50th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL - Naracoorte Seeds

50th AnniversAry speciAl

ALL WEATHER SLUG AND SNAIL BAIT 

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pastures 

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The most attractive, rainfast and effective 

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Smooth, free flowing pellets allow 

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agnova.com.au 

5-7 Alexander Avenue, Naracoorte I Phone 08 8762 1944 I Fax 08 8762 2639 I Email sasm@rbm.com.au 

METAD1211

Introduction 

Welcome to the second installment of our pasture guide. Volume 1 saw over 2000 copies distributed 

throughout the region. With cropping proving to be somewhat unreliable at the moment there are large 

areas being re-pastured to capitilise on the strong stock prices and Australian farmers are once again 

riding on the “Sheeps Back”. Volume 2 showcases the latest pasture varieties on offer as well as many 

tips and basic pasture establishment principels to ensure you get the right result first time when sowing 

your new pasture. 

We aim to take the guesswork out of pasture seed selections and try at all times to “Keep Seed Simple” 

Jamie Tidy - auThor 

5-7 Alexander Avenue, Naracoorte I Phone 08 8762 1944 I Fax 08 8762 2639 I Email sasm@rbm.com.au 3

4 

Reflections 

Naracoorte Seeds was founded in 1962 by John Clarkson (dec). The purpose of the business was to 

clean and sell seed for local seed producers, predominantly Phalaris, Cocksfoot, Fescue, Strawberry 

Clover, Shaftal and Sub Clover. 

In 1980, after 14 years with Wright Stephenson & Co., (now P.G.G Wrightson Seeds) Bob and Gini 

Tidy purchased Naracoorte Seeds. Around this time Centre Pivot Irrigators were introduced which 

significantly increased the amount of seed produced in the area. SA Seed Marketers was established to 

Promote, Export and Trade seed around Australia and Internationally. 

In 1990 Gambier Seeds was established in Mt Gambier as an outlet to supply seed to farmers and 

merchandise outlets in the lower SE of SA and Western Vic. With Plant Variety Rights/PVR being 

introduced into Australia in the late 80’s many new varieties have been introduced to the market place. 

Naracoorte Seeds prides itself in assisting farmers in selecting varieties of seed which best suits their 

needs from the large number of varieties promoted by seed companies. 

Having spent 44 years in the seed industry and 40 years in the South East of South Australia I feel 

qualified to say that the Company motto of “Keeping Seed Simple” and value for money is the formula 

that works for the clients we share a relationship with. 

This year Naracoorte Seeds celebrates being in business for 50 years. I am proud to say Naracoorte 

Seeds/SA Seed Marketers is today one of the largest private Seed Companies in the Australian Seed 

Industry. 

Having now retired and passed the Company on to Jamie and Peta, I am confident that Naracoorte 

Seeds will continue to prosper and grow and service the ever changing needs of the Seed Industry. 

Bob Tidy 

managing director 1980 - 2010 

All information in this publication is current as of February 2012 

5-7 Alexander Avenue, Naracoorte I Phone 08 8762 1944 I Fax 08 8762 2639 I Email sasm@rbm.com.au

Contents 

1. Introduction 

2. Reflections - Bob Tidy 

3. Contents 

4. Naracoorte Seeds Introduction 

5. Staff Introduction 

6. Commercial Partners 

7. Sowing Pasture, Soil Fertility, Weed Control 

8. Paddock Preparation, Sowing 

9. Insect Control, Inoculation, Grazing Management 

10. 2011 Star Performers 

11. Naracoorte Seeds Mixes - Alkaline Flats, Redgum, Perennial Rye 

12. Naracoorte Seeds Mixes – Sand Over Clay Flats, Irrigation 

13. Naracoorte Seeds Mixes – Irrigation 

14. Naracoorte Seeds Mixes – Sandy Soils 

15. Naracoorte Seeds Winter Mix 

16. Pasture Seed Particulars 

17. Ryegrass Heading Dates 

18. Endophyte Rundown 

19. Tetraploid versus Diploid 

20. Annual Ryegrass 

21. Short Term Ryegrass 

22. Tall Fescue 

23. Phalaris 

24. Cocksfoot 

25. Subterranean Clover 

26. White Clover 

27. Annual Clovers 

28. Lucerne 

30. Medics 

31. Perennial Herbs 

32. Summer Fodder Crops 

33. Tips for Successful Summer Fodder Crops 

34. Summer Fodder Summary Table 

35. Forage Cereal Crops 

36. Contractors Contact Sheet 

• Seeding • Spraying 

• Fertilising • Hay/Silage 


6 

Naracoorte Seeds 

Naracoorte Seeds was established in 1962 as an outlet for Pasture Seed & Grain and remains one of the 

few independent, privately owned Seed Companies operating in Australia. 

Naracoorte Seeds is the leading stockist and supplier of Public and Private Varieties of seed for use in 

the South East of South Australia and Western Victoria. Naracoorte Seeds supervises contract seed 

production and multiplication in conjunction with several companies who own proprietary varieties, 

using experienced and reliable growers with a proven track record. Naracoorte Seeds has been 

importing pasture and turf seed for 20 years, bringing seed from both the United States of America and 

New Zealand.’ 

Gambier Seeds 

Gambier Seeds was established in 1989 to service the needs of the Lower South East of South Australia 

and the Western District of Victoria. Gambier Seeds stocks many varieties of seed and grain to enable 

clients to have custom mixes made up for individual paddock requirements. Irrigated dairy mixtures 

are our specialty. 

SA Seed Marketers 

SA Seed Marketers was established in 1988 to operate as the trading and export arm of the company. 

SA Seed Marketers is the largest supplier of Public Varieties to the wholesale trade throughout Australia. 

SA Seed Marketers is one of the largest suppliers of Public Pasture Seed Varieties to the export market. 

There has been large growth in export trade in recent years with sales to America, Canada, Argentina 

and Europe being our main destinations. 


Our People 

Jamie Tidy – grew up around seed and has been a welcome addition to the family business since 

2003. Jamie is the seed production manager and has specialises in finding pasture seed solutions for 

farmers and giving recommendations for pasture mixes for all soil types and farming operations. Jamie 

is looking to build long term relationships with clients to service their seed needs and to give them 

the competitive edge and helping them to grow their business. Jamie recently became the owner of 

Naracoorte Seeds and is looking forward to a long future in the seed industry in the South East of South 

Australia and Western Victoria. 

Joshua rasheed – is the newest member of the team and we welcome Josh and his family to the 

Naracoorte area. Josh possesses excellent people skills and is very community orientated and is looking 

forward to a future in the seed industry. 

mark Williams – is the Naracoorte Seeds logistics/export and office manager and has been with our 

company for 30 years. He has an excellent all round knowledge of the industry. His export documentation 

skills are exemplary and he is a valuable asset to the company. 

Clint Gibbs – is head storeman and farm manager and is responsible for overseeing mixing, packaging 

and dispatch as well as running the farm. Clint has a keen eye for detail and will ensure your seed arrives 

intact, on time, every time! 

Carol Lampard – has been looking after accounts at Naracoorte Seed for 20 years and ensures a stress 

free transaction every time 

Brenton Bruhn – manages Gambier Seeds and has done since 1999. Brenton specialises in irrigated and 

dryland pastures, maximising production for the growers he works with. Gambier Seeds has been in 

operation for nearly 20 years and offers a no fuss, stress free service to meet the needs of the producers 

in the Lower South East and Western Victoria. 


8 

Public Pasture Seeds 

Being positioned in the largest and most reliable pasture seed production area in Australia gives us the 

competitive edge by being able to purchase seeds direct from the grower. By choosing to work with 

Naracoorte Seeds our clients can be sure of: 

• Continuity of Supply 

• Ongoing Quality 

• Access to Market Intelligence 

• Excellent range of Temperate 

Pasture Species 

• Prompt delivery 

Proprietary Varieties 

As a family owned independent business, Naracoorte Seeds has access to seed from all the major seed 

companies. We test new varieties to see if they can perform in the very diverse regions of the South 

East. Only when we are convinced the variety has the ability to perform, do we get behind it. We take 

the guesswork out of pasture seed selection. 

Key Seed Partners 

heritage Seeds www.heritageseeds.com.au 

PGG/Wrightson Seeds www.wrightson.net.au 

Seed distributors www.seeddistributors.com.au 

Seedmark www.seedmark.com.au 

upper murray Seeds www.uppermurrayseeds.com.au 

Seedforce www.seedforce.com.au 

Cropmark www.cropmark.com.au 

Pacific Seeds www.pacificseeds.com 

Valley Seeds www.valleyseeds.com 

Vic Seed www.vicseeds.com.au 

Park Seeds www.parkseeds.com.au 

aBB Seeds www.abb.com.au 

Nuseed www.nuseed.com.au 

LaChie & PeTer SeearS 

BooNderoo PaST Co 


What is the Best Way to Sow my Pasture? 

