Pasture perfect
It’s official – the pasture in Gordonton is award winning. Dairy farmers Wayne and Raewyn Reynolds’s Woodlands Rd pasture has just been judged the best in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty.
The farm was entered into the Pasture Renewal Persistence Competition, run by the DairyNZ-led Pasture Renewal Leadership Group which includes researchers, the seed industry, farmers and agricultural contractors.
“All the finalists showed excellent pasture management skills across the board and had an eye for detail when it came to grazing management, endophyte selection, weed control, and nitrogen usage,” says one of the judges, DairyNZ’s Chris Glassey.
The Reynoldses won the best pasture sown more than three years ago category. Cambridge farmer Andrew Myers scooped the category for best first-year pasture.
Also from DairyNZ, fellow judge Errol Thom said the Reynolds’ exceptional record keeping made them stand out.
“Each paddock’s pasture production and condition was carefully monitored through weekly farm walks and this information was used to draft a plan that prioritises the paddocks for renewal,” says Errol. “Regrassing decisions are based on where ryegrass persistence is poor and not just on pasture production.”
The winners each receive $1000 of pasture renewal products, including seed from Agriseeds and Agricom, and herbicide from Gavin Grain.
Number8Network, which is based on Woodlands Rd, hopes to catch up next week with Wayne and Raewyn to find out their secrets.
