Publication Date

1989

Description

Most pasture cultivars used for pastoral development in New Zealand's South Island hill and high Country are conventional species, bred primarily for intensive lowland farming systems. Recently, however, as the limitations of relying on broadly adaptable "national" cultivars over a very wide range of environments and farming systems have been realised, more breeding and selection programmes have focused on the identi­fication and development of plants for specific regions, environments and farming systems (Corkill et al., 1981). Because of the extreme environmental diversity, new pasture species and cultivars should have a greater role in grazing systems in the South Island hill and high country th􀀄n else­where in New Zealand (Keoghan, 1985a). In practice, the potential of alternative pasture species and cultivars to irr_iprove the efficiency and cost effectiveness of South Island hill and high country pastoral systems has barely been tapped. Intro­duction of some new species and cultivars has been marred by misunderstandings about their agronomic attributes and environmental adaptation. Lancashire (1985) stated that although considerable infor­mation has been published in research journals, at conferences and in the agricultural press, large-scale demonstrations on commercial units and on-farm experiences are probably more important in increasing the rate of adoption of novel or alter­native cultivars. However, in the past, many large-scale on­farm trials in the hill and high country have lacked valid comparisons between the alternative cultivars. Replicated small-plot trials on the other hand have lacked cred1b1hty with farmers because of their small size and their possible lack ofrel­ evance to practical farm management. Another important li􀀒i­tation is that replicates have seldom been representative enough of the widely different environments within most hill and high country landscapes.

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On-Farm Investigative Development: Bridging the Gap Between Pasture Plant Breeder, Agronomist, Consultant and Farmer

Most pasture cultivars used for pastoral development in New Zealand's South Island hill and high Country are conventional species, bred primarily for intensive lowland farming systems. Recently, however, as the limitations of relying on broadly adaptable "national" cultivars over a very wide range of environments and farming systems have been realised, more breeding and selection programmes have focused on the identi­fication and development of plants for specific regions, environments and farming systems (Corkill et al., 1981). Because of the extreme environmental diversity, new pasture species and cultivars should have a greater role in grazing systems in the South Island hill and high country th􀀄n else­where in New Zealand (Keoghan, 1985a). In practice, the potential of alternative pasture species and cultivars to irr_iprove the efficiency and cost effectiveness of South Island hill and high country pastoral systems has barely been tapped. Intro­duction of some new species and cultivars has been marred by misunderstandings about their agronomic attributes and environmental adaptation. Lancashire (1985) stated that although considerable infor­mation has been published in research journals, at conferences and in the agricultural press, large-scale demonstrations on commercial units and on-farm experiences are probably more important in increasing the rate of adoption of novel or alter­native cultivars. However, in the past, many large-scale on­farm trials in the hill and high country have lacked valid comparisons between the alternative cultivars. Replicated small-plot trials on the other hand have lacked cred1b1hty with farmers because of their small size and their possible lack ofrel­ evance to practical farm management. Another important li􀀒i­tation is that replicates have seldom been representative enough of the widely different environments within most hill and high country landscapes.