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THIS PROMOTIONAL FEATURE WAS PROVIDED BY AGRICOM

As daylight hours shorten and colder temperatures are on the horizon, choosing a reliable performing cultivar is key to maximising winter feed in the coming months. By March, perennial pastures typically cannot be relied upon to establish quickly enough to support late autumn or winter grazing. Instead, shorter term more winter active options are generally recommended for sowing at this stage of the season.

Revel is a new tetraploid annual ryegrass from Agricom, known for its rapid establishment, excellent regrowth and strong winter activity. Revel performs well in early spring, making it an ideal choice for silage production systems. With a broad growth habit and good tiller density, Revel delivers consistent performance from grazing through to early silage cuts.

Farmers wanting the flexibility to carry autumn sown grass paddocks through spring into summer and potentially the following season should consider Manta Italian ryegrass. This diploid variety features dense tillering, broad leaves and strong winter growth. Manta is available both without endophyte and with AR37, offering improved persistence for those looking for a 2-3 year autumn sown option.

For Canterbury farmers looking to fill a bulk winter feed gap from March onwards, oats are an excellent choice due to their rapid establishment and ability to grow and maintain quality in colder conditions. Milton and Crowa forage oats are ideal for “fast feed” delivering high yields in a short period of time, while Coronet oats, a later maturing variety are well suited for holding quality later into the winter from an autumn sowing.

The Agricom extension team have conducted many trials evaluating various multi-species options to sow alongside Manta Italian ryegrass. While brassicas such as Mainstar forage rape pair well with Manta when sown before mid-March, Milton, Crowa or Coronet forage oats provide a more reliable winter feed source from this point onward. Milton or Crowa and Manta make a great combination planted together to combine bulk winter feed with the ability to regrow through spring. With proper management, this mix can be carried through as a short term pasture.

Timely sowing, along with careful species and cultivar selection in March and April, can be key to a successful wintering period. For more information on the best options for the remaining autumn sowing window contact your local Ruralco representative.

To learn more about Manta AR37 Italian ryegrass, Revel annual ryegrass, and other popular Agricom products mentioned in this article, tune in to the Seed Dating series on The Al & Juddy Show. This unique podcast introduces you to Agricom’s forage products, exploring their key attributes, benefits, and how they fit into your farm system. Click here to find out more.