Autumn Seed Sowing

Today marked a significant moment on the calendar ~ the start of our Autumn pasture seeding. There's something deeply satisfying about putting seed into the soil, knowing it's the beginning of another cycle of life on the land.

We had the John Deere tractor and the Duncan Eco Seeder ready to roll early this morning. The machinery was tuned, and the weather was just right, with perfect Robertson Autumn light.

Before we started, the paddock was prepped by having the cattle graze the pasture down lower than normal. It's not our usual grazing practice, but in this case, it created the ideal conditions for the seeder to reach the soil and give the new seed a perfect place to grow. It also ensures that the sun can reach the soil without being shadowed by taller pasture. The paddock was then harrowed to turn over and spread any remaining manure.

We're using a custom blend of seed called 'Robo M' Blend ~ a carefully selected mix of pasture species suited to our red volcanic soils and cool climate. Many of these seeds are Autumn perennials and will not come up until the weather is much cooler.

The Eco Seeder does a great job of making a precise furrow in the soil (not much deeper than about 2.5 cms), placing the seed at just the right depth and spacing for optimal germination.

Once seeding was done, we switched over the equipment to the Vicon Spreader and headed back out, applying a generous layer of organic pelletised chicken manure. It's part of our commitment to natural soil enrichment ~ no synthetic fertilisers here, just good biology and time.

And now, in true Robertson style, it's raining ~ as if on cue. A good, soft soaking rain to settle the seeds and kick off their journey underground. It's the perfect finale to a big day in the paddock, and the best kind of reward for the hard work.