Farm Tech

PasturePlan

AgResearch's Woodlands research farm

Location: Invercargill.

Farm size & type: Research farm with history of grass growth monitoring.

Topography: Generally flat.

Rainfall: 1,080 mm/yr.

Climate: n/a.

Soil type: n/a.

Fertiliser regime: 400 kg/ha of super and 500 kg/ha lime in January 2002.

Stock numbers: n/a.

Carrying capacity: 16 su/ha.

Plot descriptions: (a) New pasture. (b) Old pasture.

Detailed description: The two paddocks used for PasturePlan are fairly typical of the farm's paddocks. Cuttings are done every three weeks instead of fortnightly in order to remain consistent with the original trial.

Farmer's comments: "Monitoring means better feed budgeting as you have the advantage of more accurate pasture data to work with." (Chris Smith, trial manager trial manager.)

Results published: Otago/Southland Farmer.

Local Meat & Wool Innovation contact: Aaron Meikle, tel 03-203 9071, cell 025-846 377, aaron.meikle@mwi.co.nz