Forage OatsPlantingGuide

T H E B E S T C R O P S S T A R T W I T H T H E B E S T S E E D S

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Purpose-bred for grazing, hay and silagePioneer® brand Graza oat varieties are later in maturity, have large broadleaves, are more vigorous and produce very good dry matter yields. Grazaoats provide quality feed throughout the critical autumn, winter and earlyspring grazing periods.

• Vigorous establishment • Moisture stress tolerant• Forage quality and quantity • Prolific tillering• Broad leaves • Rapid recovery after grazing• Late flowering • Superior forage than other winter cereals

Forage oats for growers and graziers

Graza 50 Graza 51 Graza 68

Quick feed 1 1 2

Winter growth 1 1 2

Spring grazing 2 2 1

Oaten hay production 1 2 1

Silage production 2 2 1

Simple guide to oat selection

1 = first choice; 2 = second choice.

Oat variety agronomic features

Graza 50 Graza 51 Graza 68

Rust resistance (leaf) Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible

Early establisment (warmer soils) No No No

Maturity (to seed) Intermediate Intermediate Late

Growing point (height) Intermediate Intermediate Low

Seedling vigour Excellent Good Excellent

Early growth Excellent Good Good

Plant height Medium Medium Medium tall

Growth habit Erect Erect Semi-erect

Time to first grazing Quick Quick Medium quick

Frost resistance Good Good Good

Leaf colour Dark Dark Dark

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When and where to use Graza oats

Pioneer variety Graza 50

• Ideal for southern production areas**• Quick growing to first grazing• Produces an abundance of early leaf • Excellent early and mid-winter growth • High dry matter yield • Late flowering with thin stems • Good leafiness for maximum grazing production • Good regrowth after grazing.

New Pioneer variety Graza 51

• Ideal for southern production areas**• Quick growing to first grazing • Produces an abundance of early leaf • Outstanding winter growth helps bridge the feed gap• Late maturing • Erect growth and broad, green leaves • Ideal for oaten hay production and grazing

Pioneer variety Graza 68

• Ideal for northern production areas* • Late maturing with a low growing point for extendedspring and early summer grazing • Good recovery from grazing and cutting

• Broad, dark green leaves • Strong early seedling vigour

Maximum grazing production

Best for extended grazing

Outstanding winter growth

* Northern production areas include North West Slopes and Plains (NSW) and all areas north.** Southern production areas include North West Slopes and Plains (NSW) and all areas south.

Last season Gerry Carolan of Kickabil near Dubbo planted 12 hectares of Graza oats in March tofatten lambs. Despite a dry winter season Gerry managed to fatten 250 lambs on the oats, which hesaid had “terrific comeback” after grazing. Gerry said a small area of Coolabah oats in the samepaddock was completely eaten out soon after putting the lambs on the crop. These oats did notgrow back while the Graza oats grew back strongly even after multiple grazings.

Roger Hunter of Armatree near Dubbo fattened nearly 1000 head of livestock – including 800 lambsand 150 cattle – last year from just over 400 hectares of Graza 50. Roger said the oats were plantedin March and were still producing feed in November. Roger said he was happy with Graza 50, call-ing it a ‘long duty’ forage oat.

Stephen Erbacher, manager of ‘Woodgunnah’, Meandarra runs a program where young storecattle are brought in from western or northern areas and preconditioned on forage oats for theDown’s feedlots. His preferred oats variety is Graza 68, which he likes for its broad leaves and abilityto produce feed over a long period without running into head.

Ron Hanson of Murgon near Kingaroy fattened Angus bulls on Graza 68 last year. He planted thecrop in late April and grazed it through to November. Ron was impressed with Graza 68’s toughnessin a dry season and it’s ability to fatten cattle. “For the last six weeks the bulls were only grazing onthe oats,” Ron said, “and they finished beautifully.”

What growers are saying about Pioneer® brand Graza oats

PIONEER HI-BRED AUSTRALIA PTY LTDLocked Mail Bag 9001, 204 Wyreema Road TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350 Ph: 07 4637 2966 Fax: 07 4637 2977

ROD BIDSTRUP - Dalby, QLD 0408 717 430 JOSH SIMSHAUSER - Gunnedah, NSW 0428 729 867

BRETT HANSEN - Biloela, QLD 0417 713 023 JOHN DE LYALL - Dubbo, NSW 0429 061 918

ROB CROTHERS - Kingaroy, QLD 0408 646 111 DAVID BURCHAM - Wagga, NSW 0427 748 348

CRAIG CHOICE - Toowoomba, QLD 0418 717 448 MILTON JAEGER - Wagga, NSW 0428 218 896

KELVIN SCHWARZ - Toowoomba, QLD 0408 717 229 TONY EMERY - Nowra, NSW 0411 691 949

ALEX FORD - Melbourne, Vic 0428 886 727 SIMON NIHILL - Bendigo, Vic 0427 342 188

ANDREW WEBSTER - Toowoomba, QLD 0427 696 484 ADAM DAVIES - Adelaide, SA 0408 807 809

IAN MORGAN - Goondiwindi, QLD 0428 308 378 WAYNE LOUGHREY - Perth, WA 0427 696 484

Pioneer® is a registered trademark of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. The DuPont oval logo® and The Miracles of ScienceTM are trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

YOUR PIONEER RETAILER

• Plant at the rate of 30-80 kg per hectare for rain-grown crops or 60-120 kg per hectare for irrigated crops. For later planted crops increase theplanting rate by 20 per cent. Sow in rows 18-25 cm apart with a combine or seed drill.

• Rust control – rust spores attack older leaves. Grazingoften and lightly will reduce the chance of rust.

• Graze the oats crop as early as possible once leafrust is observed below the top two leaves on eachtiller.

• Avoid planting too early (before mid-March) or toolate (after June) to reduce the risk of young plantsbecoming infected with rust.

• Avoid grazing/cutting too late or too hard.

• Treat Graza oats as you would other cereal crops.Plant Graza oats into your good country and fertiliseas you would wheat or barley.

• In most situations Graza oats should be grazedbefore reaching 50 cm in height. Where practicablethey should not be grazed lower than 12 cm. Givenadequate moisture and nutrients this will ensure rapidregrowth.

• Forage yield and quality are improved where cropshave several light grazings, instead of fewer, moresevere defoliations.

• Employ an effective weed control strategy to controlexcessive weed competition.

Best management practices to maximise yields from Graza oats

Recommended stage to graze or cutan oats crops

(growing point)

For more information contact:

Overgrazing (below the first node)slows regrowth because the oats haveto regrow from the crown.