Consider direct drilling to renew pasture after grass grub/porina damage

Region: Taranaki, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, ManawatÅ«, Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson-Tasman, West Coast, Canterbury, 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.

---

Look for pests, esp. slugs & feeding grass grubs when direct drilling new pasture

Region: All NZ

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

---

Pasture infested with Yellow bristle grass? Consider forage crops.

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 > Direct Drilling > Grass > Grass grub > Porina > Slugs > Weed Alert > Yellow bristle grass