Legumes

Drier, low fertility soils, span over 500,000ha of New Zealand farmland and in many cases traditional white and red clover struggle and in some cases so does lucerne. Dr. Lucy Bell explores the future commercial potential of new legume species. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

Legumes are the engine room that drive the Zino family’s sheep, beef and deer operation with their whole farm system geared around these high-protein forages. Words Sandra Taylor, Photos Lucy Hunter-Weston.

As nitrogen fertilisers are a substantial expense on arable farms, growers are looking to incorporate short-term cover crops and legumes as a way to provide an alternative home-grown nitrogen source to the usual bagged supply. Words Heather Chalmers

Held in November 2023 in Rotorua, the NZ Grasslands Association was the place to hear about the research comprised in their 85th journal. For those who couldn’t make it, Joanna Grigg provides a speed-dating style summary of some of the papers and key findings. These are peer reviewed and come from the very best of our country’s pastoral researchers.