LUCERNE is without a doubt one of the most versatile, resilient and widely used fodder species and is utilised across a wide range of farming operations across Australia.
It is little wonder that it is often described as the "king of fodder".
With a late winter-early spring sowing just around the corner, now is the time to be looking at lucerne and planning how it might be used on the farm this year.
If the soils are suitable for lucerne, then it should definitely be a key consideration in the feed management plan.
As with any pasture or cropping option, getting the most out of lucerne still requires good planning and management.
So despite lucerne's obvious benefits, the first rule is: have a plan.
Poor planning leads to poor management.
Over grazing or mismanagement of a lucerne stand can significantly hasten its decline - reducing nutritional value and limiting productivity.
When planning a lucerne sowing, there are a number of elements that should be looked at.
Firstly, ensure a paddock is selected that is suitable for lucerne.
Drainage characteristics of the paddock need to checked to ensure they drain well. With irrigation, well-levelled bays with no hollows are needed; at least 1:800 slope; and the ability to irrigate and drain within eight hours.
Secondly, take the time to identify and understand the weeds and pests that are present.
It is important to eradicate weeds and pests prior to sowing and to then keep the stand clean throughout its life cycle.
Early control is critical to provide establishment for new lucerne.
Finally, a clear plan for the intended use of the lucerne is needed.
Once the plan is in place, choosing the right variety for the job is the next priority. This will be influenced by the operation and location.
In this regard, dormancy is a key consideration.
The location and the intended purpose for the lucerne crop will determine the dormancy rating to choose.
If lucerne is intended as a high quality feed during times of the year when a grass pasture base cannot supply feed of adequate quality then a lucerne that has persistence and tolerance over a long time will be appropriate.
Mixed farming operations need to be able to adjust their focus between crop and livestock enterprises based on the relative commodity prices at the time.
They need a lucerne with some winter activity for finishing stock, as well good grazing tolerance that persists and will produce well for up to eight years.
Farmers growing lucerne in a rotation with cropping need to look to a lucerne variety that will establish quickly, provide good winter and warm season production and fix maximum nitrogen over the short 3-5 year lucerne phase.
These are just some of the options, and as with all on-farm planning, there are many other issues to consider.
Sowing rates, grazing frequency, stand density, pest and weed management, timing of sowing and ratings of different varieties will all influence how successful lucerne can be.
PGG Wrightson Seeds has recently released a Forage Focus on lucerne that covers these and many other important issues related to the selection, establishment and management of a range of lucerne varieties in a range of conditions.
Based on PGG Wrightson Seeds extensive research and commitment to improving lucerne varieties and management, this free resource will help farmers get the most out of their lucerne.
At the end of the day this is about driving productivity and profitability on-farm.
With the benefit of strong commodity prices, the right variety for the right job will turn a good year into a great year.
