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NZ adapted sub clover commercially available after 40 years
NZ adapted sub c lover commercially available af ter 40 years
By Sandra Taylor
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Asubterranean clover adapted for North Island hill country farming systems is about to hit the market after decades of sitting on the shelf. Puawaa is an ecotype of the subterranean (sub) clovers (Mt Barker and Tallarook) oversown on North Island hill country in the 1940s and 50s. In the 1980s, plant scientists including Dr Gavin Sheath, surveyed hill country pastures from the upper North Island. They described the plants, particularly white and sub clovers, and found they were very different to cultivars being sold at that time. They were smaller, more dense and able to persist under intensive, set-stocking grazing regimes, particularly in spring. In the late 1980s, working at Whatawhata Research Centre near Hamilton, scientists selected a line of sub clover they thought would be more suitable for low fertility, intensively grazed, dry hill country than the Australian sub clovers on the market at the time. “It was more prostrate, dense and later flowering than the Australian sub clovers and more importantly, it was adapted to New Zealand farming conditions.” In the late 1990s, the clover (given the title WS1801) went through all the testing regimes and registrations required to commercialise it with AgResearch having ownership of it, but the clover never made it to market – until now.
A decade ago, North Canterbury-based seed company Luisetti Seeds acquired the licence to the sub clover and sent it to Australia for commercial-scale multiplication. There is now sufficient seed to make this clover commercially available. “The base material for this cultivar has its origins in multiple sites in upper North Island hill country; that is intensively grazed, dryish, steep hill country,” says Dr Sheath.
After over 30 years, a sub-clover specifically adapted to North Island Hill country is being released on the market. Andrew Johnston from Luisetti Seeds. The company acquired the licence to Puawaa and are making commercially available this spring.
Seeing an opportunity
The resurgence in popularity in cool season sub clovers, particularly in low rainfall areas along the east coast of both Islands, prompted Canterbury seed company Luisetti Seeds to go looking for a sub clover that complemented its existing range of sub clovers in terms of flowering date, seeding ability and drymatter production. Andrew Johnston from Luisetti Seeds says they were searching for a clover with a prostrate crown, runners and a later season flowering date as these characteristics all promote re-seeding. He says Puawaa ticked all the boxes in term of drymatter production as well as being an exceptional re-seeder. It has the ability to produce more than 200 plants per square metre and yield over 1000kg/DM/ha in spring. “It is particularly exciting that this is the only sub clover selected in NZ specifically for NZ hill country environments.”
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SPECIALISE IN CARTING TO THE CRESCO PROUD SUPPORTERS
SMALL BEEF BLOCK DANNEVIRKE
70 HECTARES
How often can you get into the market to raise beef for under one million dollars? Here's an opportunity to purchase this 70 hectare (172 acre) beef block that is located approximately 30 minutes from Dannevirke, in Weber. With a relatively new set of cattle yards, race and handy load-out facilities and in two paddocks, your part-time farming is sorted.
Jerome Pitt
Wet winter conditions produce var iable results
Data released today by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) shows there were 127 fewer farm sales (-33.8%) for the three months ended July 2022 than for the three months ended July 2021. Overall, there were 249 farm sales in the three months ended July 2022, compared to 331 farm sales for the three months ended June 2022 (-24.8%), and 376 farm sales for the three months ended July 2021. 1,590 farms were sold in the year to July 2022, 289 fewer than were sold in the year to July 2021, with 3% more Dairy farms, 31% fewer Dairy Support, 25% fewer Grazing farms, 13.5% fewer Finishing farms and 19.4% fewer Arable farms sold over the same period. The median price per hectare for all farms sold in the three months to July 2022 was $27,220 compared to $27,180 recorded for three months ended July 2021 (+0.1%). The median price per hectare decreased 2.9% compared to June 2022.
