Crops and Forage

Strong El Niño weather patterns are expected this summer, Beef + Lamb New Zealand is encouraging farmers to consider the tools they have available to them to deal with hot, dry conditions. Summer forage crops allow farmers to make use of soil moisture in spring to grow feed that will be available over summer. Words Sandra Taylor.

Two Massey University PhD scholars, supported by the T.R. Ellett Agricultural Research Trust, are building a fuller picture of how New Zealand pasture systems work – one measuring what happens above the ground, the other what happens beneath it.Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

If you are wanting feed quality where it counts and an early maturity ahead of a dry summer, a new summer forage rape, bred for lamb and cattle finishing, could be the answer that lines up with your weaning schedule. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp

Diverse pasture mixes are often misunderstood and require a clear strategy to be beneficial says a Massey University professor at the 2026 Beef + Lamb NZ AgInnovation Conference. Words Rebecca Greaves.

Maize has become a reliable and valuable crop for King Country farmers Matt and Olivia Buckley, but changing seasons and growing pressure from damaging insect populations mean consistently good yields don’t happen without effort. Words Anne Lee.

Stu and Ginny Neal do not take their responsibilities around winter forage crop management lightly. The South Canterbury couple start planning their winter forage crop rotation three years in advance, with assiduous attention paid to animal welfare and environmental protection. Words Sandra Taylor.

Jess Ross worries that without adequate access to the latest biologicals and biopesticide options, New Zealand fruit and arable growers are going to be left scrambling. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

A 10-year Lincoln University long-term pasture persistence trial (PPT), looking at different grass species, predominantly perennial ryegrass, is unique in its duration and ability to evaluate the performance of a range of grass cultivars.Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

As growers move from blocks near urban centres to the plains, Seed & Grain NZ highlights the rising challenge of “neighbouring” crops. With market gardeners and seed growers now operating side-by-side, collaborative management is vital to safeguard seed quality for everyone involved. Words Seed & Grain NZ.

Taking a bird’s eye view is bringing a level of accuracy to a range of on-farm practices, allowing precise plant counts for crops such as fodder beet and giving pinpoint positioning of disease issues. Words Anne Lee.