increase font size
Newly appointed Plant Breeders and Research Association chief executive Sarah Clark wants farmers to choose modern proprietary cultivars which are supported by years of investment, testing and development.
Choosing pasture seed at bargain prices may seem an attractive way for farmers to reduce autumn or spring re-sowing costs, but it comes with significant risks, says the NZ Plant Breeders and Research Association (PBRA).
As the autumn re-grassing season approaches, the association is urging farmers to choose modern proprietary cultivars which are supported by years of investment, testing and development.
Choosing uncertified or unknown cultivar options can result in poorer strike rates and weed infestation. Cheap pasture seed may also contain unknown and potentially low or non-existent endophyte, crucial for pasture persistence and good livestock performance.
Newly appointed PBRA chief executive Sarah Clark says modern ryegrass cultivars are inoculated with new and known endophyte strains which are designed to reduce the effects of some performance-limiting livestock challenges and enhance persistence.
Clark says PBRA member companies deploy specific managment systems to ensure endophyte levels and seed quality are maintained, and they also come with support and advice from experienced field staff. "It might be tempting to consider buying cheap, uncertified seed, but the risk of poor pasture performance is high, as is the risk to on-farm biosecurity from the introduction of unwanted weeds," she says.
"Buying seed of unknown quality and provenance buys a risk of high weed control costs and reduced pasture and animal productivity. The cost of additional management inputs and lost animal productivity can far exceed the premium paid for buying known and proven cultivar pasture seed."
Many PBRA member companies make significant long-term investments in proprietary cultivar development, and she says the support of farmers is vital to maintain those programmes, so they continue to provide cultivars which perform better and mitigate some of today's farming challenges.
The general manager of PBRA member company Germinal New Zealand, Simon Larsen, says many of the proprietary cultivars have also been included in multiple National Forage Variety Trials across several regions, so farmers can compare their performance against other options in similar farming areas to their own.
 |
|---|
|
Newly appointed NZ Plant Breeders and Research Association chief executive Sarah Clark. |
"Those trials are independenly run and audited, so farmers can view the results, maker their own selections with confidence and know the cultivar choice they make will provide value to their farm," Larsen says.
PBRA member companies have good supplies of their proprietary ryegrass cultivars available for sowing this autumn after last year's challenging season resulting from lower farm gate prices and the hike in input costs experienced over the past two years.
Larsen expects improving farmgate prices will have a positive influence on the volume of seed sown in this autumn's re-grassing period.
"The cost pressures on farms mean there's been a lot more short-term crops repeated over the past couple of years and pasture renovation deferral. At some point those paddocks will return to perennial pasture as part of the farms re-grassing programme," he says.
The PBRA represents plant breeders, intellectual property owners and managers of proprietary agricultural seed. Association members are companies whose primary focus is the development and marketing of plant intellectual property through demonstrating the strength of research-proven standards of performance.
Ensuring livestock receive a balanced and adequate mineral intake is essential for optimal health and productivity, as they play crucial roles in various physiological processes, including growth, reproduction, and disease resistance.
Incorporating Vaderstad's latest seed drill technology, the Proceed V 24, is said to improve precision and increase planting efficiencies for New Zealand farmers and growers from the 2026 season.
Ford New Zealand has announced the addition of the Everest Tremor as a rugged and capable expansion of its hugely popular SUV family, said to offer improved offroad capabilities, without compromising on towing capacity or on-road comfort.
Over the last half-decade, the rapid adoption of GPS, guidance and a host of management and data recording functions has emphasised the need for a knowledgeable and reliable product and support provider.
Combi Clamp prides itself for being well known for offering sheep and cattle equipment solutions that are easy to operate and safer for users, while also ensuring an animal’s wellbeing and comfort.
Soon farmers and working dog breeders will be able to have a dog that best suits their needs thanks to a team of researchers at Massey University.
OPINION: President Donald Trump's bizarre hard line approach to the world of what was once 'rules-based trade' has got New Zealand government officials, politicians and exporters on tenterhooks.
With wool prices steadily declining and shearing costs on the rise, a Waikato couple began looking for a solution for wool from their 80ha farm.
The Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) team is looking forward to connecting with growers at the upcoming South Island Agricultural Field Days, says HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott.
Choosing pasture seed at bargain prices may seem an attractive way for farmers to reduce autumn or spring re-sowing costs, but it comes with significant risks, says the NZ Plant Breeders and Research Association (PBRA).
A brand-spanking new administration building will greet visitors to this year's South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) at Kirwee.
