A breeding and research facility on the outskirts of Adelaide, animal weight-gain trials prior to the release of new varieties and superior seed treatment packages are just some of the elements that ensure “the best of the best"

in forage and pasture seeds arrives at farm gates ready to sow.

One of the largest producers, marketers and suppliers of seed to Australian agriculture, Pasture Genetics has come a long way since Rob and his wife, Ann, 
first started a feed grain and seed business in 1997.

Today, Pasture Genetics offers about 430 proprietary and common lines of a range of pastures, including lucerne, clovers, medics, grasses, brassicas and forage cereals, it has around 400 contracted seed growers and exports to 30 different countries through South America, Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa.

The company runs the largest lucerne breeding program in the country and dominates the varieties grown, as well as cooperative programs with government and private partners, including from the US and Europe.

Last year, Pasture Genetics produced more than 10,000 tonnes of forage seeds. Exports climbed to 2000 tonne at an average of two shipping containers a week and are set for rapid growth, underpinned by strong product confidence also linked to the company’s unique in-house testing and grazing trials. So it also came as no surprise that Pasture Genetics recently won the agribusiness award in the Business SA 2017 Export Awards.

On its seeds, the company has continued the development of the Goldstrike genetic package for pastures and has had a strategic partnership with Bayer for the application of leading seed treatment chemistry, 
helping to establish healthy crops protected against pests and disease.

“We started a partnership with Bayer because we needed the chemistry – and they are world leaders in this and other seed treatment technologies. It was a very good fit with where we were at.”

“It’s been an all-encompassing and very successful partnership, where we have also used a range of polymers, including binding polymers and encapsulating polymers, as well as other products from Bayer in Europe.

“There’s been a lot going on behind the scenes with Bayer as a strategic partner."

He said the Pasture Genetics team had targeted a specific goal of achieving 1000 live rhizobia per Goldstrike-treated seed at 12 months after application on lucerne, allowing a wider sowing window for farmers.

“We achieved that – and we are the only company in Australia that has it regularly tested by an independent third party."

With sub clover and medic, 1000 rhizobia per Goldstrike-treated seed are still viable six months after application.

“We are the only company guaranteeing this standard and it’s been achieved in partnership with Bayer," Rob said.

“You need the best chemistry package and with Bayer, we have been able to wrap the best genetic and chemistry packages and latest treatment technologies around the seed with long life rhizobia to drive production and profitability in farmers’ paddocks.

“With the tonnes being sown now, there isn’t the ability to inoculate on-farm and so it has to be pre-inoculated. It has to land on-farm, ready to sow.’’

Rob said Gaucho® insecticide seed dressing from Bayer was excellent earlier and the company’s latest Poncho® Plus insecticide treatment was a significant advancement for a range of pastures.“All our proprietary lucernes get Goldstrike and Poncho (Plus),’’ Rob said.

“Poncho Plus is a Group 4A insecticide combining two robust compounds, imidacloprid and clothiandin, effectively broadening the insect control spectrum for farmers.”

He said cutworm had been a significant issue in broadleaf pastures and Poncho Plus provided much greater protection compared with Gaucho for both broadleaf and grass pastures.

It also protects against yellowheaded cockchafer and African black beetle in grasses, and provides suppression of lucerne flea in broadleaf and grass pastures, as well as brassica forage crops. 

“Emerging seedlings get three to four weeks protection against sucking insects – so a one-month window while pastures are establishing,’’ Rob said.

Furthermore, Pasture Genetics also shares production risk with farmers by providing a 30-day seed establishment guarantee, which incorporates environmental and sowing issues and where seed is replaced at half the original purchase price.