Red Revolution Circle Ley, a new addition to the range of Nickerson Direct Circle Ley mixtures, is designed for use in intensive grazing systems, where it will help to maximise production from grazed grass by avoiding the periods of high and low production normally associated with perennial ryegrasses, without compromising digestibility.

Breeders have utilised wild natural species based on Festuloliums with modern plant breeding and created enhanced ryegrasses. Red Revolution Circle Ley techniques combine perennial ryegrasses, Timothy, enhanced ryegrasses and white clovers to create a more drought-tolerant mixture which is characterised by a flatter production curve. Introducing the diploid-enhanced ryegrass not only increases early spring growth but also later autumn production, thereby extending grass growth at both ends of the season.

The new mixture will be sold alongside other Red Circle variants, but only a limited acreage of seed will be available in 2010.

Simon Broddle, the company’s Forage Manager, states: “Revolution is a mixture of four species which will extend the grazing season and complement our existing Circle Ley Mixtures, including Red Circle which has set an industry standard for many years. Red Circle is a very high quality, high-yielding long-term grazing mixture which incorporates a blend of late-heading perennial ryegrasses, clovers and Timothy. Red Circle has a high D value combined with high sugars but retains its quality when left to bulk up.

“In today’s economically-difficult environment, farming profitably demands very careful attention to detail coupled with the judicious use of the most cost-effective inputs to achieve high outputs. Growers who consistently achieve good results recognise the value of investing in quality seeds.

While many other companies rely increasingly on selling to farmers over the phone, Nickerson Direct Seed Specialists are out on farm, advising farmers face-to-face on all aspects of cropping.”