PGG Wrightson Seeds

23/09/2025

As the ground begins to dry out, the planning and preparation begins for sowing post-winter crop. It is hard not to get carried away with trying to get seed in the ground as soon as you can get a tractor on the paddock. However, there are a few things to consider to ensure the success of the following crop.

When sowing brassicas or clover, the soil temperature should be 10 degrees or higher. This not only aids in the rapid establishment but also enhances the effectiveness of any pre-emergence chemistry used on brassicas.

If the crop paddock is ex-brassica, all plant residues need to be buried. This will decrease the amount of dry rot spores that will be produced on the decomposing plant residues. These spores are transported by wind and will infect any brassica crops downwind from last season’s brassica paddock.

Lastly, when sowing crops with a low clubroot tolerance, such as swedes, turnips and forage r**e, avoid any paddocks that have either had brassicas in them in the last 5 years or paddocks that have been used to transition stock onto brassica crops in the last 5 years. These transition paddocks would have had soil transfer from the crop paddock, making them a higher clubroot risk paddock.

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.

20/09/2025

📍 Kiwikawa Station, Hawke’s Bay
Lucien and Becky Keightley manage a diverse 720-hectare sheep and beef farm. Their farm system includes:
• 200 Angus stud cows
• 1,500 breeding ewes
• A mix of trading and finishing stock

After great success with Kestrel kale, Lucien and Becky introduced Cleancrop™ Sarge kale into their system in 2024, looking for a more modern option with improved feed value and w**d control.

Despite a tough start to the season, Cleancrop™ Sarge impressed. “It didn’t germinate until sufficient moisture arrived in January, and we were worried the Telar® wouldn’t be effective, but no w**ds emerged. Through impressive growth, it made up for the late germination and caught up in total dry matter production, and we’ve seen better utilisation than previous crops.” Sarge has performed especially well for their young stock. "The leaf grows far down the marrow stem, which was soft and palatable. We did a snap test, and it broke like a crunchy apple. We’ve seen a noticeable difference in our one-year heifers."

For Lucien and Becky, it's the consistency they value most. "Each plant stands well, and the leaf content is noticeably higher than other varieties we’ve used."Cleancrop™ Sarge was recommended by their local PGG Wrightson Seeds Sales Agronomist, Chelsea Alabaster. With support from Farmlands Hastings, they integrated it into their system easily. The Cleancrop™ Brassica System has taken their crop management to the next level.

15/09/2025

Since 1991, the National Forage Variety Trials (NFVT) have provided independent data on the dry matter performance of pasture cultivars. Funded and coordinated by the seed companies of the NZ Plant Breeders and Research Association, the NFVTs are nationwide trials run under industry-agreed standards each year. That means farmers get trusted insights and protection against unproven seed claims.

At PGG Wrightson Seeds, all our products undergo rigorous testing, from breeding and development trials through on-farm evaluations and are continuously monitored throughout their lifecycle by our expert team of plant breeders, forage agronomists, animal nutritionists, farm systems specialists and regional extension officers. That is how we knew early on that Midway and Accrue, diploid perennial ryegrasses, would deliver standout results.

• Midway (with AR37 endophyte) has strong dry matter production in early spring, autumn and winter, perfect for calving, lambing and during the cool parts of the year.
• Accrue (with AR37 endophyte) shows robust growth in summer, autumn and winter, making it versatile for all systems.

Click the link to dive into the latest summaries of NFVT trial data and see how our other ryegrasses performed:
https://f.mtr.cool/qolzsteqkg

To see our own testing on Midway and Accrue, diploid perennial ryegrasses, click here:
https://f.mtr.cool/fywpjgxoup

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.

08/09/2025

We all know that one person who is amazing at what they do.

That dog whisperer who can get a team of dogs working to perfection.

At PGG Wrightson Seeds, we have Shaun Rooney, the brassica whisperer.

The West Coast native is exploring New Zealand one brassica trial at a time, identifying the potential in certain cultivars, then picking the winners in local conditions.

It is not until Shaun’s pick can win the top consecutive national trials that he deems them worthy enough to be used on farms.

His most recent successes have been Cleancrop™ Sarge kale and now Emblaze kale, both toppling Kestrel kale, previously unbeatable for 20+ years!

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.

06/09/2025

Have you checked out our brand new guide? 👀

If you enjoyed our Forage Options booklet, you’re going to love this. We’ve combined the best of our Forage Options and Brassica & Pasture guides into one powerful resource packed with everything you need from sowing techniques to grazing management.

This isn’t just a product catalogue. It’s your go-to handbook for improving farm performance and profitability.
Click the link to download your own copy today!
https://f.mtr.cool/hazafntogt

This guide is more than a catalogue of our products – it is a practical tool. Inside, you will find information on pasture and crop selection, sowing techniques, grazing management and a PGG Wrightson Seeds Programmed Approach® strategy to complement your overall farm plan.

02/09/2025

It’s go-time at our mixing plants!
We’re flat-out coating seed to get it prepped and ready to give your crop or pasture the best head start. 🌱

Ever wondered how seed treatment works behind the scenes?
Check out this video of Base getting Superstrike® treatment.

Seed treatment helps protect your investment, boost establishment, and support strong early growth.
Learn more about the benefits: pggwrightsonseeds.com/seed-treatment

27/08/2025

Have you noticed wilting or unproductive patches in your pastures this autumn and winter? It’s probably grass grub, a common NZ pasture pest. Larvae feed on and destroy the roots, leading to yellowing, wilting, and patchy pastures and ultimately reduced productivity and persistence. These damaged areas then invite w**d invasion and pose risks to both existing and newly establishing crops.

