Pasture consulting success stories
Gorse (Scrub) Development of mid-low Altitude country for Winter feed
Spring 2017
Farm: Sparky Nichol (Manager)
Abbortsford Station, Clarks Junction, Otago
- Resident gorse in this block was pushed off into the gullies, ploughed and top worked (spring 2017).
- Broadcast into winter feed turnips as a first crop rotation (late spring 2017).
- Additional red clover is sown with winter feed crops with the aim of growing stock rather than just maintaining them over winter.
- Swedes to be established spring 2018.
- No chemical sprays have been used.
Valley block, first year rotation into turnips (gorse pushed off early spring 2017 into gully) — January 2018 photo taken
Valley block, first year rotation into turnips (gorse pushed off early spring 2017 into gully) — January 2018 photo taken
Valley block, close up of turnip establishment — January 2018 photo taken
Development of mid-low Altitude country for Winter feed
August 2016
Farm: Sparky Nichol (Manager)
Abbortsford Station, Clarks Junction, Otago
- Objective-to sow winter feed crops late November / early December
- Optimise Lime Pellets used to pre condition the soil, and in doing so reduce Aluminium levels which have a negative effect on root establishment; and secondly make Phosphate more available, thus enabling plants to utilise nutrients more efficiently.
- Reducing Aluminum is important in any development programme as it acts as a barrier to future potential and results.
- Ploughed native ground September 2016; establish turnips as a first year winter feed crop; followed by swedes second year, and permanent pasture third year.
- Additional red clover is sown with winter feed crops with the aim of growing stock rather than just maintaining them over winter.
Archies block, second year rotation into swedes — January 2018 photo taken
Further view Archies Block broadcast swede establishment — January 2018 photo taken
Archies block, close up of swede establishment — January 2018 photo taken
Grass established November 2017 — January 2018 photo taken
Grass established November 2017 — January 2018 photo taken
Close up of November 2017 Grash Establishment — January 2018 photo taken
Grass established November 2017 — January 2018 photo taken
Archies Block, Development of native block into Winter feed turnips — August 2016
Archies Block, Block broadcast into turnips and red clover — early December 2016
Archies Block, Block broadcast into turnips and red clover — early December 2016
Middle young grass, Excellent bulb and red clover development — late February 2017
Archies Block, Heavy duty offset discs used for establishment of second crop swedes — September 2016
Dip Hill, Swedes broadcast with the addition of low rates of red clover — late November 2016
Dip Hill, Crop inspection to assess for Nitrogen application
Dip Hill, Block sown in oats and cut for silage, with permanent pasture undersown for final rotation year
Development of Marginal Hill Country
May 2006
Farm: Rob Johnstone
Glencairn Limousin Cattle Stud
- Scrub sprayed May 2006, then mechanically cleared in September 2006
- Resprayed gorse seedlings November 2006
- First application of fertiliser late November 2006 followed by oversowing
- Second fertiliser application at seed emergence
- Total development was through two Winter feed crops, followed by permanent pasture
- 16% cash return on investment
Block now carrying 400 ewes from 40 ewes carrying capacity in its undeveloped state.
Estimate of ewes lambing 130% and hoggets 50%.
Post development subdivision with permanent fences
Block now showing very good long term economic benefits for the farm
Hill Country Oversowing Summer Feed
November 2012
Farm: Dick McLachlan
Balmoral, North Canterbury
- Block double-sprayed — first spray November 2012, fallowed, second spray February 2013
- Oversown after second spray with Cordura Ryegrass/Titan Rape/White Clover
- Medium-term objective — oversowing into permanent pasture
Block prior to development
Hill country utilisation can be lifted 20% from its usual 60—65% with good basics like subdivision, access and stock water topped off with new pastures.
Established Rape/Grass/Clover May 2013
Crop/pasture establishment in area of rocks and developed Matagouri May 2013
Established crop/pasture May 2013
Established Rape/Grass/Clover May 2013
Established Rape/Grass/Clover May 2013
Hill Country Oversowing Winter Feed
July 2014
Farm: Roger Landels
Kuriwao Gorge, Clinton
- Oversown with second crop Swedes, Kale and Rape — late Spring 2013
- Second Winter feed crop grazed mid to late Winter 2014
- Spring fallowed
- Oversown into permanent pasture early Summer 2014
Second Winter feed crop grazed mid to late Winter 2014
Hill country utilisation can be lifted 20% from its usual 60—65% with good basics like subdivision, access and stock water topped off with new pastures.
Hill country utilisation can be lifted 20% from its usual 60—65% with good basics like subdivision, access and stock water topped off with new pastures.
Oversown Swedes/Turnips Autumn 2015
Oversown Swedes/Turnips on farm track Autumn 2015
Oversown Swedes/Turnips amongst rocks Autumn 2015
Second year oversewn with winter Brassica, autumn 2016.
Second year oversewn with winter Brassica, autumn 2016.
Second year oversewn with winter Brassica, autumn 2016.
Hill Country Oversowing Winter Feed
November 2013
Farm: John Latta
Owaka Valley, South Otago
- Double sprayed Spring 2013
- Oversown into Swedes and Turnips late November 2013
- Crop utilised mid to late Winter 2014
Oversown Swedes/Turnips amongst Tussocks Winter 2014
Oversown Swedes/Turnips amongst Tussocks Winter 2014
Winter feed grazing 2014
Winter feed grazing 2014
Hill Country Oversowing Summer Feed
November 2013
Farm: David Hyde
Greta Valley, North Canterbury
- Block double sprayed — first spray November 2013, fallowed, second spray March 2014
- Oversown after second spray into Rape, Cordura Ryegrass, Plantain and Chicory
- Resident sub-Clover retained
Block prior to establishment
Oversown into Spring/Summer feed 2014
Hyde Aerial Pasture Renewal
Autumn 2014
Farm: David Hyde
Greta Valley, North Canterbury
- Completion of Aerial Pasture Renewal
Cocksfoot established Autumn 2014
Cocksfoot established Autumn 2014
Matarae Block Pasture Renewal
October 1990
Farm: Matarae, Middlemarch
- Browntop sprayed October 1990 and direct drilled into Lucerne
- Ag Lime used through direct drill — which in the early nineties was not common. This has played a significant part in this Lucerne establishment
Prior to developmentEstablished Lucuerne sprayed/direct drilled