Murray Now

A family-owned seed company in the Murray region has demonstrated that the proof is in the pasture.

Upper Murray Seeds opened their property at the New South Wales town of Tooma to the public, inviting clients to see their new products and visit demonstration sites during a field day during October.

Three generations of the Sutherland family are involved in the business which produces and markets Australian bred and grown seed.

They offer seed production, multiplication and processing as well as agronomy advice, mixing and despatching quality seed. A particular focus is producing seed varieties that survive tough conditions, including drought and the highs and lows of market demands.

Field day visitors were able to compare and contrast more than 50 varieties of seeds and a full range of pasture species, including the latest releases, as well as legumes, fodder crops and cereal options.

Beef, sheep and dairy farmers joined stock agents and merchandise agents from as far a-field as Temora in NSW to Omeo in Victoria to the field day.

Field day promoter Meredith Ashton says the field day included a first-hand look at various crops, a tour of a working cattle station, demonstrations and advice from senior agronomists and a visit to their research and development area.

"It was a great opportunity for visitors to see the plants under different conditions," Ms Ashton said.

"Visitors commented that it was useful to make a comparison of different fodder pastures, not just in a demonstration crop, but also under a grazing situation, in particular to see how quickly the plants were able to re-generate.

"In essence, visitors could see the potential of how Upper Murray Seeds could be applied to their own pastures."

Tooma Station is also a commercial cattle property, which gave another insight into the practical application of Upper Murray Seeds' products.

"Visitors could see that the cattle were eating the grass produced by Upper Murray Seeds. They could understand that if the seeds we produce are not good enough to be used on our own cattle, they never see the light of day in the market place. It highlighted that our products are tried, true and tested because we use them on our own cattle."

Upper Murray Seeds also held an inaugural field day at a property in Hamilton, highlighting the success of their products in the more western parts of Victoria and the Murray region.