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Ascend the new star of PGG Wrightson Seeds Annual Ryegrass Portfolio

Announcement posted by PGG Wrightson Seeds (Australia) Pty Ltd 18 Jan 2018

PGG Wrightson Seeds have released a fast-establishing annual ryegrass called Ascend to replace their popular Winter Star II variety.

PGG Wrightson Seeds, National Sales & Marketing Manager, Cameron Henley says Ascend offers exceptional seedling vigour and improved early winter production and the decision to replace Winter Star II with Ascend was made following extensive trials across Australia.

“Winter Star II was a market leader for many years in late maturing annual ryegrasses and was always a popular choice for farmers, providing consistent quality winter feed,” Cameron explained.

“Farmers were telling us that they really loved Winter Star II and that it provided them with exactly the sort of grazing and forage opportunities they were after, but if we could improve it in one way they would like it to come to its first grazing a bit quicker.”

Based on this feedback, PGG Wrightson Seeds invested significantly in researching and developing a faster-establishing annual ryegrass.

“The whole reason behind developing Ascend was farmer driven – the product was developed in direct response to listening to farmers,” Cameron said.

“Ascend captures what we desired in breeding this grass – it is something that jumps up very quickly like a rocket and that is why we chose the name.”

Ascend also offers farmers improved rust tolerance and excellent dry matter production from autumn to late spring. It also has finer leaves and is more densely tillered to improve its grazing performance.

“Rust is strongly associated with poor quality pasture and any pastures which are free of rust are far more usable and palatable for animals than pasture that contain rust,” Cameron explained.

“We have also seen farmers getting one or two earlier grazings using Ascend, compared to when they were using Winter Star II and with its denser tillering Ascend fills out quickly providing exceptional ground cover.”

Ascend is suitable for famers looking for highly flexible forage options.

“Ascend is suited for farmers seeking to increase their home-grown winter pasture production from autumn into late spring – whether for grazing or cutting for silage or hay,” Cameron said.

“Ascend is able to offer multiple forage options because it establishes early but matures late in the season. You can be grazing early through the year and then cut for silage or hay late in spring - it is a very flexible pasture option.”
 
Cameron said Ascend is the result of a very long breeding and evelopment programme. “It typically takes ten years to breed and trial a new grass before releasing it to farmers. So you can be assured that Ascend is one of the best annual ryegrasses available.”

“For farmers that have been using Winter Star II in the past they should feel confident in moving to the next model in Ascend and for those farmers who are seeking a fast establishing and highly productive annual grass to increase their home grown feed they should give Ascend a go.”

For more information on how Ascend tetraploid annual ryegrass can improve your pasture production, contact your local PGG Wrightson Seeds’ Pasture Seed Agronomist as listed at www.pggwrightsonseeds.com.au or call 1800 619 910.
 
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Media Enquiries: C7EVEN Communications
Kate Munsie                                                                 Adam Arndell
(02) 6766 4513 / 0421 935 843                                   (02) 6766 4513 / 0403 372 889
kate.munsie@c7even.com.au                                     adam.arndell@c7even.com.au
 
Photo Captions:
  1. Cameron Henley, National Sales & Marketing Manger at PGG Wrightson Seeds Australia
  2. Ascend Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass closeup
  3. Ascend Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass