Which lucerne is best if I mainly want to make quality hay and have the stand last for years?
We recommend L70 Lucerne, a semi-winter dormant, highly persistent variety known for high-yielding quality hay. Its high leaf-to-stem ratio lifts both quality and yield, and it has excellent pest and disease resistance. It suits 400mm+ rainfall and sandy to loamy soils, and we supply it Goldstrike coated.
Is a winter dormant lucerne better than a winter active one?
It depends on your system. A semi-winter dormant variety like our L70 Lucerne (rating 7) puts less growth into winter and is valued for persistence and hay quality. Highly winter active types such as L91 or L97 give more cool-season feed. If long-lived hay stands are the goal, L70 is a strong choice.
What sowing rate should I use for lucerne on a dryland farm?
For our L70 Lucerne we recommend 4 to 10 kg/ha on dryland country, and 18 to 25 kg/ha under irrigation. Use the higher end of the dryland range where rainfall is more reliable. L70 needs at least 400mm rainfall, suits sands to loams, and should be inoculated with Group AL.
Can lucerne cope with sandy soils that get a bit wet and slightly salty?
Yes, L70 Lucerne suits sandy to loamy soils and tolerates waterlogging and mild salinity. It's adaptable across various soil types, which makes it a reliable choice for consistent yields. For paddocks with more serious salt, we'd point you to L97 Lucerne, our most salt tolerant variety.
How should I graze a lucerne stand so it lasts?
We recommend rotational grazing with rest periods so plants can recover and rebuild root reserves, rather than set stocking. Our L70 Lucerne is highly persistent, but avoid grazing too hard, especially through summer and when plants are stressed. Wait until a new stand is well established before the first graze.
Which lucerne has good resistance to aphids and diseases?
L70 Lucerne has excellent resistance to pests and diseases, which helps stands stay productive and persistent. We still recommend monitoring for aphids and redlegged earth mite at establishment. L70 is semi-winter dormant, suits 400mm+ rainfall on sands to loams, and is ideal for grazing and hay.
Is lucerne hay OK to feed my horses?
Good quality lucerne hay is widely fed to horses and valued for its protein and palatability, though it's rich, so we suggest feeding it as part of a balanced ration. Our L70 Lucerne is known for high-yielding, leafy, quality hay with a high leaf-to-stem ratio. Always cure hay well to avoid mould.
What should I sow with lucerne for a grazing pasture on sandy loam?
Lucerne such as L70 combines well with a grass to spread feed and dilute bloat risk. Depending on rainfall, we suggest Wimmera or Tetila ryegrass for winter feed, or a summer-active grass like Gatton Panic on lighter soils. 6 Point Chicory also mixes well. Talk to us about a Custom Mix.
What do I need to do to get lucerne to nodulate properly?
Lucerne needs Group AL inoculant at sowing so the rhizobia can form nodules and fix nitrogen. We recommend this for our L70 Lucerne, along with sowing into moist, well-prepared soil. Very acidic soils can limit nodulation, so soil test first and lime where needed.
L70 vs Sceptre lucerne, which is better for hay?
L70 is our choice for long-term hay stands: it's semi-winter dormant, highly persistent and has a high leaf-to-stem ratio for quality. Sceptre is an older, highly winter active variety recommended for shorter 2 to 4 year rotations, and also suits hay, grazing and silage. Both have strong pest and disease resistance.