There have been some significant improvements in sowing technology over the past few years. DBS 

Machines, Renovator Machines, Press Wheels and Liquid Injection systems have all come onto the scene 

and have the potential to significantly increase your chances of successful pasture seed establishment. 

There are however some basic principles which still apply in regard to pasture renovation - 

• Soil Fertility 

• Weed Control 

• Paddock Preparation 

• Sowing 

• Legume Inoculation 

• Insect Control 

• Grazing Management 

Soil Fertility & Nutrition 

The South East Area of South Australia is a totally unique area due to its vastly different soil types and 

seasonal conditions. The soils can range from acid, sandy soils with high aluminium content, through 

to heavy black alkaline soils that are prone to water logging. Before you choose to take on a renovation 

project, a soil test should be taken to correct any deficiencies or excesses prior to sowing. Lime or 

Gypsum and a host of trace elements may be necessary and it is best to know exactly what you are 

dealing with. A soil test will give you an accurate gauge of the state of your soil and will get you off to 

the best start. 

Weed Control 

Successful pasture renovators will be thinking about which paddocks they tackle in the year prior to 

sowing a permanent pasture. This process will give you the jump on problem weeds and annual grass 

species which can threaten the success of your new pasture. Ideally, if you can start working on reducing 

the bank of weed seeds in the soil in the year prior, your chances of successful pasture establishment 

will be greatly increased. Some of the following strategies can been used – 

• annual hay/Silage crops - will grow aggressively through the winter and spring months to give 

annual weeds competition. By cutting hay/silage you stop the annual grasses and weeds from 

setting seed and drastically reduce the weed seed bank in the ground. 

• Spray Topping - has been used very successfully and is a cost effective method. Roundup, 

Gramoxone and Sprayseed are popular for this task but you should consult your local agronomist 

for rates and the latest information regarding spray topping techniques. 


10 

• Spring/Summer Fodder Crops - are gaining in popularity because they produce large volumes 

of inexpensive feed and with the increased incidence of summer rain, growers are seeing some 

excellent value for money. For fodder crops the paddock preparation is done in spring. In 

autumn after a final grazing, spray and direct drill the permanent pasture. 

• Spray Grazing - are gaining in popularity because they produce large volumes of inexpensive 

feed and with the increased incidence of summer rain, growers are seeing some excellent value 

for money. For fodder crops the paddock preparation is done in spring. In autumn after a final 

grazing, spray and direct drill the permanent pasture. 

• Cash Cropping - sowing a cash crop of Wheat/Oats/Barley/Canola or Lupins can also be an easy 

and effective way to prepare a paddock. 

A combination of one or more of the above methods can greatly increase your chances of successful 

establishment as well as giving you the flexibility of not taking a paddock completely out of production 

for long periods. 

Paddock Preparation 

Paddock preparation is still the most important aspect of a 

successful pasture renovation program. You will greatly increase 

your chances of success by sowing into a well prepared, weed 

free seed bed. The amount of weed seeds in the soil can vary 

from 2000 – 60000 seeds per/sq metre so significantly reducing 

the burden in the ground is definitely in your best interests. 

Sowing 

WeLL PrePared Seed Bed 

There are some excellent seeding machines on the market which give excellent results, but you still need 

to follow some basic rules. Ensure you don’t sow the seeds too deep or shallow or you will risk a very 

poor establishment by way of uneven germination. Ideally your new pasture should be sown between 

1 – 2cm. Rolling the paddock or using press wheels will ensure good seed soil contact, ensuring a more 

rapid and even germination. Rolling a paddock prior to seeding can be a good method of ensuring a 

firm seed bed and this can also aid in maintaining a constant sowing depth. 


Legume Inoculation 

Inoculation is the introduction of specific microorganisms to the soil. Typically, the microorganisms are 

a specific strain of bacteria (Rhizobium) that enable the legume plant to fix nitrogen in the soil in a form 

that can be accessed by legumes and other plants. The specific Rhizobium is often not present in the soil 

in sufficient numbers to be effective in nodulating the roots of the specific legume. By using the correct 

strain, specific to the legume, inoculation ensures an adequate supply of nitrogen to the seedling after 

the soil nitrogen reserves are exhausted. Naracoorte Seeds uses a peat based inoculant application 

system and independent tests conducted by ALIRU (Australian Legume Inoculants Research Unit) have 

found our rhizobium levels to be amongst the highest within the Seed Industry. 

Insect Control 

Insects such as Red Legged Earth Mite can decimate a new pasture if not monitored and controlled 

carefully. Earth Mite will always attack from the outer edge making their way into the paddock, so 

regularly checking fence lines and getting on your hands and knees to look for evidence is the best advice. 

Timerite is a very successful method of monitoring for the pest and is well worth further investigation. 

Check www.timerite.com.au for more information. 

Always Remember 

“The cost of seed is generally a fairly small proportion of the total cost of re-sowing a pasture, when 

you take into account costs such as fuel, fertiliser, etc. It is very important not to jeopardise this very 

important project by skimping on sowing rates. If you start off with a poor pasture, you will always 

have a poor pasture. If the cost of the project is of major concern to you then you should look at doing 

a smaller area well, rather than a larger area poorly. “ 

Grazing Management 

Sourced from 

Grazing your new pasture for the first time is an important exercise: graze too early and you risk pulling 

the plant out of the ground, graze too late and the clovers may not be able to compete. A simple pluck 

test is a good way to ensure your plant is firmly rooted and will not pull out of the ground on first 

grazing. A light grazing will encourage the plants to tiller and allow the clovers to compete. 

Any form of rotational grazing is preferable to set stocking. Most improved pastures will struggle to 

persist with the constant pressure of set stocking. If you can tailor a rotational grazing system on your 

property you will find the plants will recover faster, produce more feed of better quality and persist for 

longer. 


12 

Star Performers 2011 Season 

BarBeria ryeGraSS - Barberia is an early flowering diploid perennial 

ryegrass. Barberia should be sown from 10 - 15kg/ha with clovers and is 

showing excellent persistence over the last 3 seasons. Barberia shows 

excellent early growth and maintain quality through spring. Barberia is very 

responsive to summer rainfall and being staggers free ensures you don’t 

suffer any stock health issues. 

aTomiC ryeGraSS - Atomic is a late maturing Tetraploid annual ryegrass. 

Atomic is a prolific feed producer through winter/spring and early summer 

if moisture is available. Atomic will set seed and regenerate reliably if 

allowed. Atomic is characterized by very wide leaves very dark lush green 

colour. 

LuCerNe - With new winter active varieties and increased summer rain events Lucerne is very hard to 

beat. Extending the season to finish livestock, hay & silage production not to mention every tonne of dry 

matter removed Lucerne will fix 50kgs of available nitrogen into your soil. If you have not incorporated 

some lucerne into your pasture system you are missing out. Lucerne is a fantastic plant and if you can 

grow Lucerne you should!!!! 


Naracoorte Seeds Specialty Mixes 

Alkaline Flats Blend 

VarieTy PerCeNTaGe 

Summer Active Fescue 20% 

Winter Active Fescue 20% 

Phalaris 10% 

Cocksfoot 5% 

Medic 15% 

Sub Clover 20% 

Persian Clover 5% 

Strawberry Clover 5% 

Sow @ 12 - 15kg/ha 

Redgum / Sandy Loam 

Perennial Persistence Blend 




Phalaris 15% 

Cocksfoot 5% 

Sub Clover - Mid 25% 

Sub Clover - Late 25% 

Sow @ 15 - 20kg/ha 

Perennial Ryegrass 

Sandy / Clay Loam Blend 


Perennial Ryegrass 55% 



Sow @ 15 - 20kg/ha 

Alkaline Flats vary in pH from 7 – 9. These areas 

tend to get heavy and waterlogged during the winter 

months. Soils range in colour from black to dark 

grey loams. Once established, Fescues and Phalaris 

can tolerate long periods of inundation and this 

makes them the ideal choice for soils of this type. 

For best results sow solid rates of grasses in year 

one with sub clover and broadcast annual Balansa 

and Persian clovers in the second year as they have 

a tendency to out compete perennial grasses during 

the establishment phase. This is a very productive 

and persistent mix once established. 

A good indication this mix will persist is in areas 

where Redgum trees are in abundance. This mix 

will provide strong growth in a dryland environment 

over a long period of time. If you are unhappy with 

clover content, you can broadcast more clovers with 

super in the following Autumn. 

