Focus farm forecast for

The 295ha Southland Demonstration Farm is a leased farm operated on behalf of Southland dairy farmers. Approximately 800 cows are wintered on crops on the platform. The farm is involved in DairyNZ’s Wintering Systems Project and is also one of five farms in the Southern South Island Monitor Farm Project.The farm comprises a mix of heavy poorly drained gley soils, well-drained recent silts in the flood plain, and other silt loams, some poorly drained. A pasture renewal programme incorporates winter crops and short-term ryegrasses prior to permanent pasture being sown.

Project farms
Pasture Growth Forecast for (kg DM/ha)

Reading the graph

 Shown above is the pasture growth predicted from NIWA climate forecasts and the current soil moisture. The Typical Range shows the pasture growth rate range within which 50% of all years fall.

   Typical range    5 day forecast    Forecast for days 6-14  
Forecasts use NIWA climate data
Reading the graph
Shown above is the pasture growth predicted from NIWA climate forecasts and the current soil moisture. The typical range shows the pasture growth rate range within which 50% of all years fall.

   Typical range    5 day forecast    Forecast for days 6-14  
Funded by New Zealand dairy farmers through DairyNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries through the Primary Growth Partnership.