Reason is a new high performing, mid-heading perennial ryegrass from Agricom

Reason is a new high performing, mid-heading perennial ryegrass from Agricom. The grass has a +3 heading date, meaning seed head development occurring around late October. Agricom’s South Island Forage Systems Specialist, Fraser Harrison has seen Reason as a star performer across the South Island and appreciates it as a “mid-heading ryegrass that gives us early spring growth, without giving up yield and competing well with later heading varieties.”

Reason has fine dense tillers, making it one of the more robust cultivars in Agricom’s portfolio. As a diploid Reason has better tolerance to pugging, Argentine stem weevil pressure and overgrazing. Reason’s impressive tiller density and extremely low aftermath heading in summer supports its use in sheep, beef and dairy systems; especially where farmers need extra spring growth and sustained summer/autumn quality and production.

Reason demonstrates excellent rust tolerance over the summer and autumn months and the added insect protection from the AR37 endophyte gives the new grass a ‘reason’ to persist in some of New Zealand’s more adverse growing conditions.

Reason has a strong fit in sheep and beef systems, as its heading date of +3 will lend itself to early lambing country across the east coast and into the higher hill country where an early spring flush is essential. This, in combination with its tiller density, makes it the perfect fit for early lambing areas that go through periods of set stocking. In a dairy system, Reason is the ideal option for those looking to plant some of their farm in earlier heading date varieties. It offers good grazing resilience and just like the popular late heading dairy options such as ONE50, we can expect this mid heading variety to sustain summer and autumn productivity due to its genetic diversity and low aftermath heading.

For more information on Reason contact 0800 183 358, visit agricom.co.nz or visit your local seed merchant.