Some of the new generation perennial ryegrass 

varieties are showing some reasonable persistence 

over a 3-5 year period. If nursed over the summer 

months, perennial rye will show excellent early 

season growth as well as summer production if 

moisture is available. However strict management 

practices apply. Ask about varieties if ryegrass is 

your preference. 


14 


Sand Over Clay Flats 


Phalaris 15% 



Cocksfoot 10% 



Balansa 5% 

Strawberry Clover 

Sow @ 15 - 20kg/ha 

5% 

hereFordS GraziNG our 

“SaNd oVer CLay FLaTS” BLeNd 

Sandy/Clay flats are very productive soils and if managed properly can support high stocking rates. 

Phalaris and Cocksfoot are both proven performers and will thrive in these conditions. To see the best 

from your pasture some form of rotational grazing should be applied. However this mix will tolerate set 

stocking. Graze lightly in the first year and remove stock once sub clover commences flowering. 

Irrigated Finishing Blend 

Sheep / Beef / Dairy 


Perennial Ryegrass 80% 

White Clover 20% 

Sow @ 25 - 30kg/ha 

Short Rotation 2-3 Irrigation 

Beef / Sheep / Dairy Blend 


Ryegrass 80% 

White Clover 15% 

Chicory 5% 

Sow @ 25 - 30kg/ha 

This mix is for sheep/beef and dairy producers. The 

ryegrass varieties selected will thrive in all seasons 

producing dense, palatable persistent forage. 

We select ryegrass cultivars that can be grazed 

safely without the fear of losing stock to ryegrass 

staggers. The White Clovers, once established, will 

give winter feed and then thrive under summer 

irrigated conditions. 

The ryegrass used in our short rotation blend 

will last from 2-3 years depending on grazing 

management and summer irrigation scheduling. 

This mix will provide a high quality, high production 

pasture perfect for any finishing application. This 

mix can also be used for semi-permanent hay/ 

silage production. 



Dryland / Irrigation Fast 

Summer Forage Blend 


Hybrid Forage Brassica 50% 

Millet 50% 

Sow @ 8 - 10kg/ha 

BruCe Creek & maLCoLm “mooSe” WiLSoN oF hiLLCreST PaSToraL Co, STaNdiNG iN a WiNFred & miLLeT Summer 

ForaGe CroP. SoWN LaTe deCemBer, ThiS CroP aT iTS Peak SuPPorTiNG 3000dSe ComForTaBLy!!! 

aPProximaTeLy 

5FT hiGh 

This mix has a proven track record within the local 

region for reliable summer production under all 

conditions. Brassica gives the quality and the Millet 

adds much needed roughage so stock can be grazed 

without the stress of nitrate poisoning. Introduce 

stock gradually over a few days and ensure stock 

have access to clean fresh water. This mix is 

affordable and will not disappoint!! 


16 


Sandy Soils Persistence Blends 


Lucerne 45% 

Cocksfoot 15% 

Phalaris 15% 

Sub Clover 25% 

Sow @ 12 - 15kg/ha 

Sandy Soils are generally acid by nature with limited moisture and fertility. Lucerne based pasture, 

established with Phalaris and Cocksfoot, will give this soil some serious production potential. Clay 

spreading has made a huge difference to these soil types by giving them the ability to retain moisture. 

Lower crowned Lucerne varieties will enable the Lucerne to persist over a long period of time. Broadcast 

more Sub Clover in future years if unhappy with clover content after Lucerne has established. 

CraiG BreWiN From “maraNoa doWNS” 

iN a maGNiFiCeNT examPLe oF a LuCerNe & mixed GraSS PaSTure WiTh CLoVerS!!! 


Wintermix, Quality Hay/ 

Silage & Grazing 

Naracoorte Seeds Wintermix has been developed over the past few seasons with an 

emphasis on reliable production and regrowth after hay/silage or constant grazing. Over the 

last few seasons, our spring rainfall has been unreliable, so mixing different varieties ensures 

maximum production. We have also added Shaftal Persian Clover and Berseem Clover to 

ensure quality legume components. Shaftal is an excellent winter/spring performer and 

Berseem is an erect winter growing type which will give hay and silage producers excellent 

regrowth. This mix is broadly adapted to many areas and will not disappoint. 

Naracoorte Seeds - Wintermix 

Quality, Hay/Silage & Grazing 


Annual Ryegrass 60% 

Persian Clover 15% 

Berseem Clover 15% 

Arrowleaf Clover 10% 

Sow @ 20 – 30kg/ha 

For best results... 

1) Sow at 15-20kg/ha for Dryland and 25-30kg/ha 

for irrigated situations. 

2) Ensure adequate seed bed preparation or use 

suitable drilling methods, (DBS, Renovator, etc). 

3) Ensure annual weeds are under control, 

(barley grass, silver grass, etc). 

4) Apply fertiliser at sowing. 

5) Monitor for pests during establishment (Red 

Legged Earth Mite). 

6) Graze early to encourage tillering, (3 leaf stage) 

– this will allow clovers to flourish. 

7) If Hay or Silage are required, fertilise and shut 

up the paddock approximately 6-8 weeks prior 

to cutting. 


18 

Pasture Seed Particulars 

GraSSeS 

Species 

Approximate 

Seeds/Kilogram 

Seeds/Square 

Metre 

iF SoWN aT 1kg/ha 

Average 

Sowing Rate 

iN moST mixTureS 

Ryegrass - Diploid 500,000 50 15 - 25 

Ryegrass - Tetraploid 255,000 26 20 - 30 

Cocksfoot 1,000,000 100 1 - 3 

Fescue 400,000 40 10 - 25 

Phalaris 500,000 50 1 - 6 

LeGumeS 

White Clover 1,400,000 140 3 - 5 

Sub Clover 150,000 15 5 - 10 

Lucerne 500,000 50 8 - 25 

Vetch 85,000 9 20 - 30 

herBS 

Chicory 830,000 85 0.5 - 1 

Plantain 500,000 50 1 - 2 

SuB CLoVer SeedS are LoCaTed 

WiThiN TheSe BurrS uNderNeaTh The SoiL!! 


Perennial Ryegrass 

Perennial Ryegrass has been one of the main grass components in sheep/beef and dairy systems throughout 

the southern agricultural region. Due to the fact the vast majority of Perennial Ryegrass Germplasm 

comes from European and New Zealand varieties we have struggled to get long term persistence from 

perennial ryegrass in our climate, unless irrigation is available. The major breakthroughs with Perennial 

Ryegrass has come with a commitment from proprietary companies sourcing Germplasm from more arid 

regions, (ie North Africa, Spain, Morocco) which may have a better fit with our cold wet winters and long 

dry summers. The heat tolerance and persistence capabilities of these new varieties have made a ryegrass 

dryland pasture in the southern region a real and viable proposition. There are also a few Australian 

Breeding houses who have continued to produce quality Australian ryegrass cultivars which handle our 

summer conditions. Naracoorte Seeds is committed to using varieties best suited to our region. 

Variety Endophyte 

Status 

Heading 

Dates 

Attributes 

earLy 

Barberia Nil -20 

Fast Establishing, grows like an annual and persists 

like a perennial; excellent heat tolerance, warm season 

germplasm. 

Boomer Nil -17 

Very high winter production, reasonable persistence in 

marginal areas. Good clover companion. 

Victorian High (Graze Carefully) -8 Proven performer, reliable production, value for money. 

Camel Nil -8 

Very tough variety, Step up from Vic without the staggers 

issues. 

Up to 130% more root developmet than other varieties. 

Roper Nil -8 Good option in tough marginal areas on the fringe of 

ryegrass production. 

Specialist Dryland variety, selection from Vic Perennial 

Drylander High (Graze Carefully) -8 Rye, 

Winter/Spring production, value for money. 

Bolton 

mid 

High (Graze Carefully) -3 

Vic Rye selection, excellent persistence in marginal areas, 

good all round production. 

Nui High (Graze Carefully) 0 

Older variety, offers value for money but has been 

outclassed. 

Extreme AR1 (Staggers Free) 0 Winter/Spring producer, holds quality later into season. 

Alto AR5 (Staggers Free) +14 

Winter, Spring & Summer Producer, Suited to irrigation or 

high Rainfall, erect growth habit. 

Platinum 

LaTe 

Low +19 

High quality option for late country or where irrigation is 

available. 

Banquet 2 AR5 (Staggers Free) +21 

Excellent all round option for dryland or irrigation, shown 

excellent persistence & production. 

