One
Endophytes exist in a symbiotic relationship where by they are provided the nutrients needed to exist from the plant and in return provide benefits to the host plant such as protection from insect attack.