PGG Wrightson Seeds

26/05/2026

Recently the whole team came together for our spring training sessions, taking a deep dive into the latest products, seasonal insights, and on farm solutions ahead of the busy season.

These sessions are an important part of making sure our teams are equipped with the knowledge and tools to deliver training and support to our retail partners, who then help farmers make informed decisions for their farming systems.

A great few days of learning, collaboration, and catching up as we prepare for spring.

PGG Wrightson Seeds has been supporting New Zealand farmers for over 160 years. With more than $18 million invested annually in research and development, we’re leading the way in forage and endophyte innovation.

19/05/2026

It was great to welcome some of our Chilean partners to New Zealand last week.

Chris Sanders, amongst the wider PGG Wrightson Seeds team, hosted some farm consultants from Agropasto, along with one of their leading farmer clients, at Kimihia Research Farm this week.

Along with some in-depth training on research, nutrition, plant breeding, and products, we were able to visit some prominent dairy operations in North Canterbury and view some of our products ‘in action’, demonstrating how they are being used to great effect on farm.

13/05/2026

With winter just around the corner, revisit this episode with Dr Charlotte Westwood as she investigates the damage frosts can cause to plants, from freeze-thaw stress to reduced pasture growth and feed quality.
She also explores how Mother Nature helps plants adapt and build resilience through the colder months.

Listen back to the podcast:

With winter just around the corner for New Zealanders, our latest topic focuses on the effects of cold temperatures and frost on forage plants. We investigate how frosts damage our plants during the freeze-thaw cycles, “messing” with a plants wellbeing. Thankfully – and given time for plants t...

05/05/2026

Behind every great grass variety is years of dedication and expert breeding. 🌱

Meet Justine Fergusson, one of our short rotation ryegrass breeders, whose work helps turn elite plant selection into reliable pasture performance.

From the selection fields to nationwide trials, only the very best make the cut, supporting farm productivity across New Zealand.

28/04/2026

Feeding crop this winter?
Now is the time to start thinking about feed budgeting and crop weighing. Knowing what’s in your paddock and your stock requirements is key to making sure you’ve got sufficient feed to get you through the colder months.

Crop weighing should be the first point of call for an accurate feed budget. The more samples you take, the better your accuracy and measuring dry matter percentage (DM%) takes it a step further. In fact, there could be 2,000 kg DM/ha difference between an estimated DM% and an actual DM% of a crop. Accurate measurements give you the information you need so you can plan with confidence.

Ensure utilisation/wastage are taken into account. Deciding this can be tricky, however, it can be helpful to do a worst-case feed budget as well as a standard so you don’t get caught out with insufficient feed in a bad winter. Finally, estimate the animals daily feed requirements. Resources such as the FeedSmart website are a good place to go for daily demand figures.

When you have all the information, you can determine break sizes, match stocking rate accordingly, and plan supplementary feed requirements.

21/04/2026

Do you know the dry matter performance of your crop? Now’s the time to get clear on your feed position for winter.

Take a listen as our Southern South Island Sales Agronomist, Brian Young, shares practical tips on how to weigh your crops and why it matters.

11/04/2026

We said quick.....
And in the Waikato, Abuzz is already off to a flying start. Quick to establish and deliver early feed for grazing or silage.

See more about Abuzz on our website.
https://f.mtr.cool/jyafmkqmjw

07/04/2026

Running a small plot forage trial starts well before the seed is drilled. This autumn, we are drilling plot trials across 10 trial sites throughout New Zealand.

First, we select a suitable site, correct any soil deficiencies, and put the site through a suitable cropping round to control weeds, just like you would on a farm. Once the previous crop is finished, to prepare the trial area, we spray out and cultivate it to create a fine, firm, weed-free seedbed that will optimise germination and plant establishment.

Because we are comparing multiple cultivars, we use replicated plot trials. This allows us to accurately measure dry matter production and other performance factors, with every plot managed under the same conditions. All data collected goes through statistical analysis software to produce tables and graphs so you can make informed decisions for what cultivar is going to work best in your system.

Our plots are typically 1.2 m by 5.5 m, just 6.6 square metres or 0.00066 hectares, much smaller than an on-farm area. We use custom drills designed for these plot sizes, which means we weigh out seed for every individual plot. For example, sowing a tetraploid perennial ryegrass at 28 kilograms per hectare works out to be 25.2 grams per plot.

There is a lot that goes into preparing a trial, but we take pride in being able to produce results that will make a difference when you are making on-farm decisions.

04/04/2026

Some timely advice from Mike Fairbairn, our Southern South Island Area Sales Agronomist. As swedes continue to establish and bulk up, make sure you’re staying on top of your bug watch. Early identification and management can make all the difference to crop performance and feed value.

If you’re unsure what to look for or when to act, get in touch with your local agronomist for advice.

01/04/2026

Our Extension Agronomist Chris Sanders has recently been in Chile, continuing our long standing support of pasture development in the region. Chris visits Chile most years and is primarily based in an area at a similar latitude to New Zealand, which creates great alignment for forage systems and product performance.

The purpose of the trip was to provide sales and technical support to our Chilean partner ANASAC, which wholesales PGG Wrightson Seeds branded products through a nationwide retail network.
While there, Chris spent time with Agropasto, a consulting business that works closely with ANASAC. They are seeing excellent on farm results, particularly by prioritising the establishment of a strong clover component in pasture, something that hasn’t been common practice in Chile in recent years.

Chris also spoke to a group of local farmers, with the help of Howard Langer (ANASAC), translating, discussing pasture management strategies and introducing newer products for Chile, including Palliser and Vast.
It’s always rewarding to see New Zealand pasture expertise making a difference overseas, and to be part of conversations that drive better on farm outcomes across different farming systems.