Southland contract milker Elliot Marshall looked to Farm Source Technical Sales Representative (TSR) Elyse Fletcher for advice on this diploid perennial and what he might expect to see from it. He needed a robust perennial that would help meet spring demand and maintain feed quality throughout the summer, with low aftermath seeding and excellent cool-season growth.
Agricom commercialised Legion AR37 in autumn 2020. It's a high-performance late-heading (+12-14) ryegrass with good tiller size and density. This makes it a robust plant, so it can adapt to a wide range of environments. It was also bred from perennial ryegrass plants that were individually screened for persistency, rust tolerance, vigour and AR37 endophyte compatibility.
Elliot describes the establishment of his young pastures as less than ideal this year, as things have been extremely hot and dry for Southland. The Legion AR37 tillered out well after two grazings and looked impressive, bolstered by a nice legume content. Elliot sowed his Legion AR37 at 20kg per hectare with 5kg of Brace large-leaf white clover.
"They require persistence out of our pastures as we run roughly around the 10-year-plus rotation, and the pasture needs to be high-producing right up to the final year," he says. "We know Legion yields well in trials but watching it handle the summer into the late wet autumn grazing and bounce back has been impressive."
Legion's ability to produce in autumn and winter helps with pasture covers at these crucial times, while its summer leafiness and lack of aftermath seed head make it ideal for summer production and quality.
For more information about Legion, contact your local Farm Source TSR or visit your nearest store.
All-region, all-season, complete all-rounder
| Heading date | Late (+12-14) |
|---|---|
| Ploidy | Diploid |
| Suggested sowing rate | 18-20 kg/ha |
| Endophyte | AR37 |
| Rust tolerance | Very high |
• Outstanding summer, autumn and winter growth
• Excellent density for periods of set stocking and winter grazing
• Very low aftermath seeding and excellent summer leafiness
• Very good tiller size and leaf length.
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Article supplied by Agricom.
Pictured: Contract milker Elliot Marshall and Farm Source TSR Elyse Fletcher in a paddock of Legion.