One 50 AR1 (Staggers Free) +21 

Diploid variety, good summer production, value for 

money. 

Impact AR1 (Staggers Free) +21 

Older Variety, still a favourite among dairy circles, reliable 

producer. 

Impact 2 NEA2 (Staggers Free) +16 

Improvement on original impact, still a favourite among 

dairy circles, reliable producer. High tiller density. 

Bealey NEA2 (Staggers Free) +25 

Lush, dark green colour, excellent all-round production, 

will respond to summer rain. 


20 

Quick Rundown on Endophyte 

Endophyte is a fungus which occurs naturally in many grasses. Endophyte is carried in the seed of 

grasses and will not pass from one plant to another. The endophyte within a plant produces chemicals 

called alkaloids and these alkaloids can have negative effects on stock health. However, the alkaloids 

also give the plant special traits such as: 

• Drought tolerance 

• A measure of pest and disease resistance 

• Maximising plant persistence 

• Increasing plant production and growth rates 

The alkaloids produced in the plant by the endophyte include - 

• Peramine (Deters insect pests) 

• Lolitrem B (Causes Ryegrass staggers) 

• Ergovaline (Limits blood flow and causes poor animal production) 

The following Table is a summary of the types of alkaloids produced by the endophyte for quick reference 

to give you a guide as to what you currently have in your pastures as well as what may suit your 

purposes in the future. 

eNdoPhyTe PeramiNe LoLiTrem B erGoVaLiNe examPLe 

Nil Nil Nil Nil Barberia 

Wild Type High High High Vic Rye 

AR1 High Nil Nil Extreme 

AR5 High Nil Low - Medium Banquet 2 

AR6 High Nil Low - Medium 

AR37 Extreme AR37 

NEA2 Low - Medium Low Low Bealey 

Contact us at Naracoorte Seeds to discuss your endophyte options and requirements. 


Which to Sow - Tetraploid or Diploid? 

By the natural order of nature, ryegrass is referred to as a diploid. By introducing the chemical compound 

colchicines, plant breeders have found they can double the number of chromosomes that occur naturally 

from 14 to 28. The result of this process creates a new breed of ryegrass called Tetraploids. These 

Tetraploid ryegrass are generally darker in colour and carry much higher water content. These new 

characteristics are generally associated with increased palatability and in some cases have been linked 

with greater animal performance. 

Tetraploids are generally considered to be suited to conditions of - 

• Higher fertility 

• Moist or irrigated conditions 

• Relaxed grazing management (leaving a residual after grazing 5 - 7cm) 

• Grazing rotations of between 21 - 30 days approximately 

• Ideal sowing rate between 20 - 30kg/ha 

• Approximately 250,000 seeds per kilogram 

diploids are generally considered to be suited to conditions of - 

• Lower fertility 

• Drier, unpredictable seasonal conditions 

• Shorter Grazing Intervals of 14 - 25 days 

• Closer grazing (Leave a residual of 2 - 5cm) 

• Recommended Sowing Rate of 10 - 20kg/ha 

• Approximately 500,000 seeds per kilogram 

As a rule of thumb, in the South East Region, Diploid varieties have been the preferred option for top 

quality hay mixes. They are finer in the stem and usually dry quicker. They are more erect growing, 

tend not to out compete their clover companions and give higher quality hay as a result. 

aNdreW CaViLL 

kiLaNooLa dairy 


22 

Annual Ryegrass 

Annual Ryegrass is the backbone of many hay/silage and grazing mixes across the South East. Annual 

Ryegrass offers fast, affordable, palatable forage with multiple grazings available from many of the 

new varieties. Maturity ranges from very early to very late so there is definitely a variety available to 

suit your needs. Locally, Annual mixes are used for Hay/Silage and grazing. However there are more 

and more astute renovators who use their annual mix as a valuable clean up tool for eradicating the 

annual weed seed bank from the soil profile. By utilizing this method you not only gain excellent animal 

production and fill the hay shed but by making hay and silage you are also taking away the problem 

annual grasses (silvergrass & barleygrass, etc) , ability to set seed and significantly reduce the weed 

seed bank. This will greatly increase your chances of a successful permanent pasture establishment in 

the following autumn or winter. 

Variety 

diPLoidS 

Sowing 

Rate 

Regrowth 

Potential 

Wimmera 2 - 5 Poor Early 

Progrow 10 - 15 Good Mid 

Thunder 10 - 15 Good Mid 

Arnie 10 - 15 Excellent Late 

TeTraPLoidS 

Tetila 15 - 25 Poor Early 

Tetrone 15 - 25 Good Early/Mid 

Winterstar 2 15 - 25 Excellent Late 

Atomic 15 - 25 Excellent Late 

aTomiC ryeGraSS 

Very Wide LeaVeS, huGe ProduCTioN & WiNTer Feed!! 

Maturity Attributes 

Excellent regeneration in light sandy 

soils, shows some salt tolerance, good 

low rainfall option. 

Tolerates mild waterlogging, offers very 

palatable grazing & hay/silage option. 

Excellent winter grazing option, very 

strong spring growth. Wide leaf for a 

Tetraploid variety. 

Fast establishment, good tiller density 

& rust resistance. Excellent late season 

production. 

Very aggressive winter growth, 

excellent option where spring rain is 

unreliable, very reliable producer in all 

conditions. 

Excellent early vigour, reliable winter/ 

spring production, Tetila type, offers 

excellent value for money. 

Good winter production and hangs on 

well into late season whilst producing 

large volumes of seed, will continue to 

produce in summer if moisture permits. 

Australian bred for Australian 

conditions, good early vigour coupled 

with excellent late season production. 

Current local benchmark! Prolific 

reseeder, if allowed! 


Short Term Ryegrass 

These short lived varieties generally last from 2-3 years under irrigated conditions. In our harsh dryland 

summer situation, rarely do we see these varieties persist beyond the first year. Some growers have 

used these varieties as a long season annual to guarantee some later season production if spring rains 

are plentiful. 

Variety Sowing Rate Attributes 

diPLoidS 

Awesome 10 - 20 kg/ha 

Crusader 10 - 20 kg/ha 

Icon 10 - 20 kg/ha 

Eclipse 10 - 20 kg/ha 

Hulk 10 - 20 kg/ha 

TeTraPLoidS 

Feast 2 15 - 25 kg/ha 

Magnum 15 - 25 kg/ha 

Jeanne 15 - 25 kg/ha 

murray daViS - derGhoLm LamB ProduCer 

Late maturity, Australian bred with excellent early growth couple with reliable 

late season production. 

Excellent autumn/winter growth with excellent seedling vigor, has been the 

benchmark for short rotation production, diploid. 

Reliable 2 year option in higher rainfall areas. Very palatable for stock with 

strong late season production. 

Good winter active variety, has persisted for 2 years if seasons are kind and 

summer moisture is available, good rust resistance, diploid. 

Huge winter & spring production, excellent heat tolerance, 3 good years 

under irrigation, rapid regrowth after grazing, diploid. 

Excellent year round production, more suited to irrigation, tetraploid, very 

palatable option. 

Australian bred, rapid establishment, late flowering variety, improved 

summer quality, parentage is 75% Italian Rye & 25% Perennial Rye. 

Late maturity, excellent rust resistence. Higher sugar content, stock will 

selectivle graze. 


24 

Drought Tolerance & Persistence in the Southern Region 

The South Eastern Pasture area is considered marginal for perennial ryegrass long term persistence; due 

to our hot, dry summers. There have been some significant advances in ryegrass technology in recent 

times and there are some varieties which have shown a unique ability to persist under our conditions. 

If ryegrass does not persist in your area there are still many persistent and productive options available 

to you such as – 

• Tall Fescue 

• Cocksfoot 

• Phalaris 

• Lucerne 

Tall Fescue 

Tall fescue has the ability to not only survive, but to thrive in our tough conditions. Fescues have a much 

deeper root system than ryegrass and also possess heat tolerance properties. Demeter Fescue was the 

original cultivar used and we have moved on a long way in the years since Demeter was the variety 

of choice. All fescue varieties need to be managed carefully in order to get the balance right between 

maximum stock production and plant persistence. 

Variety Sowing Rate Leaf Type Attributes 

CoNTiNeNTaL Summer Active 

Demeter 6 - 10 kg/ha Very Course 

Dovey 6 - 10 kg/ha Course 

Quantum 6 - 10 kg/ha Medium 

Martin 2 6 - 10 kg/ha Medium 

Advance 6 - 25 kg/ha Soft 

Pastoral 6 - 25 kg/ha Medium 

mediTerraNeaN Winter Active/Summer Dormant 

Prosper 6 - 10 kg/ha Medium/Fine 

Very persistent, poor winter growth, has been 

replaced by more palatable varieties. 

