Pasture

Pasture dominates large parts of the landscape of New Zealand and is essential for the production of lamb, beef and dairy products providing a very cost-effective, quality feed source. Every year a significant proportion of the pasture area is renewed using high value, novel endophyte containing varieties.

Pasture Spray Programme

Recommended Products

Puma S

Puma S is a post-emergence herbicide for use in wheat for the control of wild oats and lesser canary grass, for use in perennial ryegrass seed crops for the control of wild oats and for the control of yellow bristle grass in pasture.

Nortron

Nortron is the first choice for early weed control in fodder beet and red beet, barley grass control in pasture and annual poa control in turf ryegrass.

Wild Oats

Avena fatua

Wild Oats (Avena fatua) Wild oats are a common and very damaging weed that can occur in many crops. Capable of germinating at any time of year, they will just as successfully grow and compete in winter cereals as in a spring planted crop like peas. Left uncontrolled wild oats will quickly grow into large, multi-tillered, competitive grass weeds. Due to their competitive nature very few plants per square metre are needed before it becomes economic to control them.

Depending upon the crop controlling 5-10 wild oats per square meter will result in an economic response. Wild oats also produce a large number of long-lived seeds, often as many as 150 per panicle with many panicles per plant. Wild oat seeds can remain viable in the soil for several years and the common saying “one year’s seeding, 7 years weeding” stands very true for wild oats. Wild oats can be successfully controlled with selective herbicides such as Puma S. However, if numbers are low hand rogueing should be undertaken if possible.

Lesser Canary Grass

Phalaris minor

Lesser canary grass (Phalaris minor) is originally from the Mediterranean and is now a common, annual grass weed of winter planted cereal crops. Seeds germinate throughout the year with the leaves being non-hairy, rough and long, tapering to a fine point. The ligule is long and finely serrated, auricles are absent. When in ear the short, stubby panicle (1.5 - 6 cm x 1.2 – 2.2 cm) is quite distinct and makes a good identification feature.

Yellow Bristle Grass

Setaria pumila

Yellow bristle grass (Setaria pumila) or YBG is one of a number of related species found in New Zealand and is widespread across parts of the North Island. It is a particular problem when it infests pasture as over time it out competes and replaces more productive species. YBG germinates in late spring as temperatures rise and grows quickly setting a large number of seeds from December onwards. Look for young plants in “gaps” in pasture. They have light green leaves with red bases and an upright habit. The seedhead is cylindrical, up to 10 cm long and yellowish in colour due to the bristles associated with each spikelet.