Pasture Regrassing Plan 2022

Future Farming Systems Project

Introduction of Alternative Pastures at NARF – 2022 Sowing Plan

Updated 15th March 2022

 

Background

The establishment of fescue/cocksfoot pastures that were sown in 2021 was disappointing on the Alternative Pastures farm, with most of these paddocks showing low sown grass presence. Competition from poa annua and ryegrass was significant.

We intend to spray out and re-sow 4.66 ha. Of the four paddocks to be sown, two will be sown in early March and two in late April. We also intend to shallow direct drill without spray-out (undersow) 3.81 ha.

In addition, we intend to spray out and sow in ryegrass one paddock on each of the Current and Low Emissions farms to provide some ryegrass comparison within the project.

 

Seed Mixes for 2022

Seed Mix 1 – Tall Fescue/Cocksfoot mix on paddocks to be re-sown – total of 2.66 ha

  • 20 kg/ha Quantica tall fescue
  • 6 kg/ha Greenly II cocksfoot
  • 2 kg/ha Legacy white clover
  • 2 kg/ha Mainstay white clover
  • 4 kg/ha Ceibo red clover
  • 1 kg/ha Choice Chicory

Seed Mix 2 – Tall Fescue/Meadow Fescue mix on paddocks to be re-sown – total of 2.0 ha

  • 20 kg/ha Nouga tall fescue
  • 10 kg/ha Oakdon meadow fescue
  • 2 kg/ha Legacy white clover
  • 2 kg/ha Mainstay white clover
  • 4 kg/ha Ceibo red clover
  • 1 kg/ha Choice Chicory

Seed Mix 3 – Tall Fescue/Herb mix to be direct drilled without sprayout – total of 3.81 ha

  • 10 kg/ha Quantica tall fescue
  • 2 kg/ha Choice Chicory
  • 2 kg/ha Ecotain Plantain

Seed Mix 4 – Ryegrass mix to be direct drilled – total of 1.55 ha

  • Excess Ryegrass – pasture pack available Farm Source

All seed to be treated, if available.

Plan for resowing paddocks

  1. Graze and leave to recover for 7 days
  2. For March sown paddocks, in mid-March – Spray with WM470 @ 5 l/ha + 100ml Pulse/100l water
  3. Drill seed 3 – 5 days after spraying with 90 kg/ha DAP with Scott Taylors or Richard Harrisons Precision drill
  4. Apply slug bait (Slugout) at 10 kg/ha, if bone dry then delay application until rain
  5. Check for crickets and treat if required
  6. Post-emergence spray 4-6 weeks after sowing as required

 

Plan for under-sowing paddocks

Under-sow mid-late March just prior to grazing (adequate soil moisture to be present, ideally just prior to rain).

 

Plan for kikuyu paddocks to ryegrass

  1. Spray with WM470 @ 6l/ha + 100ml Pulse/100l water – mid Feb. Paddocks should have at least 10 days growth on them
  2. Graze with cows 4 days after spraying to remove some of the trash
  3. Hard mulch 10 days after spraying
  4. Respray with 4l/ha WM470 + Pulse in early March (timing dependent on soil moisture)
  5. Drill seed 5 – 7 days after spraying with 90 kg/ha DAP
  6. Apply slug bait (Slugout) at 10 kg/ha, if bone dry then delay application until rain
  7. Check for crickets and treat if required.
  8. Post-emergence spray 4-6 weeks after sowing as required

 

Paddocks to be sown

Mix 1 – Spray & sow

Tall Fescue, Cocksfoot, Clover, Chicory

Mix 2 – Spray & sow

Tall Fescue, Meadow Fescue, Clover, Chicory

Mix 3 – No sprayout & undersow

Tall Fescue, Chicory & Plantain

Mix 4 – Spray & sow Ryegrass, White Clover
Paddock Area Paddock Area Paddock Area Paddock Area
48 * 1.40 27 # 0.91 21 * 1.34 18 * 0.79
63 * 1.26 30 # 1.09 52 * 1.04 19 * 0.76
62 * 1.43
Total 2.66   2.00   3.81   1.55

Timing –  * paddocks to be sown in late March,  # paddocks to be sown in late April due to delayed arrival of seed

Testing Nortron spray to control Poa annua

Use Nortron on hand. Spray part of paddocks 48 and 21 when poa seedlings are just coming out of the ground. Rate, 2.5 litres/ha. Mark on fenceline what areas have been sprayed.

Undersowing Italian ryegrass behind the mulcher in kikuyu paddocks

Total of 60 ha identified to be mulched and undersown. This should start the week of 20th March. Drill as much as possible. If contractor is likely not to be available that week then broadcast seed in front of mulcher.

Cultivar – Tabu. Follow with slug bait at 5 kg/ha once we get a bit of rain. Keep an eye on crickets and treat if needed.