No. 65 Irrigation on Perennial Ryegrass

Plantain has become an increasingly important component of pasture seed mixes, driven in part by heightened environmental concerns regarding nitrate leaching from grazed pastoral systems. Nitrogen (N) fertiliser management is widely regarded as the principal agronomic lever for increasing plantain seed yield, especially in environments with low inherent soil fertility. This project aims to improve the agronomy of plantain seed production by identifying optimal biological and economic N application rates.

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the main ryegrass species grown for seed in New Zealand, supporting both pasture and turf markets. Canterbury leads production, with around 12,000 ha sown annually. This study pulls together results from ten Canterbury field trials to assess how different fungicide programmes and timings affect seed yield. It compares early versus late applications and offers practical advice to help growers improve rust control and maximise returns.

Catch up on the booklet for the white clover seminar held April 2026. 

Welcome to the autumn 2026 edition of From the Ground Up. 

Sometimes, the only way to bring in a crop is to harvest in conditions that are less than ideal. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s a good idea to think about your combine settings to help reduce losses and prevent unnecessary breakdowns. This Technical Update  covers some of the key points for getting the job done .

Stem rust (Puccinia graminis subsp. graminicola) is the most damaging of the ryegrass diseases. This update discusses how different fungicide programmes and timings affect seed yield. It compares early versus late applications and offers practical advice to help growers improve rust control and maximise returns.

This Herbage Update defines a more accurate harvest window for perennial ryegrass seed crops. Read more here.

Welcome to the revised 2025 version of  The drying and storage of grain and herbage seed, first published in 1999. The book comprises six chapters that cover grain characteristics and their reaction to climate, the importance of seed moisture, the drying system, the storage environment, storage pests and their control, and construction considerations. These have been edited and updated by FAR staff and independent experts from the original chapters written by the late Murray Hill.

Between January and May 2025, FAR and harvester specialists conducted a comprehensive study to quantify the grain and seed left in the paddock by New Zealand growers and identify opportunities to optimise harvester performance. 

If you couldn't make it to ARIA this year, make sure you check out the booklet here.