Cropping seed

Turnips are a brassica root crop used in dairy farming to bridge summer feed gaps and boost milk production. They can be planted from spring to winter, depending on the variety. By growing turnips, you can manage feed shortages and prepare the soil for new pasture. There are different maturity available to suit different grazing windows.

Swedes serve as winter feed for livestock. Swedes thrive best in cooler, moist conditions and dislike waterlogged areas and dry spells. Swedes face diseases like club root and dry rot, which limits them to first-year cropping, not following other brassica crops. There are early and late maturing swede types, each with unique characteristics.

Leafy turnips are a quick growing brassica with minimal bulb development and excellent forage quality. Multiple grazings are achievable under careful grazing management.

Raphno is a cross between kale and radish and offers a unique product for multi-grazing scenarios when managed careful. High protein and quality, combined with drought, aphid and clubroot tolerance, Raphno is an interesting summer crop option.

Plantain is a grazing herb that grows well across New Zealand. Plantain is compatible with other pasture species and can be managed on a similar rotation length as perennial ryegrass, making it a good fit for most farm systems. Plantain is highly palatable and is often preferred by cows when grazing, offering a wide range of cow health benefits.