DAIRY Australia has recently expanded its Forage Value Index (FVI) tables for the 2023 ryegrass sowing season, in an effort to assist farmers in making as much as $250 per hectare per year of increased net profit.
According to the Australian Seed Federation, in 2021 around 11 per cent of Australia's total milk production came directly from newly sown pastures, with the FVI playing a key role in informing farmers how to make sure they are receiving the best value for their money when choosing ryegrass cultivars.
The FVI independently ranks varieties of ryegrass according to their potential contribution to overall farm profit, and has been updated each year since 2017 as new varietal trial results become available, and expanded to include annual and Italian ryegrass.
Across all dairying regions of Australia, farmers and their advisors are currently making decisions about which ryegrass cultivars to plant.
The vast majority of Australian dairy farmers will sow either annual, perennial or Italian ryegrass on their farm this year, with a difference of more than $250 per hectare per year of net profit predicted in the FVI between the highest and lowest yielding cultivars.
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Dairy Australia FVI lead, Ruairi McDonnell, said the FVI played a key role in supporting farmers to maximise their profits.
"It's of utmost importance for farmers to select varieties which have the best chance of being profitable," he said.
"There are many ryegrass cultivars to choose from but Dairy Australia's FVI tables provide farmers with independent assessments in an easy–to–use format to ensure they are making the right choices for their farm, in their region."
To download the 2023 FVI tables, visit dairyaustralia.com.au/fvi.
