Discover how Josh Barron at High Country Hay uses Q63 semi-winter-dormant lucerne to extend cutting windows and build resilience in tough Southern NSW conditions.
High Country Hay in southern NSW supplies premium lucerne hay across the Southern Tablelands and Bega Valley. Owner, Josh Barron, was searching for a semi-winter-dormant lucerne that could bridge the gap between winter active and winter dormant types — delivering flexibility, persistence and resilience in a tough environment.
In the past, winter active varieties have struggled with persistence and frost damage resulting in leaf loss.
Being a semi-winter-dormant variety, Q63 provides a wider production window than dormant types, fitting perfectly into Josh’s system. It has consistently delivered both the first and last cuts of the season, helping to boost overall production and strengthen the resilience of his business.
Q63 has also shown rapid germination and establishment, allowing greater management flexibility by shortening the time to first cut — a key advantage in environments like the Monaro where growing seasons and planting windows can be tight.
Josh said he has been impressed with Q63’s quality and toughness.
“Q63 holds quality and yield in tough paddocks in tough conditions”
A paddock sown in 2023 has maintained strong plant numbers without thinning or premature flowering under stress – demonstrating excellent lucerne establishment and persistence in the challenging Monaro region. Sown at 15kg/ha with a single disc parallelogram seeder and fertilised with 80kg/ha of Croplift 15, Q63 has proven to be a robust and consistent performer for High Country Hay.
If you’re looking for a high-yielding, premium-quality lucerne, Q63 could be the ideal fit. It recovers quickly from grazing and fodder use, thanks to its high leaf-to-stem ratio that enhances forage quality.
Q63 is a semi-winter-dormant lucerne variety that balances winter growth with long-term persistence.
Yes, Q63 performs well in both hay production and managed grazing systems due to its strong recovery and forage quality.
Q63 performs best in well-drained soils with good fertility and appropriate pH levels.
To find out more about Q63 or other lucerne options, explore our lucerne range or speak with our team to discuss how it could work in your system.
