A free draining paddock (no risk of water logging), with a pH above 6.1 is a must, with enough area for rotational grazing.
Make sure you have good control of weeds before sowing, nutrient levels are at the optimum and take some plant tissue tests once the crop has established to ensure the nutrient levels in the plant are also correct. Break crops are highly advised for both weed control and nutrient corrections.
Whether direct drilling or cultivating, sow the seed no deeper than 25mm in light/sandy soils, and no deeper than 12mm in heavy soils.
Rape
This is a good brassica option for farmers who require a multi-graze option with limited summer moisture. Maturity of different rapes varies between 70-110 days, with there being giant and intermediate type rapes.
In fertile soils, rape can produce 8t/DM/ha a year and is generally sown at 3-4kg/ha. Be wary of insects. Applications of insecticides are generally advised from initial spray-out of the paddock and early growing stages. Insecticides can be incorporated with herbicides if weeds emerge.
Nitrogen is generally applied post-emerge at 100kg/ha but, in some cases, an application of DAP can be beneficial also, if your phosphorus levels are below optimum.
Clovers
These legumes can produce high feed quality. There are many different types - white, red, sub, annual, strawberry - to suit a range of different soil and management.
Sowing rates differ between varieties due to size of the seed. For example, red clover is twice the size of white clover seed so needs a higher sowing rate to get the same plant numbers.
When sowing clovers into a pasture mix, be mindful that clovers take longer to emerge and mature. Higher sowing rates of clovers give you better results.
Clovers are also highly variable in yield and can be either used as a stand-alone crop or in a forage mix for a higher-performing crop.
Aerial application of clovers with fertiliser is a good option for boosting hill-country production. The local environment will determine the species.
For example, if your summer rainfall is less than 700ml, then sub clover is advised; if over 700ml, white or red clover is recommended. The added bonus is the improvement in the soil nutrients, as clovers are nitrogen fixators.
Due to the variability of New Zealand's climate, no one-size shoe fits all, so contact your local agronomist to tailor a plan that is right for your farm.
- James Bryan is a Central North Island agronomist for Ravensdown