Improved seedling vigour, needs to be managed 

to maintain palatability. 

Excellent winter activity, improved palatability, 

suited to a wide range of soils. 

Australian bred, good winter/spring production, 

improved Seedling Vigour. 

Bred for improved palatability, won’t tolerate 

over grazing, irrigated option. 

Australian bred for Australian conditions, early 

maturing. 

Erect growing variety, suited to most soil types. 

Is a true summer dormant type, which maximizes 

persistence. 

Origin 6 - 10 kg/ha Medium/Fine Excellent seedling vigor, Australian bred. 

Resolute 6 - 10 kg/ha Medium/Fine Very persistent, suited to most soil types. 


Phalaris 

Phalaris is arguably the most widely used and most persistent perennial grass on the market. Phalaris 

is a deep rooted, drought tolerant perennial that is suited to a wide range of soil types. There has 

been a swing away from Phalaris in recent years with the promise of higher carrying capacity and more 

production. However our recent run of harsh seasons has seen Phalaris shine, so it is set to continue 

to be the backbone of the sheep/beef zones throughout Australia. With low sowing rates required and 

over 500,000 seeds per kg, Phalaris continues to represent value for money for all livestock producers. 

Variety Sowing Rate Company Attributes 

Australian 1 - 6 kg/ha Naracoorte Seeds 

Sirosa 1 - 6 kg/ha Naracoorte Seeds 

Holdfast 1 - 6 kg/ha PlantTech 

Lawson 1 - 6 kg/ha Heritage Seeds 

Grazier 1 - 6 kg/ha Seed Distributors 

Atlas 1 - 6 kg/ha PlantTech 

Phalaris Sowing Tip 

Slow to establish, needs to be grazed hard to 

maximize palatability once established. 

Improved seedling vigour, lower alkaloids than 

Australian, suited to 400mm annual rainfall and 

above. Winter active. 

Bred for persistence, ideally should be rotationally 

grazed, excellent winter production, acid soil 

tolerance. 

Excellent winter activity, requires 500mm + annual 

rainfall to maximise production, prostrate growth 

habit, low alkaloids new release. 

Winter production, keep short to maximise 

palatability, can be set stocked, recent release. 

Extreme drought tolerance, handles long dry 

summers, 400mm rainfall regions. 

Holdfast GT 1 - 6 kg/ha PlantTech Improved winter activity & seedling vigor. 

Phalaris, like Fescues are very slow to establish so care must be taken to ensure it is sown into a well 

prepared weed free seed bed. Phalaris has the capability to survive droughts, whilst still producing large 

volumes of forage. Some astute pasture renovators have gone to the trouble of sowing very light rates 

of clover in year one and broadcasting more clovers in year 2 to ensure the maximum establishment 

of Phalaris. Some of the new seeding technology have made direct drilling Phalaris a real and viable 

prospect, when traditionally this was thought to be an irresponsible practice. 


26 

Cocksfoot 

Cocksfoot is a summer active perennial grass that is largely suited to free draining soils. Cocksfoot 

should be kept well grazed to maximize animal production and represents excellent value for money 

due to the large amount of seeds per kg and low sowing rates. Some of the more recent varieties offer 

more palatable production and a host of improved traits. Oxen is a new variety that has shown a unique 

ability to survive and thrive in heavy soils, where Cocksfoot had traditionally failed to find a fit. 


Currie 1 - 4 kg/ha 

Porto 1 - 4 kg/ha 

Oxen 1 - 4 kg/ha 

Vision 1 - 4 kg/ha 

Howlong 1 - 4 kg/ha 

Autumn/Winter/Spring productive, excellent drought tolerance, keep short to 

maintain palatability. 

Improved palatability but still needs to be managed. Tolerates acid soils, 

450+ annual rainfall, excellent Summer, Autumn & Spring production. 

Improved palatability, handles heavy soil types and periodic waterlogging 

once established, Australian bred, Summer active. 

Good all round production, higher rainfall option, suited to well drained 

soils. 

Very palatable to sheep & cattle, excellent seedling vigour new variety for 

2011 season. 

Kara 1 - 4 kg/ha Handles heavy soil types, better suited to beef operations. 

JoSh raSheed aNd Jeremy GiTTeNS 

iN a hoWLoNG CoCkSFooT Seed CroP 


earLy 

LaTe mid 

Subterranean Clover 

Subterranean Clover is an extremely valuable annual, self regenerating clover. Sub Clover offers excellent 

value for money due to the large volumes of dry matter (forage) that can be produced, nitrogen fixation 

capabilities and the fact that if it is managed correctly and allowed to set seed periodically, it may only 

need to be sown once, due to its enormous ability to set seed and regenerate. Sub clover varieties have 

a wide range of different maturities and we recommend sowing a mixture of these different maturing 

varieties to ensure a measure of protection from false breaks and early finishing seasons. 

Variety 

Management Tip 

Sowing 

Rate 

Days 

(GermiNaTioN 

To FLoWeriNG) 

Dalkeith 5 - 10 kg/ha 98 

Seaton Park 5 - 10 kg/ha 110 

Urana 5 - 10 kg/ha 110 

Monti 5 - 10 kg/ha 112 

Trikkala 5 - 10 kg/ha 112 

Clare 5 - 10 kg/ha 130 

Clare 2 5 - 10 kg/ha 130 

Antas 5 - 10 kg/ha 128 

Woogenellup 5 - 10 kg/ha 129 

Riverina 5 - 10 kg/ha 129 

Coolamon 5 - 10 kg/ha 130 

Gosse 5 - 10 kg/ha 134 

Mt Barker 5 - 10 kg/ha 137 

Goulburn 5 - 10 kg/ha 140 

Leura 5 - 10 kg/ha 150 

Attributes 

Very reliable production, will persist in areas as low as 

350mm annual production. Proven performer. 

Can be utilized in early and mid season situations, very 

persistent & prolific seed setting. 

New variety, good herbage production, some resistance 

to red legged earth mite. 

Excellent early winter growth, improved pest and disease 

resistence. Suited to 450mm rainfall. 

Still benchmark for persistence in neutral to alkaline soils, 

tolerated waterlogging, low estrogen. 

Suited to neutral to alkaline soils, can handle mild 

waterlogging, excellent hay producer. 

Improve seedling vigor, good herbage production, similar 

to clare. 

Excellent winter/spring production, doesn’t bury burr 

as readily as some varieties. Large volumes of herbage 

produced. 

Very persistent older variety, excellent winter production 

& prolific seed setter, reliable regeneration. 

Good winter/spring production, neutral to alkaline soils, 

very hard seeded. 

New variety under trial in region, good seedling vigor, 

winter/spring active. 

Erect growth habit, excellent hay/grazing option, can take 

higher pH than most varieties. 

Benchmark for persistence in marginal areas. Good all 

round production, prolific re-seeder. 

Benchmark for production in a late season variety. Prolific 

seeder, excellent hay option. 

Ideally suited to higher rainfall regions, excellent hay 

option where spring rainfall is reliable. 

Sub Clover Pastures should be allowed to set seed in the year of establishment as this will ensure the 

long term clover content of your pasture. Crops should be grazed lightly and stock removed as soon as 

the first flowers appear. If crops are grazed too hard or cut for hay in the year of establishment then you 

will remove the bank of seeds destined for future regeneration. 


28 

White Clover 

Locally White Clover is known to only persist under irrigated and high rainfall (+700mm) conditions. 

Some smaller leafed varieties have lasted for 2-3 years if conditions are favourable but generally irrigated 

areas are the best fit for White Clover. White Clover is slow to establish from seed and this trait has been 

a problem in recent years as the new ryegrass varieties tend to out compete the clover and poor clover 

content results. It is vital to graze the pasture early to allow light into the crop to ensure your clover can 

compete and thrive. Seeds per kilogram can range significantly between coated and bare seed and this 

can also be a factor in adequate White Clover population within a pasture. 

Variety Sowing Rate Leaf Size Attributes 

Tahora 2 - 5 kg/ha Very Small Erect growth, persistent under heavy grazing. 

Prestige 2 - 5 kg/ha Small 

Vic Irrigation 2 - 5 kg/ha Small/Medium 

Storm 2 - 5 kg/ha Medium 

Mink 2 - 5 kg/ha Medium 

Haifa 2 - 5 kg/ha Medium/Large 

Waverly 2 - 5 kg/ha Large 

Kopu 2 2 - 5 kg/ha Large 

Red Clover 

Very productive, persistent variety, very 

stoloniferous, can tolerate long periods of 

grazing pressure from all forms of livestock. 

