Exhibition preparation for a rural show normally involves putting up a marquee, sorting out signs and staff and planning demonstrations – but for the PGG Wrightson team, preparing for Grasslandz, efforts began months earlier and definitely at a 'grass roots” level.

Mark Enevoldsen, technical field representative with PGG Wrightson of Matamata, with
samples of plantain and chicory planted on its Grasslandz site.

The team cultivated part of their site, by planting nine small plots of different pasture species, to give farmers a chance to examine them when attending the show near Eureka in late January.

Matamata's PGG Wrightson technical field representative Mark Enevoldsen says the real ‘live' demonstration of individual pasture species, and a sample of a mixed pasture, attracted a lot of attention.

'It was an opportunity to showcase PGG Wrightson's extensive experience in agronomy, animal health and nutrition and its focus on providing quality inputs and advice for farmers to help them lift productivity,” says Mark.

'It's great for farmers to be able to see the plants growing and to discuss what would suit their feed requirements and climate best.”

Mark says there was a lot of interest in plantain 'because of the live weight gain it offers and because of how it stood up to last summer's drought”.

The plantain variety called Tonic offers excellent winter growth, high dry matter production, good milk production in summer dry periods and high trace element content.

It can be added to all pasture mixes and is a valuable pure stand option for early feed to increase lamb and ewe live weight at weaning. Mark says farmers are also showing renewed interest in chicory; and the variety called Choice is a perennial with good persistence, improved dry matter production, high summer quality and is ideal for short-term finishing or milking pastures.

Clovers, fescue and rye grasses, including new varieties, also featured in plots outside the PGG Wrightson's site.

Combining a number of pasture species to create a mix not only gives animals grazing it a varied diet, but can also help with pasture persistence in adverse weather, says Mark.