As seen in Farm Weekly, 29/01/2026

For 60 years, Irwin Hunter & Co. (IHSeeds) has been helping Western Australian farmers grow stronger, more productive pastures.

In a state known for its highly variable climates, challenging soils and diverse farming systems, having the right seed in the ground can make all the difference.

IHSeeds supplies proven pasture varieties and expertly designed seed mixes that are selected specifically to perform across WA's unique environments.

Whether farmers choose one of IHSeeds' Specialist seed mixes or work with the team to create a custom Mix & Match combination, the objective remains the same: to improve pasture growth, livestock performance and long-term soil health.

Strong pastures are the engine room of any livestock enterprise, driving both profitability and sustainability.

Better pasture means more feed grown in the paddock, healthier animals, improved weight gains or milk production, and less reliance on purchased feed.

This is why IHSeeds places such a strong focus on seed quality, persistence and seasonal growth.

Its mixes combine proven ryegrasses, legumes and companion species, carefully matched to soil type, rainfall and grazing systems.

It is an investment that pays off.

Inferior seed leads to thin, patchy paddocks and lost production, while high-quality varieties and balanced blends build reliable pastures that last longer and deliver better returns.

Western Australia's farming landscapes can vary dramatically from one paddock to the next, with sandy soils, heavy clays, low rainfall and waterlogging often found within the same region or across your farm.

IHSeeds has developed its range to match these conditions, giving growers a better chance of success no matter where they farm.

These pasture and cover crop mixes combine different species to support both production and soil health and are designed to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, provide strong winter and spring growth, extend feed into summer and autumn when moisture allows, improve soil structure and water infiltration, and reduce erosion and weed pressure.

The diversity built into these mixes also allows farmers to see which species perform best on their own properties, creating a valuable benchmark for future pasture programs and custom mixes for your farm.

Livestock productivity and performance starts with what grows in the paddock.

IHSeeds' pasture mixes, including SouWest, Silahay, Self Regeneration, Maximix, Irrigation Mix, Cover Crop Plus, Western Annual and Interow, are designed to deliver high-quality, palatable and nutritious forage.

By combining grasses with legumes, these mixes provide higher protein and energy levels, improved animal health, longer grazing seasons and more consistent feed supply.

For dairy producers, this translates into better milk yield and quality.

For beef and sheep producers, it means faster growth and stronger condition.

For horse owners, Equi1st Mix – a blend of annuals and perennials – delivers balanced nutrition with lower sugars and starch for healthier horses, while also being suitable for all livestock and capable of producing year-round feed where soil moisture allows.

Mix & Match your seed to your farm

No two farms or paddocks are the same, which is why IHSeeds offers its Mix & Match service.

This allows farmers to customise pasture or cover crop mixes to suit their soil type, rainfall, grazing system, livestock and production goals.

Whether the aim is maximum feed, improved soil health, self-regenerating pastures or summer resilience, IHSeeds can create a mix that fits the system.

Productivity, profit and sustainability

In today's farming environment, every decision should deliver both productivity and sustainability.

One of the most important investments a grower can make is in the quality of the seed they sow, and IHSeeds pasture mixes continue to prove that the right species and variety balance can generate long-term economic and environmental returns.

High-performing pastures reduce the need for supplementary feeding, lowering input costs while maintaining strong livestock performance.

Built on deep-rooted grasses and legumes, they also improve water infiltration, reduce runoff and erosion, and enhance soil health.

IHSeeds mixes go beyond feed production by improving soil structure and biology, building organic matter, cutting fertiliser requirements and delivering a more resilient, profitable and environmentally sustainable farming system.

IHSeeds pasture mixes are designed to promote biodiversity and include nitrogen-fixing legumes that naturally build soil fertility.

By converting atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available forms, these legumes reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilisers, cutting costs while improving soil health.

This approach also aligns closely with growing market demand for environmentally responsible and regenerative farming systems.

For Western Australian farmers working across highly variable climates and soils, the value of using high-quality pasture seed underpins productive, resilient pastures.

Irwin Hunter & Co.'s proven and custom blends give growers the tools to overcome regional challenges, lift livestock productivity and build more resilient farming systems.

Investing in premium seed is not simply a seasonal decision—it is a long-term strategy that delivers returns year after year.