Persistent under heavy grazing, thrives under 

summer irrigated conditions. 

Very persistent under dry conditions, prolific 

forage producer, works well in combination with 

larger leafed varieties. 

Direct selection from Irrigation white clover 

and thrives under summer irrigated conditions. 

Tolerates higher PH and waterlogging. 

Well suited to most soil types, excellent 

seedling vigour, benchmark for production 

and persistence in local area. Good winter 

production. 

Offers excellent value for money in a proprietary 

variety. Handles heavy soil types and has good 

seedling vigour. 

Good winter production, good stolon density, 

reliable overall production. 

Red Clover can be used in irrigated pasture mixes to boost summer production. Locally it has been 

difficult to maintain necessary levels of persistence. Strict rotational grazing practices should be 

followed if Red Clover is to be included in your pasture Mix. 


Annual Clover 

Annual Clovers are almost always used as the legume component in hay/silage and grazing mixes. 

Annual clovers produce large volumes of feed through the winter/spring and early summer and are 

suited to many different soil types. Annual Clovers offer excellent value for money as they are sown at 

low rates and establish readily from seed, to produce large volumes of highly palatable forage. With 

Fertiliser Prices set to remain at a premium, annual clover crops can fix valuable nitrogen in your soil 

profile at low costs and provide a break in the cropping rotations. 

Variety 

BaLaNSa 

Sowing 

Rate 

Frontier Balansa 1 - 5 kg/ha Hard 

Taipan Balansa 1 - 5 kg/ha Hard 

Paradana Balansa 1 - 5 kg/ha Hard 

Bolta Balansa 1 - 5 kg/ha Hard 

Viper Balansa 1 - 5 kg/ha Hard 

PerSiaN CLoVer 

Prolific Persian 5 - 8 kg/ha Hard 

Maral Shaftal Persian 5 - 8 kg/ha Soft 

SARDI Persian 5 - 8 kg/ha Hard 

Kyambro Persian 5 - 8 kg/ha Hard 

SuNdry CLoVerS 

Crimson Clover 3 - 5 kg/ha Soft 

Berseem Clover 3 - 5 kg/ha Soft 

Arrowleaf Clover 5 - 10 kg/ha Hard 

Arrotas Arrowleaf 5 - 10 kg/ha Hard 

Seed Type Attributes 

Flowers 2-3 weeks earlier than Paradana. Has found a 

niche in salt affected country where it can flower & set 

seed before salt scald becomes an issue. 

Regenerates well, can tolerate strong grazing pressure 

from sheep, reliable seed yields, 2 weeks earlier than 

Paradana. 

Very aggressive spring growth, tolerated waterlogging 

and high pH soil types. Broadcast in 2nd year if sown 

with Phalaris, Fescue or Cocksfoot. 

Flowers 2-3 weeks later than Paradana, excellent hay/ 

silage option as it makes the most of late season 

moisture. 

2 weeks later then Paradana, good early vigor, reliable 

regeneration. 

Adapted to a wide range of soil types, copes with 

periodic waterlogging and high pH soils. Tolerates mild 

salinity. 

Good winter/spring production, will regrow strongly if 

moisture permits. 

Preferred option for waterlogged and high pH soils 

where mild salinity is a problem. Broadcast year after 

perennial grass establishment for best results. 

Good hay option, thrives in high pH & waterlogged 

conditions. Approximately 2 weeks earlier maturing, 

tolerates saline conditions. 

Highly nutritious hay/silage option. Very drought 

tolerant, low sowing rates represents value for money, 

suited to free draining sandy loams. 

Referred to as annual Lucerne. Suited to heavier soils 

and will not cause bloat in stock. Berseem is erect 

growing and offers reliable winter production. 

Deep rooted, late maturing with very hard seed, tends 

to be unreliable in regeneration, suited to acid to neutral 

soils that are free draining. 

Ultra late maturing bred by DPI Tasmania. Will extend 

feed window well into summer if moisture permits. Has 

potential in higher rainfall areas. 


30 

Lucerne 

Lucerne is commonly known as the king of forages. Lucerne is an extremely valuable feed source with the 

ability to grow 12 months of the year depending on the winter activity of the variety. Lucerne, with its deep root 

system, has the ability to stay green throughout the summer months, (acting as a fire break), provide quality 

green feed when moisture is limited, (when perennial grasses are dormant) and give graziers the ability to sell 

their stock when they want to, not when they have to, due to the fact they can spray out annual grasses through 

a winter clean with chemical. There is a Lucerne variety to suit your needs. 

Variety 

Coat 

Availability Winter 

Activity Sowing 

Rate 

SARDI 10 Agricote Only 10 8 - 25 kg/ha 

Cropper 9.5 

Multileaf 

(ML99) 

Superstrike or 

Bare 

9 6 - 20 kg/ha 

Goldstrike or Bare 9 6 - 25 kg/ha 

Siriver Bare 9 6 - 20 kg/ha 

Hallmark Bare 8 6 - 20 kg/ha 

Flairdale Bare 7 6 - 20 kg/ha 

Trifecta Bare 7 6 - 20 kg/ha 


SARDI 7 

Series 2 

Agricote Only 7 8 - 25 kg/ha 

Attributes 

The V8 of Lucerne, massive winter production and good all round 

production. Will persist for up to 8 years if managed, very aggressive 

seedling growth. 

Will persist for 5-7 years if managed, good seedling vigor and good hay/ 

grazing production. 

Very productive variety, fine stems and leafy quality production, recovers 

well from grazing and hay cutting, tests well with high proteins 

Poor long term persistence, persists for up to 5 years if not overgrazed, 

keep sowing rates up to maintain hay quality. 

Handles heavy soil types without sacrificing quality, persists well, leafy 

hay variety. 

Direct selection from Cuf 101, HunterRiver and Wakefield to give a good 

persistent variety that offers value for money in a broad acre situation. 

Public variety that gives good all round production with dense crowns 

making it a cheap, value for money hay and grazing option. 

The benchmark for production and persistence in the local region. 

Comes from the renowned SARDI breeding stable which places its 

emphasis on persistence and production under harsh Australian 

conditions. 

SARDI 7 series 2 is very leafy giving high quality feed and develops 

broad crowns for even greater persistence, the ideal all-round lucerne 

for Australian conditions. The result of more than 40 years of lucerne 

breeding in Australia by SARDI. 

Icon Kickstart 7 8 - 25 kg/ha Good reliable dryland option, Australian bred for Australian conditions. 

Aurora Bare 6 6 - 20 kg/ha 

SARDi Grazer Agricote Only 6 8 - 25 kg/ha 

Hunterfield Bare 6 6 - 20 kg/ha 

Stamina GT6 

Superstrike or 

Bare 

6 6 - 25 kg/ha 


54Q53 Goldstrike or Bare 4 6 - 25 kg/ha 

Benchmark for persisting and producing in heavy soil types, very 

persistent on fragile soils also due to low crown. 

SARDI-Grazer was developed by SARDI and GRDC for extreme grazing 

tolerance, it is a winter active (dormancy 6) variety bred to withstand 

periods of set stocking that would see the demise of other lucernes. 

SARDI-Grazer will suit all classes of livestock production and is ideal for 

cropping rotations where grazing management is limited and high plant 

densities are important and in permanent pasture mixes with Phalaris, 

Cocksfoot or Fescue. 

Good cheap broad acre option, offers some aphid resistance. Some 

stands have been known to last over 20 years. 

Selected from grazing trials and shown to be able to handle periods 

of set stocking, makes excellent quality hay and should last up to and 

beyond 10 years. 

Newest release from SARDI, shows a lot more growth for a largely 

winter dormant type, huge spring forage yields and is the most aphid 

resistant variety on market, can handle grazing pressure and last for 

10-20 years. 

High quality hay option, dense leafy forage with very low crown, long 

term persistence. 

Sowing rates for lucerne vary significantly because of the increased use of pre-coated seed. Using bare seed, 

dryland stands of lucerne should be sown at a minimum of 6kg/ha and up to a maximum of 20kg/ha for irrigated 

fine quality hay production. We suggest increasing the rates for coated seed varieties so you can be assured of 

getting similar plants per square metre established in your pasture. 


Sardi Five is a semi winter dormant variety with a 

bushy growth habit, fine stems and a low broad 

crown. Sardi Five is very persistent under grazing 

and performs well in both irrigated and dryland 

environments. 

Winter Active – A proven multi-purpose Lucerne 

developed for longer term mixed farming situations. 

Tall fine growth for easier hay cutting and less 

residual stem after grazing. 

