As we head into late winter and early spring, pasture growth often lags, especially after a delayed break. That slowdown in grass production can hit farm income hard with the rising cost of supplementary feed. But what if there was a way to jumpstart pasture growth, even when rain, fertiliser, or sunshine aren’t doing the trick? Enter ProGibb SG, Sumitomo’s game-changing pasture product.
What Is ProGibb SG And What Does It Do?
- It’s a natural plant growth regulator containing Gibberellin A3 (which plants naturally produce).
- It stimulates growth through cell elongation, particularly during periods of slow growth (Autumn through to Spring).
- Patented granular formulation with over 40 years of use in Australia for manipulating the growth of horticultural crops.
- Helps overcome the winter feed gap and has been proven to increase relative pasture production by an average of 36% with a range of 12% to 63%.
What Can You Expect To See With ProGibb SG?
- Increase in pasture dry matter production within 3 weeks of application.
- Rapid foliage growth to occur for 3-4 weeks after application.
- Increases in dry matter ranging between 30% and 60% (as seen in commercial demonstrations).
- A lighter appearance of sprayed pasture – but don’t stress, it does not affect pasture quality.
- Enhanced upright and even appearance of treated pastures.
- Little effect on the growth of broadleaf pasture components.
How To Get The Best Results With ProGibb SG?
- It’s well-suited for rotational grazing systems and high-producing pastures.
- Not recommended for application to pastures during establishment or containing rank growth.
- Requires a pasture base of at least 1000 kg DM/ha.
- Should be applied with a boomspray that provides adequate coverage and a water volume of 100 liters per hectare.
- Applying to freshly grazed pasture stimulates cell expansion. (This results in rapid foliage growth for 3 to 4 weeks after application.)
- Performs best in high-producing ‘clean’ pastures.
- Drought-affected pastures need to be fully recovered prior to the application.
- Avoid applications during frost events until pasture has recovered.
- Adequate soil moisture and nutrients must be available to support the additional pasture growth (ProGibb SG is not a fertiliser or a substitute).
Can You Mix With Herbicides?
Yes, sort of – but ideally, weeds are controlled before ProGibb applications to maximise the pasture growth so that it’s unhindered by weed competition.
In saying that, ProGibb SG has been shown to be compatible with a wide range of herbicides. While some herbicides may cause a short-term reduction in growth, using ProGibb will still increase dry matter compared to not using it. ProGibb is compatible with a range of herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPA, Lontrel, Tigrex, Broadstrike and Brodal. (But remember, as pastures benefit most from an application after grazing, the timing isn’t ideal for herbicide results).
Will You Still Need Winter Nitrogen Fertiliser?
While ProGibb SG effectively increases pasture growth and feed quantity, it is not a fertiliser product and not a substitute for fertiliser. It is essential to consider the specific needs of your pasture and consult with your agronomist to determine the best approach. That said, ProGibb SG is compatible with many liquid nitrogen-based fertilisers, such as EASY N®. Combining the two products in one application saves time and money and is a great way to see complementary results, as below.
ProGibb SG offers a sustainable and proven solution for optimising pasture growth and quality, has Nil withholding periods, and ultimately improves farm income and productivity. If you want to give it a try, call in store today.
