Consider direct drilling for grass grub/porina pasture damage

Region: Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Taranaki, Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson-Tasman, Canterbury, West Coast, Otago, Southland. 

For pastures badly affected by either grass grub or porina over winter and needing renewal, consider direct drilling. This will preserve naturally occurring diseases of these pests that are building up in the soil and which will provide long term population regulation. Leave sowing as late as possible as both pests, especially in the south, may still be feeding and could devastate establishing seedlings. Be aware that slugs and clover root weevil may also be present in damaging numbers.

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Look for pests when direct drilling new pasture

Region: All NZ

If pasture establishment will be by direct drilling,  check those pastures for pests, especially slugs and feeding grass grub as even low numbers can devastate young seedlings of pasture or crop plants.

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Consider forage crops to control Summer-grasses

Region: Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato

If your run-out pasture was infested with summer-active grass weeds (such as yellow bristle grass) last summer, consider growing a forage crop for one or two summers prior to sowing the perennial pasture. This provides the opportunity to selectively spray the summer-active grasses and prevent weed seeds from replenishing the seed bank and infesting newly sown pastures.

 

Social tagging: AgPest > Damage > Direct Drilling > Grass grub > Porina > Weed Alert