Sardi Ten has exceptional seedling vigour and 

regrowth after cutting and or grazing. Sardi Ten is 

particularly suited to Mediterranean climates with a 

winter dominant rainfall pattern and is highly valuable 

in farming systems with intensive management, such 

as dairy farms. 

Coming in 2012 

SARDi 7 Series 2 

A new benchmark in multi-purpose Lucernes. 

SARDi grazer 

A breakthrough in grazing tolerance. 

For further details on these exciting new 

products please contact Heritage Seeds. 

For more information visit the website or 

call 1800 007 333 

Lucerne that’s 

a cut above 

is now served. 

heritageseeds.com.au 


32 

Medics 

Medics, like Sub Clover are self regenerating annual clover varieties that grow in Autumn, Winter & 

Spring. Medics will thrive in lower rainfall regions and are well adapted to coastal regions, high pH and 

slightly acid soils. Medics will regenerate readily if allowed to set seed and will provide large volumes 

of palatable forage which can be grazed or cut for hay or silage. 


SNaiL 

Kelson 5 - 10 kg/ha Tolerates alkaline soils, excellent winter production & very hard seeded. 

Sava 5 - 10 kg/ha 

similar to kelson, tolerates alkaline soils, excellent winter production & very 

hard seeded. 

Silver 

STraNd 

5 - 10 kg/ha 

Suited to neutral/alkaline soils of sandy loam nature. mid maturing variety, of 

upright growth nature. Goldstrike treatment only. 

Angel 5 - 10 kg/ha The first medic to be bred to have some tolerance to sulphonurea. 

Herald 5 - 10 kg/ha 

Prefers the lighter alkaline soils, very persistent and has exceptional winter 

vigor. Goldstrike treatment only . 

Jaguar 

BarreL 

5 - 10 kg/ha 

Unique variety that can hold in the pod in the canopy. Jaguar can grow in 

250+ annual rainfall and is ideally suited to mallee soils. 

Caliph 5 - 10 kg/ha 

Early flowering variety, suited to clay/loam soils of a neutral to alkaline nature. 

Available as gold strike treatment only. 

Mogul 

diSC 

5 - 10 kg/ha 

Mid season variety suited to the heavier soil types, very leafy variety with 

excellent winter production. 

Tornata 

SPiNeLeSS Burr 

5 - 10 kg/ha 

Excellent hay variety, thrives in coastal conditions as well as alkaline flats. 

Very hard seeded, reliable regeneration. 

Excellent option where sub clovers won’t persist due to high pH. Spineless 

Cavalier 5 - 10 kg/ha burr will not catch in sheep’s wool. Excellent winter production, reliable 

regeneration. 

Excellent option where sub clovers won’t persist due to high pH. Spineless 

Santiago 5 - 10 kg/ha burr will not catch in sheep’s wool. Excellent winter production, reliable 

regeneration. 

Scimitar 5 - 10 kg/ha 7 Days later than Santiago, suited to a wide range of soil types. 

Toreador 5 - 10 kg/ha Early maturing type, suited to deep sandy soils. 

mediC Seed CroP 


Perennial Herbs 

Perennial Herbs fill a niche market in our region. They bring a blend of persistence, palatability, 

digestibility and the ability to collect nutrients from the soil which lead to increased animal production. 

When included in pasture mixes, Perennial herbs have been linked to a reduction in scouring calves 

and almost alleviating the symptoms of red gut in lamb production. Chicory and Plantain are the most 

common varieties and there may be a fit for you in your pasture system. Herbs can be very sensitive 

to herbicides in the first year. Sowing into a very clean, weed free paddock is the best way to ensure 

perennial herb longevity. 

Variety Sowing Rate Growth 

haBBiT & 

Attributes 

PerSiSTeNCe 

ChiCory 

Puna 1 - 5 kg/ha 

Puna 2 1 - 5 kg/ha 

Balance 1 - 5 kg/ha 

Commander 1 - 5 kg/ha 

PLaNTaiN 

Tonic 1 - 5 kg/ha 

Ranger 1 - 5 kg/ha 

ToNiC PLaNTaiN 

SoWN aS a SoLe SPeCieS 

Prostrate 

Excellent 

Semi–Erect 

Good 

Erect 

Short Lived 

Erect 

Short Lived 

Semi-Erect 

Excellent 

Very persistent original variety, 5+ years. Suited to 

light sandy soils as well as heavier soil types, will 

re-seed well if allowed to set seed over the summer 

months. 

Bred from Puna, more palatable and more winter 

activity but reduced persistence, must have some 

form of rotational graze. 

New variety, still under evaluation, looks to be similar 

in production & persistence to Grouse. 

Found its niche as a specialist summer crop 

companion with rape & turnips, excellent producer of 

leafy forage. Excellent drought tolerance and root rot 

resistance. 

Fibrous root system, excellent year round production, 

extracts selenium & other trace elements from the 

soil. Thrives in gutless infertile soils. Has been used 

as a perennial ryegrass substitute in some marginal 

areas. Ask for more details. 

Superior establishment. Excellent stock performance 

& improved cool season growth. 


34 

Summer Fodder Crops 

Summer fodder crops are an extremely valuable, highly digestible feed source, which is often forgotten 

about by famers. By January/February when feed is limited, farmers will wish they had a crop of Brassica, 

Rape, Turnips, Millet or Sorghum as they produce large volumes of feed and are relatively inexpensive 

to establish. By sowing a summer fodder crop a paddock will be in much better condition for sowing. 

By leveling and working in spring it cuts down the preparation time enormously and in most situations 

it is simply a matter of direct drilling in your permanent pasture.. 

Hybrid Forage Brassica’s 

Hybrid Forage Brassica’s are increasing in popularity due to their more flexible sowing times. Hybrid’s 

can be sown from Autumn, Late Winter, Spring and Summer if moisture permits. Hybrids provide bulk, 

quality forage and have the ability to graze multiple times. Hybrid Brassica’s will provide the quickest 

feed of all the fodder crops. 

hyBrid ForaGe BraSSiCa iN dairy SiTuaTioN 

Rape 

Rapes will produce a large volume of feed from relatively small costs; however they do require more 

management. Rapes need to mature prior to grazing to get the nutritional benefits from the crops. The 

newer varieties have better tolerance to pests and diseases as well as superior regrowth after grazing. 

Turnips 

Turnips also produce large volumes of seed when you consider the light sowing rates. Turnips are a 

valuable feed source as both the tops and the bulbs can be utilized. 


Millet 

Millet will provide valuable fast growing forage from January through to May and is suitable to all 

classes of livestock. At no stage will millet cause stock health issues. Millet can be sown with rape 

and turnips and will grow on a wide range of soil types. Millet is a very viable cheap option on areas 

considered marginal or have low fertility. 

Sorghums 

Sorghums need to be sown when the soil temperature reaches 16 degrees and rising. Once established, 

sorghums can be grazed or cut for hay/silage. Sorghums will regrow strongly once grazed if moisture 

permits. Adequate soil preparation is the key to success with sorghum crops 

Tips for Growing Successful Fodder Crops!! 

Plan Ahead – Get a soil test to identify nutrient deficiency, all fodder crops respond well to nutrients, 

especially nitrogen. 

• Weed & insect Control - Poorly managed paddocks are normally badly infested with annual 

grasses and broadleaf weeds. Sowing a fodder crop can aid in eradicating weed problems 

you may have prior to going back to a permanent pasture. 

• Sowing - Ideally seeds should be sown into a well-prepared, fine seedbed. Rolling after 

seeding will give good seed, soil contact that will aid in faster plant establishment. 

• Crop management - Continue to monitor for pests and diseases, as damage will cause 

decreased quality and palatability of your crop. Once crop is mature introduce stock slowly 

through short grazings at regular intervals. Once stock have been conditioned, they will prefer 

fodder crop to a pasture. Always supplementary feed with grain, hay or silage and monitor 

stock closely. 

Stock should always have access to clean fresh water!! 


