Why grow Multi Specie Pasture Blends? Improve soil and root structure Improve pasture persistence Use water and nutrients more efficiently Interrupt pest and disease life cycles Prevent soil erosion. Improve moisture holding capacity Increase nitrogen with introduction of legume Prepare soil/paddock for following crop High quality forage for livestock Increase production, healthier stock, faster weight gains Managing Multi Specie Pasture Blends Start on small areas and work out which varieties prosper on your property. Observe the results and then make adjustments as necessary. It’s important that with multi specie blends that contain broadleaf species (such as chicory, plantain) that we do not apply any post emergent herbicides such as 2,4D Amine or MCPA. This will suppress or kill they species […]
Tag: Agronomy
Ryegrass leaf rust & management
Leaf Rust is a term used to describe fungi that can attack ryegrass, primarily: • Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata) also referred to as leaf rust• Stem rust (Puccinia graminis) Rust can severely hamper the growth of a ryegrass plant as well as reducing the plants nutritional quality (ME) and palatability to livestock. How to identify Ryegrass Leaf Rust Crown (or Leaf) Rust appears initially as yellow dots on leaves, later developing into bright orange circular powdery spots or pustules up to 1mm in length on ryegrass plants. Rust tends to thrive in hot and humid weather. Rust also tends to attack pasture when there are high levels of herbage present. Weaker plants leaves as well as those that are moisture […]
Keys to promoting winter pasture growth
Keys to promoting winter growth Permanent pasture is the mainstay of our pastures in South Gippsland, so maximising the performance of these pastures is of utmost importance. Timing is important in the establishment new pastures as overlooked opportunities & mismanagement can have severe impacts on long term pasture performance heading into late winter and spring with diminished DM/ha returns of quality feed. Walk pastures on a regular basis and assess how far away they are from the necessary grazing, fertiliser and weed/pest control. Common weed infestations include capeweed, chickweed, dock, erodium, flatweed, marshmallow, stinging nettle & thistles. It’s important to ensure herbicide grazing withholds are observed & impact to legumes such as clovers are taken into consideration. New pastures often […]
Step by step pasture renovation
With home grown feed more important than ever Notman Pasture Seeds have prepared a range of pasture planning recommendations to optimise the establishment of ryegrass pastures this season. Peter Notman, owner of Notman Pasture Seeds and Walcha Dairy, said there are key dynamics to maximising the establishment ryegrass pastures. ‘It’s important being organised throughout the whole process, including paddock preparation, germination, weed control and through to the first grazing’ ‘Optimise paddock potential prior to sowing by reducing unwanted trash and summer grasses such as barley grass and maximising germination of weeds’ ‘A fine, firm clean seedbed and spraying out germinating weeds with a knockdown herbicides & a spike so you are ready to plant into clean paddocks. Under all cultivation […]
Using Accelerate to boost pasture growth
Accelerating pasture growth Agronomists in the Western District are urging farmers to consider using Accelerate to boost pasture growth when pasture production appears to be slowing due to falling temperatures. Notman Pasture Seeds, based in Purnim, conducted approximately 80 replicated with average responses of Accelerate gibberellic acid on perennial ryegrass of 606kg DM/ha in winter and 308kg DM/ha in spring per application. Andrew Allsop, Notman Pasture Seeds, said boosting cool season growth resulted in pastures reaching optimal grazing height quicker, allowing for more frequent paddock rotations, better land utilisation and economic results. “The rapid plant growth that can occur through the use of gibberellic acid was a standout result throughout the trials for our farmers” “Along with the use of […]
Gippsland pasture planning recommendations
Notman Pasture Seeds has prepared a range of pasture planning recommendations to optimise the establishment of ryegrass pastures this Autumn. Poowong based Peter Notman of Notman Pasture Seeds said there were key dynamics to maximising the establishment of pastures. With home grown feed in the Gippsland more important than ever it is important to get the basics right. “It’s important being organised throughout the whole process, including potential sprayout, paddock preparation, germination, weed control and through to the first grazing,” Mr Notman said. He advised farmers to optimise paddock potential prior to sowing by reducing unwanted trash such as weeds and summer grasses by grazing paddocks hard. “A fine, firm clean seedbed is important and spraying out germinating weeds with […]
Late maturing ryegrasses boosting production
Growing leafy, quality, late heading italian ryegrass right through the silage and hay season has become been a valuable tool for Western District farmers looking to maximise flexibility and production. Heading dates vary significantly between ryegrasses, and these should be understood to ensure the grasses mix on a farm is most appropriate to its pasture production requirements and soil characteristics. Jonathan Town of Notman Pasture Seeds in Purnim said late, and very late heading ryegrasses provide a significant advantage in late spring quality, especially pertinent in southern dairy regions. “Late heading ryegrasses provide a significant advantage in late spring & early summer quality, as they maintain leafiness for longer, go to seed head later and newer varieties tend be still […]
Forage diversity with multi specie blends
Benefits of multi specie pasture swards are not a new occurrence, however there’s renewed interest in what diverse swards can offer modern production systems. Well-designed multi species pastures will have a diversity that can increase overall yield, diet composition and reduces the risks of a range of environmental challenges. On the flip side there are things to be aware of when grazing alternative crops such as optimising establishment, limited weed control and animal health issues such as high levels of nitrate in brassicas. Peter Notman, dairy farmer and forage specialist at Notman Pasture Seeds in Poowong says some producers add different varieties of seed to their standard winter and summer pasture stands to provide more forage diversity and drought hardiness. […]
Knocking down pasture broadleaf weeds
Key time for knocking out weeds Maximising the performance of our home grown pastures and doing the small things right canlead to dry matter gains, improved production and better value for every dollar spent, soNotman Pasture Seeds have prepared some simple tips to get the most out of your pastures inlate autumn and early spring. Peter Notman of Notman Pasture Seeds said seedling weeds vigorously compete for nutrients,moisture, light and most importantly, space. “Early removal of these weeds allows for more rapid and even establishment resulting in anincreased amount of dry matter for your stock” Mr Notman said. “Poor establishment of newly sown pasture results in a decrease in pasture productivity and anincrease in chemical costs from the extra weed control […]
Pugged pasture re-sowing options
After several dry years, some farmers’ paddocks across southern Victoria have become saturated to a point that it has led to severe pasture damage and recovery will depend on a number of factors when planning what strategies you may wish to take. Pugged pasture re-sowing options Spring re-sowing can be successful when action is taken quickly. We have observed a large amount of successful spring sowing during our 30 years in the field when there is good planning, timing, seed soil contact and fertility. The spring pasture re-sowing window is short, so as soon as soils are dry enough to get machinery the re-sowing should be implemented as fast as practical. All spring-sown pasture or crop should be fertilised with […]