Here you’ll find practical steps for pasture and crop optimisation through growing more feed, managing quality, and driving utilisation, plus tools, guides, and expert support to help you take action.
Summary:
Improving pasture and crop performance lifts feed quality, boosts farm efficiency, and supports healthier, more productive cows.
Grow more yield
Select and prepare paddocks well, and monitor new grass so it establishes strongly.
- Choose paddocks with the right conditions and prepare them well.
- Keep a close eye on establishment to set up long-lasting results.
- Match species and cultivars to your farm’s soil, climate, system, and pest/weed pressures.
- Consider complementary crops to support a reliable, high-quality feed supply throughout the season.
- Regularly check crops for weeds, pests, and growth stage to optimise growth and utilisation.
- Ensure soil nutrients are sufficient and not limiting production.
What you can do
- Contact your local TSR for pasture and crop recommendations tailored to your region.
- Refer to the Best Practice Pasture Renewal guide for more detail.
Manage quality
Keep nutrients balanced, maintain consistent covers, and use DairyNZ’s guide for support.
- Ensure pasture and crops receive the right nutrients where needed.
- Recognise that not all parts of a paddock require extra nutrients.
- Monitor pasture cover regularly.
- Keep residuals consistent to maintain pasture quality.
What you can do
- Consider how you’re setting your pasture and crops up for success.
- Explore DairyNZ’s tips and best‑practice advice.
Drive utilisation
Balance feed supply, use supplements wisely, minimise waste, and check your plan with DairyNZ’s tool.
- Use a feed budget to spot and plan for feed surpluses or deficits throughout the year.
- Use supplements to complement homegrown feed and maintain profitability.
- Remember that buying more feed increases both costs and emissions.
- Harvest, store, and feed supplements in ways that minimise waste.
- Keep silage stacks covered, avoid overfilling feed bins, and place feed on the fence line rather than the paddock centre.
What you can do
- Review your feed budget to ensure it fully supports your farm decisions.
What's the opportunity for your farm?
Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability.
Productivity
- High‑quality feed lifts performance.
- Eating an extra 0.5 t/ha of homegrown feed can add 50–60 kgMS/ha without extra inputs.
Profitability
- Homegrown feed is the lowest‑cost feed source.
- An extra tonne of pasture or crop eaten can add over $300/ha in operating profit.
Sustainability
- Producing, harvesting, and transporting feed affects your farm’s footprint.
- More homegrown feed eaten reduces imported emissions and increases nitrogen leaving the farm as milk.
Need help right now with pasture and crop? Talk to us
Customer Service Team
Our Farmer Support Team is available 24/7 for urgent help and immediate guidance.
Local support
The My Co‑op app has contact details for your local Farm Source team for more complex issues.
Chat in person
Your Farm Source store is there for local face‑to‑face support with our team. They’re always happy to help.