PGG Wrightson Seeds

08/12/2025

Aftermath heading (AMH), also known as continuous seed head production after the main seeding phase through summer, can impact animal performance as pasture quality declines.

One standout is Vast, a tetraploid perennial ryegrass with an extremely late heading date of +36 days. This allows for a slower post-peak decline, improved performance in spring calving dairy herds, stronger ewe lactation, and better weaned lamb growth rates.

But don’t just take our word for it:
Shaun Olsen, an Opiki dairy farmer milking 1,300 cows across two properties, says: “Vast is resilient. What I love about it is its ability to stay strong and green when other grasses struggle.”

Jeremy Wapp from Willowford Dairies was equally impressed. “In February, it was hot and dry, we were in a drought, and Vast did not go to seed. It was amazing. Grasses with older genetics would have kept trying to re-seed in those conditions.”

Read the full stories below:
https://f.mtr.cool/jtqpzaohel


https://f.mtr.cool/muqdgdjtao

07/12/2025

Maggie’s been out in Kaikohe checking on a new Stamina™ 5 lucerne crop, and things are looking great up north.

We’re now waiting for the crop to reach around 50% flowering before taking its first cut. Harvesting at this stage helps the plants build strong root systems and store energy, setting the crop up for long-term performance.

Always good to see a new stand off to a strong start!

01/12/2025

As pasture quality declines in the warmer months, summer brassica crops like leafy and bulb turnips, r**e, and kale provide high-protein, energy-rich forage for finishing stock, supporting lactation, or bridging feed gaps.
Transitioning stock onto brassicas requires care to avoid health issues. It’s important to gradually introduce crops, provide plenty of fibre supplements, and plan break-feeding, supplementation, and minerals carefully.

Tips for Dry Stock:
- Ensure a full rumen before moving animals onto crops.
- Introduce brassicas in 15-20% increments every 2 days, over 10-14 days.
- Feed no more than 80% brassica once fully transitioned.
- Always provide long-stem fibre or runoff pasture.

Tips for Dairy Cows:
- Start with a full rumen after milking.
- Limit grazing to 1-2 hours/day for the first few days.
- Increase crop in 15-20% increments every 2 days over 10-14 days.
- Feed no more than 35% brassica in the diet to avoid milk taint.
- Proper planning ensures livestock stay healthy and productive through summer.

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.

24/11/2025

With crops now emerging, early crop monitoring is essential to protect yield potential. Pests and w**ds can cause significant damage from the moment seed hits the soil.

Key Monitoring Tips:
- Monitor crops regularly after sowing for signs of insect or w**d pressure.
- Apply herbicides and insecticides as needed to manage early threats.
- Count plants post-emergence to confirm establishment targets.

Watch for greasy cutworms as they can devastate healthy crops overnight. If you see freshly cut leaves or even one cutworm, act immediately.

Slug Pressure?
- Direct-drilled paddocks are particularly susceptible.
- Slugs thrive in seedbeds with thatch and can move quickly through drill rows.
- Apply slug bait at sowing, especially in high-risk paddocks.
- Use a wet sacks overnight to monitor slug activity and rebait if needed.

W**d Control
Spray at the ideal growth stage when the canopy is still open for effective herbicide contact.
W**ds can host pests and diseases, so early control is critical.

If you need support? Contact your local agronomist or field rep for tailored advice.

📸 Fantastic emergence of pelletised Cleancrop™ Toto turnips in the Waikato.

17/11/2025

We sell the seed that grows the feed that feeds the animals that feed the world.

It’s as simple as that.

15/11/2025

Overwhelmed by ryegrass choices? Need feed that holds quality into the back end of spring? Supalate™ is your shortcut.

PGG Wrightson Seeds’ new category Supalate™ highlights perennial and hybrid ryegrasses that have a very late (+22 to +35 days) or extremely late (+ 36 days) heading dates. The latest cultivars to earn the Supalate™ status are:

- Palliser (tetraploid long rotation +25 days)
- Accrue (diploid perennial +22 days)
- and Vast (tetraploid perennial +36 days)

Exemplified in the image is Vast, where low AMH occurred, delivering a short, sharp peak of seed head followed by rapid return to leafy growth.

Supalate™ cultivars shift the feed curve: they compress the seeding window, reduce aftermath heading and allow plants to return to a vegetative state sooner. Reducing the need for mowing and grazing to remove seed-head.

To find out more about Supalate™ ryegrasses or more about the overall PGG Wrightson Seeds Programmed Approach®, click the link. https://f.mtr.cool/ypywyfyxiy

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.

10/11/2025

Join Maggie, our Upper North Island Forage Agronomist, at the Pencarrow trial site as she shares what’s happening on the ground and how it’s helping deliver better pasture outcomes for farmers.

