As seen in Farm Weekly, 28/02/2013

Silahay is for those farmers who are looking for a lower cost ryegrass and clover mix that will provide early establishment vigour with high quality bulk for silage and hay in the spring.

By using the Silahay mixture, with near equal proportions of diploid and tetraploid ryegrasses plus uncoated clovers, increased plant numbers will be sown compared to mixtures based around tetraploid ryegrasses and coated clovers sown at the same rate per hectare.

The editorial set out a comparison between Silahay mix with uncoated clover seed and a theoretical mix containing tetraploid ryegrasses and coated clover seed (note: very fine clover seeds generally have a 100 per cent coat).

Silahay is made up of 15kg Abundant, 8kg Dargo, 1kg Paradana balansa and 1kg Persian clover, a total of 25kg of seed carrying approximately 10,150,000 seeds. Sown at 20 kg/ha it delivers about 8,120,000 seeds/ha at a cost of $100.00/ha. The theoretical mix of 10kg tetraploid A, 10kg tetraploid B and 5kg coated clover carries about 8,000,000 seeds in 25kg, and sown at 25 kg/ha delivers about 8,000,000 seeds/ha at a cost of $112.50/ha, a saving of $12.50/ha.

What does this mean?

A farmer could reduce their seeding rate by 20pc, while still sowing more seeds per hectare and saving $12.50/ha approximately in cost.

Silahay mix variety summary

  • Abundant: An extremely high yielding tetraploid tested in WA and a proven performer.
  • Dargo diploid: A proven performer over many years from Esperance to Geraldton in areas over 400mm growing season rainfall.
  • Paradana balansa: Excellent producer over the winter/spring period and provides excellent bulk to ryegrass crops.
  • Flash Persian: Produces high quality forage that will improve the feed value of silage and hay crops. Produces some hard seed for regeneration the following year.

Silahay mix will provide an extremely cost effective pasture and crop that will make the farmer money. It will suit a wide range of farming systems and soil types in the 450mm plus rainfall zones.

We believe this will provide an excellent quality crop that will achieve high yields where supported by appropriate nutrition.