PGG Wrightson Seeds

16/02/2026

There’s nothing better than arriving on farm to see a farmer confident they’re set to smash lamb finishing this season, thanks to our Sika chicory.🌱🐑

Want to learn more about Sika chicory? Click the link below to check it out!
https://f.mtr.cool/njxeivkmdk

14/02/2026

Since 1982, Michael Norriss has been perfecting his craft. Starting out as a junior plant breeder, he’s worked his way to being the lead grass breeder for PGG Wrightson Seeds. He’s spent four decades shaping plants to be more productive, persistent, and disease-resistant.

The breeding process starts with hundreds of thousands of individual plants. Over time, Mike and his team remove any unfavourable grasses, until about 100 plants remain. These grasses get sent to four sites across the country and are rigorously tested under different climatic, management, and grazing regimes. Only the best of the best across all sites are chosen as worthy cultivars.

Mike has bred many reputable grasses over the years, including Concord, Winter Star II, and Base AR37. Now, his most recent developments he’s most proud of are our new diploid perennial ryegrass, Midway AR128 and tetraploid perennial ryegrass, Vast AR128. His selections are met with patience and precision; it takes anywhere from 10 – 15 years to breed a new variety. It’s slow work, but that’s what makes his grasses work.

12/02/2026

Don’t miss out!

Catch the latest edition of Rural Contractor to get all the updates on Abuzz.

There is a buzz going around town and it is all about the new annual ryegrass from PGG Wrightson Seeds

Read more at https://www.ruralcontractor.co.nz/blog/raising-the-bar

07/02/2026

We’re excited to welcome Lucy Bell as our new Otago/Central Otago Area Sales Agronomist.

Lucy brings both practical farming experience and academic expertise, having grown up on her family’s sheep and beef farm in East Otago and completed a PhD focused on soils and legumes in the Central Otago high country. When she’s not busy with farming or buried in her research, you’ll find her spending time outdoors, on the farm, and with friends and family.

She’s excited to get stuck into her new role and meet our customers across the region, so if you’re heading to Southland Field Days, make sure you stop by and say hi to Lucy!

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.

03/02/2026

The powerhouse of any pasture is clover, and at PGG Wrightson Seeds, we have the best of the best breeding them.

With more than 40 years of hands-on breeding experience, clover breeder John Ford has played a pivotal role in shaping the performance and reliability of some of our most successful cultivars. His career spans four decades of dedicated field work, selection, and evaluation, underpinned by a deep understanding of plant genetics, agronomy, and farmer needs.

He has been instrumental in the development of several standout clovers, including Amigain, Legacy, Quartz, and Hilltop. These varieties are widely recognised for their persistence, productivity, and adaptability across a range of environments. His meticulous approach to breeding focuses on long-term performance in real farming systems, ensuring that each clover delivers genuine value in the paddock, not just in trials.

Beyond his professional achievements in forage breeding, he brings the same passion and precision to his spare-time pursuit as a prominent rose breeder. The crossover of skills between ornamental and forage breeding further strengthens his innovative approach and attention to detail, upholding the high standards that define our clover portfolio.

To learn more about the clovers John’s bred, click the link below.
https://f.mtr.cool/lgojtdqbim

PGG Wrightson Seeds supports NZ farmers with proven seed genetics and expert advice to grow high-quality pasture and forage for better productivity.

26/01/2026

When it comes to agricultural contracting, few can match John Austin’s experience.

Based in Waikato and Northern King Country, John and his team manage an extensive area of maize and annual ryegrass every year.

A longtime fan of Winter Star II, John recently tested our latest annual ryegrass, Abuzz.

Watch the video below to hear his thoughts on this next-generation variety and why it could be a game-changer for your pasture.

19/01/2026

Palliser, a ryegrass that delivers feed on farm in a multitude of ways. A tetraploid, hybrid ryegrass, Palliser can be used for under-sowing pastures, in high performance shorter-lived pasture mixes and can be added to permanent pasture mixes to bulk up the amount of quality, home-grown feed on farm.

A culmination of attributes including; very late heading (+25), benefits associated with tetraploid ryegrasses, high tiller density and low aftermath heading make Palliser a go to for the ultimate combination of dry matter production and animal performance.

This autumn, Palliser will be offered with the new AR128 endophyte, so ask for it by name and consider pairing with our highly productive perennial legumes such as Amigain red clover and Quartz or Legacy white clovers.

17/01/2026

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at PGG Wrightson Seeds, and we take great pride in recognising the achievements of our team. Recently, we were proud to acknowledge a major milestone reached by Wayne Nichol, National Technical Manager, who has just celebrated 30 years with the business.

Wayne joined Hodder and Tolley Limited in January 1996 and quickly established himself as a skilled agronomist with a strong understanding of research, ruminant nutrition and farm systems. As the business evolved into Wrightson Seeds, PGG Wrightson Seeds, and now part of the global DLF Seeds group, Wayne’s contribution to the seed and farming industries has continued to grow. Alongside his professional achievements, Wayne completed a Master of Agricultural Science (with Distinction) in Animal Nutrition from Lincoln University and built a family with his wife Donna and their two children.

Known for his passion, energy, and depth of agricultural knowledge, Wayne is equally at home on an Otago high country station, a Canterbury dairy farm, or in strategy meetings shaping the future of new forages for farming businesses. His contributions continue to benefit both our team and the wider farming community.

Wayne, congratulations on an incredible 30 years and thank you for everything you bring not only to our PGG Wrightson Seeds team, but to New Zealand agriculture

Our aim is to enhance farmer profitability by providing proprietary grass and forage seed that provide high quality feed for improved animal performance and production.

12/01/2026

It’s a Beast

It’s not a term often used for a ryegrass, but Midway diploid perennial ryegrass has exceeded all our expectations. Midway is highly productive, as confirmed in the National Forage Variety trials, especially in early spring, when pasture supply is at a premium during lambing and calving. But Midway has set a new benchmark for a mid-season heading ryegrass with its additional late-season, autumn growth. High tiller density, low aftermath seeding and resilience make Midway the perfect perennial all-rounder grass for numerous livestock farming operations in New Zealand.

This autumn, Midway is available with both the new AR128 endophyte and the well-known AR1 endophyte. Ask for Midway perennial ryegrass and match it to the very latest clover genetics, including Hilltop white clover for tougher conditions or Quartz and Legacy white clovers for adaptability and overall production in a wide range of conditions. If you are looking to increase protein over the summer, consider adding Amigain red clover.

05/01/2026

We don’t play favourites… but if we had to, Maggie’s choice would be Accrue.

Discover why Accrue is her go-to choice right now! https://f.mtr.cool/urimtdzyzb

03/01/2026

Thinking about your autumn pasture and want to see how it performs in your area?

Contact your local PGG Wrightson Seeds agronomist to arrange a visit to a trial site in your region.
https://f.mtr.cool/clapudzikw

22/12/2025

Need a last-minute gift for Secret Santa?

Izzy reckons this paddock of Quartz and Amigain is a gift that will keep on giving thanks to its nitrogen boost.

Curious to learn more about our clovers? Take a look here.
https://f.mtr.cool/sxujedzgyf

Merry Christmas from all of us at PGG Wrightson Seeds!🎄✨