36 

Summer Fodder Crop Guide 

Variety Sowing 

Rate 

hyBrid BraSSiCa’S 

Regrowth 

Drought 

Tolerance 

Approx 

Weeks 

To 1ST 

GraziNG 

Hunter 3 - 5 kg/ha Good Low 6 

Winfred 3 - 5 kg/ha Excellent Very High 6 - 10 

Bouncer 3 - 5 kg/ha Good Medium 6 - 8 

Subzero 3 - 5 kg/ha Good High 6 - 10 

Leafmore 3 - 5 kg/ha Good High 8 - 10 

raPe 

Rangi 3 - 5 kg/ha Medium Medium 12 

EMX 1.6 3 - 5 kg/ha Good Medium 8 - 10 

Goliath 3 - 5 kg/ha Good Medium 10 

TurNiPS 

MPT 0.5 - 2 kg/ha Poor Medium 14 

Appin 1 - 2 kg/ha Good Medium 10 - 12 

miLLeT 

Shirohie 8 - 25 kg/ha Excellent Good 6 - 8 

Rebound 8 - 25 kg/ha Excellent Good 6 - 8 

SorGhum 

Pronto 8 - 20 kg/ha Excellent Good 6 - 8 

Zulu 8 - 25 kg/ha Good Good 6 - 8 

Speedfeed 8 - 25 kg/ha Excellent Good 6 - 8 

Ultrafeed 5 - 15 kg/ha Excellent Good 10 

Attributes 

Fast growing, improved insect 

tolerance, later maturing than Pasja. 

The ultimate all-rounder, suited to 

all soil types, all stock classes, will 

provide large volumes of palatable 

stock feed. 

New release, more suited to 

irrigated situations, excellent leaf 

production. 

New release, reliable producer, 

improved insect tolerance and cool 

season production. 

Selection from Winfred, reliable 

producer. 

Older variety, offers excellent value 

for money in broad acre situations. 

Very fine in stem, suited to lamb 

finishing enterprises, Rangi 

replacement. 

Huge producer, suited to cattle, very 

leafy forage. 

Excellent value for money in broad 

acre situation, leafy tops & large 

bulbs, marginal country. 

Suited to all livestock, reliable 

producer, don’t overgraze initially. 

Reliable safe source of forage, 

excellent source of roughage, also 

suits irrigation. 

Rapid regrowth, ideal option for hot 

summer production. 

Very fine stemmed leafy variety, 

fast growing, good summer/autumn 

production, graze at 50cm, low 

prussic acid. 

Older variety, reliable producer and 

economical to plant. 

Excellent early feed, low cost, 

proven variety. 

Benchmark for quality grazing/hay 

and silage, smaller seed, lower 

sowing rates. 


Forage / Hay & Silage Cereals 

Forage cereals are a very reliable option for prolific winter/spring forage. Most forage cereals will prefer 

soils of a well drained nature and will not perform where periodical waterlogging will occur. Oats/Barley 

and Triticale are the most commonly used forage varieties and can be grazed early prior to being shut 

up for hay or silage. Grazing the forage crop early will usually mean a reduced hay/silage cut so if you 

are aiming to maximise your hay/silage yields grazing may not be advisable. 

Seeding Rates 80 - 120 kg / ha 

Variety Maturity Attributes 

oaTS 

Coolibah Mid 

Bulban Mid 

Saia Mid 

Outback Mid – Late 

Wintaroo Mid 

Echidna Early – Mid 

Genie Oats Late 

BarLey 

Mundah Early 

Cape Mid 

Dictator Late 

Moby Early 

TriTiCaLe 

Older variety, reliable producer for bulk hay/silage. If sowing with clover 

Coolibah will need to be grazed lightly to allow clover to compete. 

Similar to Coolibah, offers excellent value for money, excellent option on areas 

of marginal soil moisture and fertility. 

Benchmark for grazing oats in strong or marginal country. Small black oat and 

can be sown at ½ the rate of regular oats. Cockatoo & Galah proof!! 

Medium height, specialist hay/grazing option. Good frost tolerance and shows 

excellent seedling vigor. Suited to wide range of soil types. 

Benchmark for quality hay production. Makes excellent early season growth, 

don’t overgraze if hay production is main objective. Offers good value for 

money! 

Dwarf Oat type, often mixed with taller types to maintain quality leaf all the 

way through canopy. Will sacrifice quantity for quality forage. 

Rapid establishment, high yielding late season specialist hay variety. Genie can 

be sown as early as mid February if irrigation is available. 

Usually earliest to 1st grazing. Very short growing season, good option 

if hoping to go from winter forage to a summer fodder crop to maximise 

production. 

Proven performer, offers excellent value for money for cheap grazing, hay or 

silage. No certification on Cape, however seed crops are inspected to ensure 

crops are free of weeds. 

Awnless, black seeded high quality forage barley. Very reliable winter producer, 

with excellent regrowth after grazing. 

White seeded rapid establishing variety. Exhibits good cold season production. 

Excellent all round production. 

Tahara Mid Older variety that still offers solid grain yields. 

Crackerjack Late 

Yukuri Mid - Late 

Granador Mid - Late 

High yielding forage and seed variety. Crackerjack has been used as a high 

quality producer of bulk whole crop silage. Excellent regrowth potential. 

Excellent value for money option in minimum 450mm rainfall regions. Suits 

hay/silage production as well as grain production. 

Increased disease resistance, specialist high quality, bulk, hay & silage 

producer. Bred specifically for hay/silage yields. 


38 

Contacts for Contractors 

Name Area Type Phone 

SeediNG 

Robert Pearce Naracoorte & Surrounds Shearer, Direct Drill with Press Wheels 0428 386 325 

Sparky Tonkin Naracoorte & Surrounds 

Shearer, Direct Drill, Land Preparation & 

Sowing 

0428 996 336 

John Chandler Lucindale & Surrounds Disc Seeder, Minimal Rock Disturbance 8765 8034 

Terry Rivett Lucindale & Surrounds Duncan Renovator with Press wheels 

8768 7260 

0428 422 793 

Aaron Smart Lucindale & Surrounds DBS Seeding Machine 0418 849 940 

Geoff Hancock Millicent & Surrounds Duncan Renovator with Press wheels 0408 849 212 

Graham Zilm Padthaway & Surrounds DBS Seeding Machine 0409 838 564 

Tony Mackereth Padthaway & Surrounds DBS Seeding Machine 0427 862 593 

Brenton Drabsch Kingston & Surrounds Heavy Duty Rock Roller & Land Preparation 

Andrew Murdoch Kingston, Robe & Lucindale 

Nathan Craig Servicing All Areas 

SPrayiNG 

Direct drill, double disc seeder, zero 

preparation required, tough machine 

Precision Disc Seeding, very accurate seed 

placement with seed firming wheels 

08 8768 6297 

0438 888 553 

0438 686 256 

0417 837 160 

Graham Zilm Padthaway & Surrounds Broad acre Spraying 24 metre Boom 0409 838 564 

Robert Cross Naracoorte & Surrounds Smaller Jobs/Vineyards 0407 620 350 

Dale Wagner Lucindale & Surrounds Broad acre Spraying 0427 957 856 

Lyle Griffen Kingston & Surrounds Broad acre Spraying 0427 672 344 

FerTiLiSer 

Clarke Kingston & Surrounds 

Crossling Naracoorte & Surrounds 

Robertson Naracoorte & Surrounds 

Gericke Naracoorte & Surrounds 

hay/SiLaGe 

AFSA Accredited, GPS Fitted Sales & 

Spreading 

GPS Fitted, Computer Controlled Super / 

Gypsum / Urea 


Gypsum / Urea 


Gypsum / Urea 

8767 2499 

John 

0407 399 670 

David 

0428 620 003 

87622379 

Robert Pearce Naracoorte & Surrounds Mowing/Raking/Baling Small Squares 0428 386 325 

Kym Berkin Penola & Surrounds 

Kieran Wardle Naracoorte & Surrounds 

Mowing / Raking / Hay & Silage Large Round 

Bales 

Mowing / Raking / Hay & Silage Large Round 

Bales 

0427090845 

0428 594 307 

Nick Miles Naracoorte & Surrounds Mowing / Raking / Baling / Truck Stacking 0408 854 737 

Rob Olsen 

Padthaway/Kingston & 

Surrounds 

Graham Zilm Padthaway & Surrounding 

Sparky Tonkin Naracoorte & Surrounds 

Mowing / Raking / Baling with tube line 

wrapper for Silage Medium Sized Squares 

Mowing / Raking / Baling 

4 by 3, round if needed 

Mowing / Raking / Baling / Hay / Silage, 3 by 

3 squares 

0428 817 977 

0409 838 564 

0428 996 336 


Servicing SE South Australia & SW Victoria 

EUCALEUCA NATIVE SERVICES 

NO NONSENSE NATIVES 

LOCAL PLANTS FOR LOCAL CONDITIONS 

Windbreaks & Shelter Belts 

Direct Seeding 

Management Plans 

On-site Consultations 

Habitat Restoration 

Tube Stock Nursery & Advisory Service 

RALPH SCHEEL P. 08 87622061 M. 0427 799943 E. eucaleuca@bigpond.com 


40

50th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL - Naracoorte Seeds

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