Lucerne is a perennial legume that produces high quality feed from spring through to autumn. It has a tap root that can draw moisture from depth and it is considerably more efficient at using water than traditional grasses. Lucerne is undergoing a resurgence, with estimates of around 10,000 ha being sown in 2012. This is still well below the interest of the 1970’s when around 30,000 ha were being sown each year. Though lucerne usually out-yields ryegrass pastures over a 12 month period, winter yields are often very low. This may mean a change in farming system to compensate for lower winter production.

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