Read the latest on the use of summer forages with thoughts from Andrew Allsop, a member of our Western Victorian pasture team

Spring and early summer paddock renovation provides an opportunity to establish home grown feed for summer, autumn and if intended winter forage. Spring and summer sown forage can be used for a variety of reasons, but the main reasons are to form part of your annual pasture renovation program and the other to produce valuable feed at key times when permanent pastures are of low quality and quantity.

At Notman Pasture Seeds, both our Gippsland & Western Vic teams have access to a wide range of cultivars – it’s just a matter to constructing a plan that suits your feed requirements.

Here I’ve tried to list the key points in establishing a successful spring or summer sown crop. Enjoy!

KEY POINTS

There are a number and broad range of cultivars available, the type and variety that suits your needs will dependent upon a number factors and these include:

  • At what stage is the paddock in your renovation program?
  • This will influence whether you use a grass base or a brassica-based crop?
  • Weed status and soil fertility will also determine whether an annual crop or a perennial such as a Chico Chicory, Puna chicory or Oracle Plantain
  • Planting times will determine whether a Brassica, Herb based crop is sown or a C4 grass i.e., millet, sorghum or maize based is sown i.e., Brassica’s can be sown a lot earlier in spring!
  • Stock needs and water availability will determine whether a grazing or silage/hay crop is sown.
  • Important to feed Budget (Rough Rule of Thumb is to crop 10 – 15% of the grazing platform)

SITUATIONS THAT INFLUENCE THEIR USE

  • Poor fertility and weed burden in paddock
  • Pasture density (normally bought about by winter pugging)
  • Environmental factors i.e., Drought, insect pressure such as cockchafer, army worm, African Black Beetle, Root Aphids
  • Supplementary feed costs
  • Calving or lambing program
  • Stock finishing and meeting markets when perennial-based pasture is dormant

KEY BENEFITS OF SUMMER CROPS

  • Provide a cheap source of dry matter when compared to bought in feed
  • Break the perennial weed cycle using non – selective herbicides i.e. The use of glyphosate and dicamba as knock downs and pre-emergent before sowing
  • Potential to grow large quantities of feed for a relatively low cost of production.

SUCCESSFUL CROPS ARE BASED ON

  • Good agronomic advice
  • High quality seed i.e., purity and germination
  • Control of weeds in knock down spray out
  • Well cultivated seed bed. Clump size smaller than 50 mm (2”)
  • Address soil fertility issues
  • Apply NPKS fertiliser before sowing, plus DAP or MAP after germination
  • Monitor for pests and take action if problems occur
  • Introduce stock slowly to enable rumen to adapt

TIME OF SOWING

Ideal planting and grazing dates:

MonthOctNovDecJanFebMarApr
PlantBrassica
Chicory		Brassica
Millet
Maize
Sorghum		Brassica
Millet
Maize
Sorghum
Graze / HarvestBrassicaBrassica
Chicory
Millet
Sorghum		Brassica
Chicory
Millet
Sorghum		Brassica
Chicory
Millet
Sorghum		Chicory
Maize
Note; All above crops would benefit from some irrigation. Brassica planted in December in most areas would need to be irrigated. However past experience should be taken into account.

PLANTING ORDER

Forage Crops in order of planting include:

  • Chicory, Plantain, All Brassica’s i.e., Leafy Turnip, Forage Rape, Turnip and Top Crop Blends including Brassica’s and Herbs
  • Top Crop Blend’s including Millet
  • Millet, Maize
  • Forage Sorghum

THE PROS AND CONS

OptionAdvantagesDisadvantages
BrassicasCheap source of feed
Excellent feed quality
Provide an excellent seed bed for re sowing
Water use efficient		Prone to Insect attack
Not very drought tolerant
Animal Health Issues
Need for Summer showers
Chicory & plantainExcellent feed value
Not prone to insect damage
Perennial
Flexibility
No none animal health issues		Slower establishing
Limits options in the spring
Requires moisture to maximise production
Expensive seed to buy per kg
Will not tolerate water logging
Millet & forage sorghumProvides feed late in the season
Not prone to insect infestation
Better drought tolerance		Lower feed value
Soil temperate sensitive
If low yield not cost effective
MaizeHigh energy source
Nutritionally maize silage compliments high protein pastures
Provides good fibre source		Low in protein
Expensive source of energy if low yield
Can be Hugh losses when feed out if no feed pad
High capital cost re sowing & harvesting equipment
High nutrient input
Soil temp sensitive

Thoughts around Top Crop Summer Blends

  • They offer diversity, quality and reliability
  • Blends that offer a balanced diet of protein and energy
  • Offers ideal break crop over summer period before planting back to permanent pasture
  • Rape based blends can be over sown with Short – Term Ryegrass and grown into winter.
  • In the Western District, Top Crop Rape & Millet sown at 12kg/ha has been a mainstay for a while now
  • In Gippsland with more reliable summer rainfall in general, Peter, Adam, Gavin are seeing more herbs and leafy brassicas in their mixes, so mixes like Top Crop Brassica & Millet, or Top Crop Brassica & Herbs & Millet

SUMMARY – WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL CROP

  • Status of the Paddock –
  • Situation to consider their use?
  • Planning, Preparation,
  • Sowing method
  • Seed – soil contact
  •  Controlling Competition
  • Spraying weeds post sowing + insecticide
  • What that paddock is going been sown back to.

Get in touch with Andrew Allsop

Andrew Allsop
0408 439 795

Email andrew@notmanpasture.com.au

Also in our Western Victoria team is Jonathan Town

Jonathan Town
0409 118 663

Get in touch with our Gippsland team

Adam Fisher
0437 512 015
adam@notmanpasture.com.au

Peter Notman
0418 512 035
peter@notmanpasture.com.au

Office
(03) 5659 2314

Email peter@notmanpasture.com.au