Multi-species winter crops – benefiting from diversity
Multi species winter cropping systems are similar to the conventional winter cropping system used in New Zealand, but differ because rather than being a brassica or beet monoculture, there are a range of species grown usually including brassicas, cereals, legumes, herbs and grasses that often regrow after grazing.
Multi-species winter crop (Josh Bradfield’s beef and sheep farm, Otago)
Multi-species winter crop implementation
Farmers experimenting with multi-species winter crops in New Zealand are finding that the diversity can significantly reduce input costs and eliminate the need for insecticides while maintaining sufficient yields and often improved animal performance. As with conventional winter cropping systems, daily crop breaks are given to the stock, often with baleage, hay or straw provided as supplementary feed.
Select a paddock that has minimal slope (less than 7°) and are positioned away from waterways
November-January: Terminate existing pasture or crop – glyphosate is often buffered with things like fulvic acid, fish hydrolysate, EM (effective microorganisms)
Direct drilling recommended
Break fed over winter. For dairy cows 9-12 kgDM/cow/day of crop and 2-5 kgDM/cow/day of supplementary feed such as meadow hay, baleage or ryegrass straw. Rates dependent on feed availability
Size of each break is determined by yields. To avoid damage on a wet day, farmers can double the area and remove supplements and then once it dries out, half the area and double supplements.
Living roots will remain and the diverse crop will regrow and can be grazed again in the spring
If winter was particularly wet and a paddock gets damaged, additional seeds may need to be drilled in the spring
(click on images to open full size)
Key benefits of multi-species winter crops
Environment, soil and pasture
Not grazing to bare ground means that soil is covered, minimizing risk of soil damage, greenhouse gas emissions or nutrient losses
Possible subsequent grazing/s due to the ability for some species to recover after the initial grazing
Leaving a living root will act as a catch crop and help reduce the risk of N leaching through the soil
No cultivation required, preserving soil structure and biology, and minimizing carbon emissions and soil loss
Reduced environmental impact due to reduction in fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide
Diverse flowering species supporting pollinators, beneficial insects and birds
Legumes provide free nitrogen that is fixed from the atmosphere
Stock trampling of crop will help to improve organic matter, protect the soil, feed soil biology and minimize the impact of stock
Animal health + wellbeing
Adding diversity to the stock’s diet can help to better meet their nutritional yields compared to a monocrop
Bare ground is avoided so reduced risk of animals standing in mud
Greg Low reports his stock seemed more content, do not hog into minerals as they do on monoculture crops
People
Reduced opportunity for stress caused by animals standing in mud
Reduced exposure to potentially toxic chemicals
Finances
Some farmers are seeing significantly increased yields
Avoiding cultivation reduces cost
Opportunity to reduce fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicide inputs costs
Key risks and challenges
Yields can vary, will not compete with fodder beet yields and more land will be required
Potential for pasture to still get damaged if crop overgrazed
Choosing a seed mix that is not suitable for the farm due to climate, soil type, irrigation etc
Unexpected re-grassing costs
“The cows loved it. The stock just seem more content, they don’t hog into the minerals the same.
“Our heifers came off and calved down last spring, and they seemed to have a bit of ‘punch’ in their step. They were stronger animals.
“We had a pretty good in-calf rate for those animals…they probably grow out a bit better.”
Greg Low, mid-Canterbury dairy farmer
(Source: ‘Regenerative winter grazing innovations’ video 01:)
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