SeedData Newsletter

SeedData Newsletter
SeedData Newsletter
SeedData Newsletter


Issue 48 / Summer / February 2014

Hi #subname#
 

Welcome to the February edition of Specialty Seed's SeedData Newsletter.


Over the last month I've been lucky enough to have seen a fair bit of New Zealand while showing some overseas visitors from the states around.

Having been in and around Los Angeles myself I could see why they were "gob smacked" at our little Island down the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

My visitors couldn't get enough of our bush and coastal facilities, to the point where we all went home for a rest.

I saw some very nice areas of the states during my time over there. However to have such a wide range of scenery within a short travel time and relativity few people enjoying them at the same time makes New Zealand unique. We should be proud of it. I know I was showing them around.

The country side is by in large looking good as well although driving through Murchison recently I could see the tell-tale signs of things getting on the dry side a bit.

In this month's edition we look at PGG Wrightsons two new perennial ryegrasses due to be released this autumn, update you on Agriseeds new Rohan SPG, what is the right seed sowing rate, what to use if rye corn becomes short (as expected), our new seed supply update feature.

In this month's Seedata newsletter we will look at the following topics:







New ryegrasses this Autumn

This autumn will see the release of two new perennial ryegrasses from the team at PGG Wrightsons seeds.

As with most New Zealand selected cultivars both of these grasses have under gone extensive trials for many years before their commercial release. Being privy to seeing what goes on behind the scene during this time Specialty Seeds feel comfortable to recommend these two new cultivars to our clients.


Rely and Excess ryegrass

The new diploid perennial ryegrasses are Rely and Excess perennial ryegrasses. Rely is a mid-flowering type (0 days) and is available in AR37 entophyte. Excess is slightly later flowering (+ 7 days) also available in AR37 entophyte.

For more information on both these cultivars please follow these links below or contact Specialty Seeds.

Click here to see more about Rely ryegrass
Click here to see more about Excess ryegrass


Rohan (SPR) perennial ryegrass ready this autumn

Back in our November Newsletter we mentioned that Agriseeds will be releasing their new concept in perennial ryegrass Rohan SPR this autumn.

We are pleased to say there are now good stocks available either Agricote grass treated or bare seed. We see this grass as being very good for our sheep and beef clients who are looking persistent and palatable perennial pasture.

What makes it Rohan unique? Agriseeds

Rohan SPG has the ability to spread horizontally through the pastures, filling in bare areas and competing more aggressively against weeds.

These runners root down similar to clover and can become new plants.

Rohan SPG benefits:
  • Purpose bred to give sheep and beef farmers a persistent, palatable, easy care pasture with strong recovery from adverse climatic events
  • Very fine leaves and very high tiller density and once established it creates a dense pasture which can better tolerate the harder grazing typically associated with many sheep and beef systems
  • Comes with NEA2 entophyte which protects the plant from insect pest attack while providing safe, staggers free grazing for sheep and beef
  • Late flowering type (+18) days with reduced aftermath heading Rohan SPG stays short, leafy, well grazed and green when compared to other sheep and beef pastures
Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds if you have any questions or want any further information.




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New Building update

Our new seed mixing facility is well under way and at this stage is looking good to be finished on time.


Click here for more information on the Devour Annual ryegrass





What is the right seed sowing rate?


Over the last two months the hoary old chestnut of seed sowing rates has appeared on the horizon again.

By my recollection about every five to seven years this matter gets raised and normally the message is that most farmers are sowing too much seed currently.

As an experienced seed retailer, I do feel it is my duty to try and put some balance into this argument as I've been hearing stories that we should be sowing seed as low as 12 -15 kgs per hectare. I'd normally be suggesting a sowing rate between 24 and 30 kgs per hectare depending on the cultivar sown (i.e. diploid vs tetraploid ryegrasses).

As we all know there are many, many factors that come into play when trying to successfully establish your new pasture:
  • paddock selection
  • paddock preparation
  • seed applied with the correct equipment
  • and insect pressure at establishment to name but a few
Once we take even one of two of the above factors into consideration as an issue at sow down we often see a drop off in the success of establishment when these low sowing rates are used. Also I have noted that the speed of establishment, slower, and weed pressure, higher, is normally vastly different when you lower sowing rates are used when to higher sowing rates, better on both counts.

I have witnessed over the years very successful sow downs at low seed sowing rates (as above), however in these cases the "planets are in alignment" and normally by farmers who have the keys to success well under their control, in my experience these situations are not the norm.

The other factor to take into account is the total cost of your sow down, the difference between using a low sowing rate compared to a higher rate would often be less than $100.00 per hectare which when compared to the total cost of your sow down is minor. And yet using the higher sow rate will normally (but not always) lead to a much more successful outcome.

A successful outcome should of course be the goal. In the busy life's we all lead and pressure we are under for our farms to produce who needs to revisit jobs more than once, as they say "do it once and do it right". Specialty Seeds spend a lot of effort behind the scene to ensure all our clients have success in their sow downs this coming autumn.

So if you are thinking about using a lower or higher sowing rate feel free to contact us and we will be happy to guide you through the key points so you have a successful result.

Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds for any of your sow down enquiries.





Click here to see more Pest Go specials

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Ryecorn seed supply may be short

It has come to our attention that supplies of rye corn may be in a tight supply situation this coming season. We would suggest that if you are planning to use some it may pay to contact us and place your order sooner rather than later.

Should rye corn sell out then we would recommend to our clients they should sow either Devour annual ryegrass or White Oats as an alternative to it. Please read on for more information on these options:


Devour annual ryegrass:

Devour annual ryegrass will provide you with a cheap to establish multi graze option during the autumn/winter and spring. Devour is normally sown at 25 kgs per hectare.

For more information on Devour please click on the image or contact us.


White Oats

Many of our clients are also drilling white oats as part of their normal farming practice with great results.

We would certainly suggest them as a suitable alternative should rye corn become short. White Oats are either sown alone at 100 kgs per hectare or in a mix with annual ryegrass at between 60 and 70 kg with 20 to 25 kgs of Devour annual ryegrass.

Once again this will provide you with autumn/winter and spring options. We can supply you with any one of the many commercially available oats currently on the market.


Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds if you have any questions or want any further information.


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Click here for more information on the Pest Go Actellic Silo product specials

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Seed Supply on our website

For the latest seed supply update please click here to check out the Specialy Seed's Seed Supply website page


Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds if you have any questions or want any further information.




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As always, we hope this issue has been of some value to you. If you have a comment on this newsletter or anything on our website, please give us a call on our Freephone: 0800 727 8873, send us an email at: mail@specseed.co.nz.


Kind Regards

Stephen Finch / David Percival

Stephen Finch & David Percival
Specialty Seeds - New Zealand


The right match of Seed to Soil - www.specseed.co.nz
SeedData Newsletter

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Website: www.specseed.co.nz | Email: mail@specseed.co.nz | Phone: 0800 727 8873 | Fax: 0800 365 6663

 

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