04/11/2025

For years, we’ve recommended precision sowing with our Ultrastrike® pelleted swede seed, as the combination of Ultrastrike® seed treatment and uniform placement has proven to deliver strong establishment and maximise bulb yields.

Ultrastrike® pelleted swede seed is available in:
• Cleancrop™ Aspiring
• Cleancrop™ Hawkestone
• Clutha Gold
• Earnslaw

We have a few tips for establishing your seed:
• Address any fertility issues identified by a soil test. Ideally, this is done in autumn to allow time to adjust soil pH.
• If the soil is compacted, consider subsoiling.
• Ensure a thorough spray out. Leave the vegetation to die down, then plough and work the soil into a fine, firm seedbed before precision sowing. Remember to apply starter fertiliser and trace elements such as boron.
• If using Cleancrop™ Aspiring or Hawkstone, apply the Telar™ within 48 hours of planting.
• Monitor paddocks for crop emergence to make sure there are no bugs eating seedlings. Remember, every seedling counts!

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.

27/10/2025

PGG Wrightson Seeds Kimihia Research Centre traces its origins back to 1841.

Spanning 250 hectares based on the edge of Lincoln township, Kimihia hosts a diverse range of activities, including plant breeding, product development, animal nutrition trials, extension services, seed production, and novel crop research, to name a few.

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.

25/10/2025

Not all farm systems or circumstances are the same, but we know that sharing knowledge can make a difference.

Prone to summer dryness? Hamish Marshall, PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative, has recommended Pallaton Raphno® for several farm systems through his own drought experience in the upper South Island. Hamish cites its water use efficiency, reduced need for aphicides, and flexibility of grazing as saving many farmers from selling stock over the summer months.

While forage r**e is commonly used to manage summer dry conditions, many of Hamish’s clients noticed a clear advantage with Pallaton Raphno®. Bred from a unique cross between kale and radish, Pallaton Raphno® combines the best traits of both species particularly tolerance to dry conditions. Trials conducted at Ashley Dene in Canterbury observed a 38% increase in water-use efficiency with Raphno® compared to Goliath forage r**e.

Across the country, damage from brassica pests such as aphids can occur. However, Hamish’s clients observed that aphids aren't as prolific with Pallaton Raphno®, which is recognised for its tolerance to aphids.

As a multiple-graze forage brassica, Raphno® adds flexibility to grazing systems, supporting both store stock finishing and replacement rearing. Hamish saw it used under both set stocking and rotational grazing, with rotational systems generally delivering better results by maximising crop growth and animal performance. Success relied on correct stocking rates and following best practice guidelines as part of Hamish’s recommendations.

Click the link to read the full article in the Rural Diary: https://f.mtr.cool/ukpkjaypqq

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.

18/10/2025

8 Tips for Establishing New Spring Pasture

1. Species selection: Choose the right pasture product for your situation. Consider your ryegrass endophyte options or alternatives like tall fescue or cocksfoot.

2. Don’t forget legumes! 🍀 These powerhouses of pasture can contribute 20–30 kg of nitrogen per hectare per tonne of clover grown. Amigain red clover and Quartz white clover are great options.

3. Soil preparation 🌿: A w**d-free, well-prepared seedbed is key. Ensure good seed-to-soil contact.

4. Superstrike® seed treatment: Crucial for direct drilling, this gives a better chance of success.

5. Soil temperature 🌡️: Aim for 10°C and rising for fast germination and emergence. This helps pasture compete with w**ds.

6. Sowing depth 📏: For clovers, aim for 5-10mm. If it is sown too deep, it leads to poor emergence.

7. Monitor, monitor, monitor 🔎: Keep an eye out for w**ds and pests during establishment.

8. Grazing tips 🐄🐑: Do a pull test. If plants are anchored and do not pull out, it’s ready for a light graze. Don’t delay too long or legumes may be shaded out.

For more specific advice on your situation, contact your field representative.

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.

13/10/2025

From the Canterbury plains to the rolling hills of the Waikato is where you’ll find Greig Cousins refining his craft. With 15 years of experience, Greig has fine-tuned some of the best chicory lines in New Zealand. He’s put them through their paces to see which have the persistence to thrive in New Zealand’s unique conditions.

Only when a selection has proven its production, palatability, perenniality, and persistence does Greig give it the green light for farms.

When Greig is not breeding the best lines in chicory, he’s casting the finest lines in rivers – an expert fly fisherman who’s always hooked on the perfect catch.

His latest achievement, Sika chicory, is setting the standard across the country, tasty enough for finishing lambs or fuelling dairy herds, showing that even in tough seasons, Greig is casting perfection, one line at a time.

Discover how Sika chicory can boost your pasture growth and persistence. Find out more here: https://f.mtr.cool/zviarlevdt

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.