How to spot them:

Adult beetles are shiny, orange-brown colour, around 10mm long. Flights usually occur from October to December, during which females lay eggs; look out for them flying at dusk.

Larvae: (most damaging to pasture) whitish/grey, C-shaped, segmented, with a darker head and three pairs of legs located on the underside of the body, just behind the head. Eggs hatch after approximately three weeks and larvae feed on plant roots until winter (June), which is when the most pasture damage occurs. They then pupate in early spring, and adults emerge 4-6 weeks later.

Under normal climatic conditions, the grass grub life cycle takes around one year. In cooler or drought-affected regions, it may extend to a two-year cycle, with damage possible in spring.

We’ve been talking about the impact of grass grub and how to identify it. Now let’s go over some management strategies:

Understand the lifecycle: Managing grass grub effectively requires understanding how it grows (read part 1) and how nature helps keep it under control. Disruption to grass grub populations and associated parasitoids, such as through drought or soil cultivation, can trigger outbreaks in the following years. Consider the use of direct drilling and irrigation to mitigate some of these outbreaks occurring.

Use tolerant species: In high-risk areas, consider sowing tolerant pasture species such as tall fescue and cocksfoot.

Minimise stressors: Apply best practise grazing management and fertiliser programmes.

Mechanical control: Strategic heavy rolling in winter can consolidate soil and aid new root growth in surviving plants. Similar results may be achieved by trampling with large mobs of sheep (note: cattle are far less effective).

Seedling protection: Use Superstrike® grass treatment to protect seedlings during establishment. Application must exceed 15 kg/ha and for low population protection only.

Chemical options: Historically organophosphates (e.g., diazinon) have been used. However, this is now limited by environmental regulations.

24/08/2025

Lucerne ticks all the boxes and is a seriously underrated perennial legume. Lucernes like Stamina 5 have a taproot that gives strong drought tolerance and makes it a standout performer in lower rainfall areas. This versatile crop can be grazed in situ or conserved as hay or silage, making it a valuable feed option during times when pasture quality or protein levels are low. If lucerne sounds like a good fit for your farm system, there are a few tips we can offer to help you prepare.

It is important to soil test (150 mm) 6-12 months prior to sowing to understand the fertility levels of your soil and have time to correct any issues. For optimum production a pH over 6.0 is required, this reduces aluminium toxicity and provides the right environment for nitrogen fixing bacteria rhizobia to function.

You will also need to have a herbicide plan to address w**ds prior to sowing that are hard to control within a lucerne sward. Lucerne is sensitive to certain chemical residues, so ensure you have checked past paddock herbicide history before planning, this is particularly important in low rainfall areas, or soils which herbicide residues persist for long periods.

Talk to your local field rep for advice specific to your situation. And find out more about Stamina 5 lucerne on our website: https://pggwrightsonseeds.com/stamina-5

21/08/2025

Seeds in Action® sites are a unique combination of regional research and practical demonstration designed to bring our products and technologies to life on-farm. We currently operate eight across New Zealand, managed by our team of regional forage agronomists.

We’ve located our sites in key regions so that we can try to provide local insights by:
• Quantifying regional performance
• Testing new concepts and management practices
• Evaluating fit within farm systems

Field days and training events are regularly hosted at these sites, providing opportunities to see the research in action.

In addition to Seeds in Action®, we run regional trial sites focused on data collection for new varieties of grasses, legumes, herbs, and brassicas. These trials support and complement the insights gained from the Seeds in Action® programme, ensuring our products are tested under a range of environmental conditions.

20/08/2025

Looking for a way to support healthier, faster-growing stock? Incorporating Puna II chicory into your ruminants’ diet can potentially help reduce the burden of internal parasites inside lambs. Studies show that when chicory makes up ≥70% of the diet’s dry matter, it can significantly reduce worm burdens and faecal egg counts.

How does it work?
• Chicory creates a less hospitable environment for parasite eggs and infective larvae to survive (compared to grass).
• Chicory delivers more high quality protein that helps young stock grow faster through their most vulnerable months.
• Due to condensed tannins and other secondary plant compounds such as lactucin, chicory may help inhibit parasite larvae development inside the lamb.

19/08/2025

7 Benefits of Cleancrop™ Leafy Turnip

1. High-quality feed: Cleancrop™ Leafy turnip is a fast-growing, high-quality feed that allows you to finish a large number of lambs on a small area. Depending on yield and lamb size, you can graze between 35-50 lambs/ha.

2. Quick to grazing: It’s ready 42 to 70 days after sowing, depending on weather conditions.

3. Multiple grazings: In favourable conditions, you can achieve three to four grazings in a single season.

4. Rotational grazing is best: Rotational grazing is more effective than set stocking. For example, sow 10ha and divide it into four 2.5ha blocks to maintain a 28-day rotation.

5. Cleancrop™ w**d control advantage: Cleancrop™ Leafy turnip yields 25% more than standard varieties, even before considering the added benefits of the Cleancrop™ Brassica System.

6. Supports parasite control: Leafy turnip can help reduce parasite pressure. Make sure to carry out a drench check to confirm your current drench is effective.

7. Improved carcass yield: Lambs finished on Cleancrop™ Leafy turnip often achieve a higher dressing-out percentage compared to those finished on pasture.

27/07/2025

More energy, all the way down. Join Goldie as he walks through how our marrow stem type Cleancrop™ Sarge kale has softer stems, improved palatability, and better quality feed – from the top to the bottom.

Learn more about the benefits of Sarge Kale by clicking the link below.
https://pggwrightsonseeds.com/brassicas/cleancrop/sarge-kale