Upper South Island - Read before sowing – the new FVI stars are out

Latest Forage Value Index rankings from DairyNZ are a must-read for farmers in the upper South Island who want the best return on their pasture renewal dollar this autumn.

 

Several changes have occurred in the top tier of perennial ryegrass cultivars for this region in 2019, compared to 2018.

 

Just four perennial ryegrass cultivars have achieved a 5 star ranking in the latest evaluations released by DairyNZ on 1 February.

 

Only two of the 5 star cultivars in the Upper South Island are diploid ryegrasses, and only one of these – Trojan NEA2 – has the highest possible confidence score of 10+.

 

Other diploid ryegrass cultivars which gained a 5 star ranking in 2018 have now dropped to 4 or 3 stars.

 

The FVI 5 star category indicates pastures with the highest extra farm operating profit per ha compared to old ryegrass genetics like Nui. 

 

In the Upper South Island region, 5 star perennial ryegrasses have an extra value of $462-$590 per ha per year.

 

Trojan NEA2 has consistently maintained its 5 star ranking in the Upper South Island since it debuted in the FVI.

 

It is now the most thoroughly tested diploid perennial ryegrass available in that category, and comes with NEA2 endophyte for the best balance of animal health and insect control.

 

This makes it a clear winner for farmers between the Waitaki River and Golden Bay who want to sow the most profitable diploid perennial ryegrass this season.

 

So if your rep or advisor is not recommending Trojan NEA2 on the basis of these latest FVI rankings, you may need to ask them why!

 

To see the latest Upper South Island star rankings for all perennial ryegrasses in the DairyNZ FVI this year, visit www.dairynz.co.nz