SILVERADO 9 LUCERNE PER KG

Silverado 9 (Upper Murray Seeds) is a highly winter-active lucerne (Medicago sativa), rated Winter Activity 9. Bred for Australian conditions, it suits both grazing and hay production, with good persistence, rapid regrowth after grazing or cutting, good leaf retention for hay, and resistance to several important lucerne pests and diseases.

Seed and sowing rates

• Dryland, lucerne alone: 6-15 kg/ha
• Irrigation, lucerne alone: 15-30 kg/ha
• Pasture blend: 1-4 kg/ha

When to plant

Silverado 9 can be established in autumn, winter or spring, with the best timing depending on local rainfall and climate:

• Autumn: generally preferred for highly winter-active lucernes because of their good cold and frost tolerance.
• Winter: possible where conditions allow good establishment.
• Spring: aim for mid-August onwards, once soil temperatures and daylight are increasing.

In Queensland, match planting time closely to local soil moisture and temperature rather than following southern sowing dates.

How to plant

• Sow at approximately 1 cm deep - lucerne should not be planted too deeply.
• Use a well-prepared, firm seedbed with good weed control before sowing.
• Inoculate lucerne seed with the AL strain of Rhizobium to promote effective nodulation.
• Avoid sowing into an old lucerne stand; allow a minimum one-year disease break between lucerne stands.
• Silverado 9 performs best on well-drained soils; lime where soil acidity is an issue.