As part of the Hill Country Futures programme, data from forage growth trials is helping farmers match different land management units on their property with the most suitable legume
Understanding how different forages perform across New Zealand’s diverse landscapes is key to making informed decisions about what to plant and where. Data from forage growth trials are helping farmers match their land management units with the most suitable legumes and forage species.
About the trials
Growth data was collected on a range of forages, including red, white, and subterranean clovers, lucerne, plantain, and chicory. Trials were conducted across 12 research and commercial farms throughout New Zealand, covering monocultures, mixed-species pastures, and resident pastures. This information supports improved pasture planning, helping maximise productivity and sustainability in hill country systems.
Explore the resources
- Forage growth trials and study sites – an overview (PDF, 3.4MB)
- Hill Country Futures – study sites used to collect data (podcast)
Hear how data was gathered across different farms and what insights are emerging. - Hill Country Futures study sites (PDF, 1.5 MB)
Summaries of the study sites used, including location details and forage types assessed. - Total annual and seasonal DM production of improved and unimproved resident pastures at three farms in Canterbury (PDF, 1.3 MB)
A deeper dive into dry matter production data from key study sites in the South Island.