If your pastures took a hiding during the wet autumn and winter, this is the right time to check the extent of the damage and make a plan to get them growing good grass again as soon as possible.

 

There are several ways to restore dry matter production; the one thing we definitely do not recommend is leaving those paddocks untouched. This can end up costing more than you think it will, because that lost DM has to be replaced somehow and it usually comes in the form of bought in supplement.

 

Some paddocks will recover if they haven’t been too badly pugged.

 

Summer cropping is usually the best option for those which have been severely damaged; areas which are less affected can be undersown with Shogun as soon as soil temperatures warm up.

 

Whether you do this yourself, or get a contractor in, don’t wait too long. When it comes to filling the bare gaps in damaged pastures, it’s a race now between you and the weeds, and the weeds are always keen to win.