Latest News

For everything Ruralco and Real Farmer

28Aug

The new breed of Kiwi determination

Words and images supplied by Seed Force.

Selecting a perennial ryegrass that both performs and persists under the pressures of our unique New Zealand environment is a challenge for many farming systems. SF Hustle delivers on production and its features will be sure to impress on farm.

SF Hustle is one of the latest releases from Seed Force’s perennial ryegrass development programme. It takes years to create a new cultivar, but investing the time, effort and resources required helps ensure confidence in a variety once its commercialised.

Standout performer SF Hustle was selected from a genetic pool of robust, high yielding material that was able to withstand a range of challenging conditions. Both Seed Force and industry trials are proving it to be a reliable, persistent variety with solid production across the seasons making it suitable to many systems nationwide.

Bred to be densely tillered, this diploid perennial ryegrass is able to withstand grazing pressures across all stock types. In addition to this, the mid heading date (+8 relative to Nui) sets it aside from the majority of grasses in the New Zealand perennial market which are often later heading.

Selecting a cultivar with an earlier heading date offers the benefit of early season growth which is an important factor when matching pasture production to animal feed requirements.

First evaluated by Seed Force’s nationwide trialling programme SF Hustle impressed with its quick establishment and ability to compete with other well-known commercial cultivars. Seed Force data also highlighted the cultivar’s high yielding ability, which was supported by its consistent strong performance in independent cultivar evaluation via the New Zealand National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) system. 

There are two types of NFVT trials: yield and persistence. These run for three and five years respectively, and entries must be trialled for a minimum of three years before they appear on summary tables. SF Hustle has demonstrated an outstanding performance, consistently featuring towards the top of these trials. These, and more results can be viewed on the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association Inc. (NZPBRA) website.  

The semi-upright growth habit of SF Hustle also allows for a diversified pasture mix with components such as clovers and herbs benefiting from the open nature of the sward. Promoting legume content in a pasture allows for fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, which is then available for grass growth, an increasingly important feature as nitrogen caps limit the use of synthetic fertiliser products.  

Where summer moisture deficits are likely, many systems are incorporating resilient species such as cocksfoot into their perennial pastures mixes. SF Hustle perennial ryegrass pairs well with new generation cocksfoot SF Greenly II for added summer resilience, particularly in high input systems such as dairy farms.

Seed Force recommends reducing the rate of SF Hustle and adding 3-5kg/ha of cocksfoot into the pasture mix. Once established, the cocksfoot gives added production under hot temperatures, and a greater water response than other perennial species. 

For more information on SF Hustle and resilient pastures talk to your local Ruralco On-Farm Account Manager.

Related

Making their own luck

Making their own luck

For the Currie family of Methven, the capacity for hard work, the love of family and the mental disc...

Read More
New spring barley launched to the New Zealand market

New spring barley launched to the New Zealand market

Cropmark Seeds are excited to release a new Spring barley to the New Zealand market that comes from ...

Read More
Partnership challenges traditional thinking

Partnership challenges traditional thinking

Ruralco is proud to launch a partnership with business development company Stile Inc Ltd. Based in G...

Read More
Agri-Chemical update

Agri-Chemical update

For the next 3 months, we will look at the following: Autumn sown arable crops, barley grass control...

Read More
Postman Matt and His Very Creative Daily Post Runs

Postman Matt and His Very Creative Daily Post Runs

Peel Forest postie Matt Searles is a very busy man and delivering mail along NZ’s longest single ro...

Read More
Confidence that farming will find a way

Confidence that farming will find a way

With significant changes underway for the primary sector, outgoing Ruralco chair Jessie Chan is urgi...

Read More




Account Selector