The REINZ All Farm Price Index decreased 2.4% in the three months to July 2022 compared to the three months to June 2022. Compared to the three months ending July 2021 the REINZ All Farm Price Index increased 13.9%. The REINZ All Farm Price Index adjusts for differences in farm size, location, and farming type, unlike the median price per hectare, which does not adjust for these factors.
One region recorded an increase in the number of farm sales for the three months ended July 2022 compared to the three months ended July 2021, being Southland (+8 sales). Northland (-22 sales) and Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay (-18 sales) recorded the biggest decreases in sales. Compared to the three months ended June 2022, one region recorded an increase in sales, being Auckland (+3 sales). Brian Peacocke, Rural Spokesman at REINZ says: “Sales statistics for the three-month period ending July 2022 indicate a significant reduction in farm sales throughout the country, being 45% down on the same period last year (2021) and 29% down on the July period two years ago (2020). “The combination of the wettest July for many years and the mid-winter temperatures clearly impacted on the enthusiasm within the rural sector to transact, and when the external factors of inflation, rampant cost escalation and increasing interest rates are added to the mix, the outcome was somewhat inevitable. “Despite the above, whilst an easing in the milk price is being signaled, the end of season return looks good and will offset to a degree the negative issues mentioned above. “Returns from beef and lamb remain strong, with steadily increasing prices for store cattle now reflecting a shortage of supply brought about in part by the strong drought-induced rate of slaughter experienced during the autumn and early winter. “Current strong returns for horticulture and vegetable products are good news for producers, albeit not necessarily sufficient to offset the shortage and cost of labour being experienced throughout the rural sector.
Regrettably, such high prices are not necessarily good news for the broad range of consumers. “Trading banks confirm enthusiasm for future business, but that position appears at times to conflict with conditions relating to the uptake of funds by those seeking financial accommodation. “Having canvassed opinion within the rural sector to quite an extent, it is clear caution prevails within the industry, and there is an underlying and increasing degree of resentment regarding the mix of economic constraints and environmental impositions emanating from what would appear to be a less than sympathetic central authority,” he concludes.
Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay
Two sales of larger grazing properties on the East Coast portion of the Gisborne district. Good prices paid for finishing units in Central Hawke’s Bay, light activity on orchards west of Napier.
Northland/Auckland
A steady well-spread run of sales of finishing properties throughout Northland; reduced numbers of grazing units and as would be expected for July, no sales of dairy farms. Auckland registered light activity in both drystock sectors.
Waikato/King Country/Taupo
Like their northern neighbours, registrable activity in the finishing and grazing sectors, with strong prices paid for good finishing units, that activity being spread from Hauraki to the Matamata, Waipa and Otorohanga districts. Quiet in the Taupo district.
Bay of Plenty/Rotorua
Quieter activity but good prices achieved for G3 Kiwi fruit orchards in the Te Puke district; one larger dairy farm sale in the Rotoma district. Very quiet in the Rotorua and Reporoa districts.
BARELAND BLOCK DANNEVIRKE
228 hectares (563 acres) of bareland in it's own title located 43kms from Dannevirke on Route 52. 63.4 hectares second rotation pines (not eligible for carbon). 15.5 hectares registered trees. 9 paddocks between 10 hectares and 27.3 hectares. Ideal as a grazing and/or forestry block. 6kms metal tracks providing excellent access for future tree harvesting. Excellent forestry infrastructure due to second rotation. Currently farmed as part of a larger farm so no production, rating or CV information available.
Jerome Pitt
WHEN LOCATION & CONTOUR COUNT DANNEVIRKE
15 Okarae Road is a 102 hectare (252 acre) bareland block located in the heart of Tararua and only 13kms from Dannevirke. Comprising of 45 hectares of easy country with a further 40 hectares of rolling hill country, the property is well suited as a breeding or finishing block. This bareland block has an excellent fertiliser history, there is access to water in each of the 20 plus paddocks and the property's infrastructure includes a 2 stand woolshed, 220 night pen and 2 bay haybarn. Call me today to view.
