PGG Wrightson Seeds

Taking the category win for the cultivated kale section in the 2026 Taieri Winter Feed Competition was Graeme Wallace of Hopehill at his finishing block at Momona, Otago. Yielding at least 18 t DM/ha, the Cleancrop™ Sarge kale stood out to the judges not only for its total yield but also for the amount of leaf present on the crop.

Local PGG Wrightson Seeds field representative Lucy Bell explains that Cleancrop™ Sarge is a relatively recent release in the Cleancrop™ Brassica system, and to date, it has exceeded expectations. As seen in this crop, yields are high, but what has been particularly noticeable here and elsewhere is the high utilisation afforded not only by the high leaf yield but also by the softer stems associated with the cultivar.

Graeme acknowledges the support he received in growing the crop from his local Highland Agri Solutions representative, Drew Curruthers, and Superior Minerals representative, Tim Adcock. Graeme cultivated and sowed his Cleancrop™ Sarge kale after the paddock was in swedes last season. Importantly for him, the Cleancrop™ brassica system allowed control of w**ds carried over from the previous crop and helped mitigate the risk of w**ds in newly sown pasture after the crop is finished.

To grow good crops requires the right crop selection, along with attention to detail throughout the entire process, from establishment through to feeding. One of the advantages Graeme is capitalising on with Cleancrop™ Sarge kale is its flexibility to feed from autumn through to late winter; in his case, he already had two-year-old cattle grazing the kale from mid to late May.

Given the results he achieved this year, Graeme fully expects to be using the Cleancrop™ Brassica system again this coming season and utilising his local support networks to grow next year’s winning crop. From PGG Wrightson Seeds, we congratulate Graeme on his category win and all those involved with the Taieri Winter Feed Competition.

PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds has been supporting New Zealand farmers for over 160 years. With more than $18 million invested annually in research and development, we’re leading the way in forage and endophyte innovation.

Nick Roulston, who farms near Outram, Otago, on his sheep and beef property Dusky Farms, is seeing outstanding results from using Cleancrop™ in his forage cropping programme. At this year’s Taieri Winter Feed Competition, Nick delivered an impressive performance, taking out both “Up the Hill” categories for direct-drilled swede and kale, as well as runner-up overall for his kale crop.

The competition also serves as a fundraiser for local charities, with goods donated by local businesses auctioned off and organised by the community Lions and Rotary clubs. This year, the event raised an all-time high of $100,500, many thanks to everyone involved.

Nick acknowledges the support of local field representative Richard Doherty from Highlands Agri Solutions, along with the work carried out in the region by PGG Wrightson Seeds. Their demonstrations have shown how these crops can be successfully grown and highlighted the value of Cleancrop™, especially the Hawkestone swede cultivar, which won this year’s category and has previously been used on farm.

To grow his Cleancrop™ Hawkestone swede crop, Nick uses a straightforward system. He begins by spraying out early with glyphosate to lock in soil moisture, an essential factor in this environment, and to remove existing vegetation. Approximately 4 to 6 weeks later, before sowing, he applies a second clean-up spray using glyphosate along with Telar® herbicide, which is part of the Cleancrop™ package.

The crop is direct drilled using every second coulter with 250kg/ha of boronated DAP applied, with timing and simplicity key to successful establishment. Ongoing monitoring, fertiliser and pest control delivered strong results, with yields exceeding 15t DM/ha, something that would have been unheard of in the region just a few years ago.

By mid-May, lambs were already grazing the top leaves of the swede crop, with dry hoggets utilising it as the region’s cold winter set in. The use of Cleancrop™ brassicas is targeted to paddocks with known w**d issues that the technology can control.

On behalf of PGG Wrightson Seeds, a long-term supporter of the Taieri Winter Feed Competition, congratulations to Nick, everyone who supports and runs the event, and all other competitions across local communities.

PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds has been supporting New Zealand farmers for over 160 years. With more than $18 million invested annually in research and development, we’re leading the way in forage and endophyte innovation.

Tag the hardest-working farmer you know and tell us why.

We all know someone who's first up and last to leave, putting in the hard yards no matter the weather. Tag the good bu**er in your life and tell us why they deserve a bit of recognition this winter.

We'll choose one deserving winner to receive a Kaiwaka Stormforce Jacket.

Terms and conditions apply.

PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds has been supporting New Zealand farmers for over 160 years. With more than $18 million invested annually in research and development, we’re leading the way in forage and endophyte innovation.

Look closely at the following photo and see if you can spot a pasture pest that can rob you of grass tillers and reduce pasture production.

Quietly sucking sap from roots, root aphids can be hard to see, which means they are often underestimated in the damage they can do. Often, our only way of identifying them is by their trademark white waxy layer found near the bottom of plant roots.

On a recent visit to the Murchison ryegrass trial, our seeds team noticed the old variety, Nui, had significant production loss relative to other new cultivars. The main difference was that Nui contained no endophyte. This confirms the known benefits of AR37 endophyte, unlike cultivars without endophyte, AR37 offers protection against a variety of pasture pests, including root aphid.

This season, make sure you have the best defence against these crooks by using AR37 or AR128 endophyte in cultivars such as Midway, Accrue, and Vast.

PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds has been supporting New Zealand farmers for over 160 years. With more than $18 million invested annually in research and development, we’re leading the way in forage and endophyte innovation.

How can forage crops help combat internal parasite resistance?

Our team has been exploring the role forage crops can play as part of an integrated parasite management strategy, helping farmers tackle one of the industry's ongoing challenges.

Read all about the trial and key insights in our new Internal Parasite Management Guide.

Grass and Forage Seed | PGG Wrightson Seeds | PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds supports NZ farmers with proven seed genetics and expert advice to grow high-quality pasture and forage for better productivity.

Don’t Let Worms & Facial Eczema Impact Your Bottom Line This Season

Dont miss the opportunity to join the team at the upcoming Beef + Lamb New Zealand Worms & Facial Eczema Field Day for practical, on-farm advice to help protect stock health, improve productivity, and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Facial eczema continues to be one of New Zealand’s most costly livestock diseases, with many animals suffering hidden production losses before symptoms are even visible. This field day is a great opportunity to hear from industry experts, discuss local challenges, and learn practical strategies around parasite management, FE prevention, monitoring, and long-term resilience planning.

When: Mon 15 June, 10:00am - 1:30pm
Where: Neil and Stacey Fagan's Farm, 143 Paritikona Road, Kopaki, Te Kuiti, NZ

Registrations open below:

B+LNZ Worms and Facial Eczema Field Day B+LNZ provides trusted information about our sector and our farming businesses, and a range of interactive tools to help with planning and business decisions.