As more producers adopt regenerative practices or look to reduce chemical inputs, maintaining balanced soil pH and active soil biology becomes increasingly important.

IHSeeds microbial bio stimulant BioNPK Powder S plays a valuable role in this process.

This broad-spectrum biological product contains beneficial microorganisms that convert nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium into forms plants can readily absorb.

Mycorrhizal fungi enhances phosphorus uptake and helps protect roots from harmful pathogens, while Trichoderma viride supports stronger growth and improved stress tolerance.

ECOCERT approved, BioNPK Powder S is offered as a seed coating across selected IHSeeds mixes—including Maximix, Interow, Cover Crop Plus winter and summer and Nitro Mix—as well as Mix & Match custom blends.

It can also be applied directly to bare soil at or after planting and is compatible with liquid fertiliser programs, making it easy to integrate into both conventional and regenerative systems.

Together, premium seed, diverse species and biological support provide Western Australian farmers with a powerful pathway to healthier soils, stronger pastures and more profitable, sustainable farming into the future.

IHSeeds has developed a wide range of pasture and cover crop mixes to suit Western Australia's many soil types, rainfall zones and farming systems.

Each blend is designed to deliver reliable feed, improve soil health and give farmers flexibility as seasons change.

  • SouWest Pasture Mix
    A highly popular, high-performing blend of annual and perennial ryegrasses with clovers. It delivers strong production, suits regenerative systems and provides reliable feed across a wide range of conditions.
  • Equi1st
    The No.1 choice for horse paddocks, Equi1st combines annual and perennial grasses to produce a healthy, balanced pasture and quality hay. It is lower in sugars and starch, moderate in protein and highly palatable — making it ideal for horses and suitable for all livestock. Where soil moisture allows, it can provide feed year-round.
  • Silahay Mix
    A big-producing blend of ryegrasses and clovers designed for both grazing and high-quality silage and hay. Built for farmers chasing bulk and quality.
  • Self Regeneration Mix
    A blend of subterranean and aerial-seeded clovers over an ARGT-resistant Safeguard ryegrass base. Designed to reduce the risk of ARGT poisoning in Wimmera-affected areas, while also performing well in lower rainfall zones and across a wide range of soil types.
  • MaxiMix
    A high-value mix that combines early, mid and late-maturing diploid and tetraploid ryegrasses, oats and aerial-seeded clovers. It extends your growing season and delivers high-quality, nutritious feed for longer.
  • Irrigation Mix
    A high-production blend of Italian and hybrid ryegrasses with Haifa white clover. Designed for irrigated systems, it provides extended seasonal growth and strong performance for dairy and livestock enterprises.
  • Nitro Mix
    A legume-rich blend of subterranean and aerial-seeded clovers with hard-seeded serradella. Built to boost soil nitrogen, improve structure and support regenerative and cover-cropping programs.
  • Western Annual Ryegrass Mix
    A carefully selected range of early to mid-late maturing diploid and tetraploid annual ryegrasses with exceptional production and vigour to give you feed right through the growing season.
  • Interow
    A fast-establishing mix of perennial grasses, oats, tillage radish, legumes and clovers that delivers ground cover, grazing and mulch. It improves soil health, captures nutrients, reduces erosion, suppresses weeds and attracts beneficial insects — also ideal for regenerative pastures and cover cropping.
  • Green Manure Mix
    A quick six-week crop that builds soil fast. It improves structure, adds nutrients, suppresses weeds and can also be grazed for extra feed before mulching.
  • Cover Crop Plus – Winter
    A 13-species blend that delivers high biomass, nitrogen-fixing legumes, soil-building plants and flowering species for beneficial insects. It protects bare ground and can be grazed, mulched or incorporated.
  • Cover Crop Plus – Summer
    A high-biomass summer blend that blankets the soil, improves water infiltration, adds nitrogen, reduces erosion and suppresses weeds and pests.
  • Mix & Match
    Build your own blend to suit your paddocks, stock and goals. Whether you need more feed, better soil, summer growth or regeneration, IHSeeds can tailor a mix to fit your farm.

In an industry where every decision counts, investing in the right pasture seed remains one of the most powerful tools farmers have.

For Western Australian growers looking to strengthen their pastures and future-proof their businesses, IHSeeds continues to deliver proven solutions, tailored for local conditions and built for long-term success.