Australian dairy farmers invest significant amounts of money annually on renovation of ryegrass pastures to grow feed for their herds. According to the Australian Seed Federation, in 2021 approximately 11% (1 billion litres) of Australia’s total milk production came directly from newly sown pastures. To ensure farmers are getting the best value for their money when choosing ryegrass cultivars, Dairy Australia annually produces its innovative Forage Value Index.

The FVI is a tool for farmers and producers which independently ranks varieties of ryegrass according to their potential contribution to overall farm profit. Initially released in 2017 by Dairy Australia for perennial ryegrass following similar initiatives in Ireland and New Zealand, the FVI has been updated each year since as new varietal trial results became available, as well as being expanded to include annual and Italian ryegrass.

The FVI uses the latest research to provide farmers and advisors with an easy, accurate and independent assessment of the potential economic value of perennial, annual and Italian ryegrass cultivars under Australian conditions.

The FVI ratings system is based on similar best practice and was developed in close consultation with farmers, the seed industry and fully-qualified internationally recognised experts.

Farmers can download the 2023 FVI tables now to plan their autumn pasture sowing at dairyaustralia.com.au/fvi.

The detailed Pasture Trial Network results from across a broad range of Australian dairy regions are also available on the MLA website for farmers to consider those results in any seed purchasing decisions.