Massey's work on pasture yield and quality has thrown up some clear guidance for pasture and grazing management, for both conventional and regenerative practices

Rebekah Wood’s journey into agricultural research was not one she had planned. Growing up in the middle of town in Taupō, she had little connection to farming beyond occasional visits to extended family’s farms. Initially, she set her sights on veterinary science at Massey University, but when that path didn’t work out, she turned to agricultural science. What began as an alternative quickly became a passion.

“I didn’t have any prior farming background or anything, but I thought it was pretty decent,” she recalls. “My first farming job at the end of my first year at Massey really opened my eyes to a lot of things and solidified what I’d learned.”

That experience led her to continue her studies, eventually pursuing a master’s degree. Even now, as a research technician for the Whenua Haumanu programme, she remains open to where her career might take her. “I have no idea,” she admits candidly. “I didn’t have any idea when I finished my undergrad. Still don’t have any idea after postgrad. But I really enjoy getting outside, getting on the farm, and not doing the same thing every day.”

Wood’s involvement in the Whenua Haumanu programme began during her postgraduate studies when she undertook research into how different grazing management practices affect hyper-diverse pastures in terms of quality, yield, and botanical composition. When she completed her master’s, a job opportunity as a research technician came up, and it was a natural progression. “It was basically doing everything I did in my master’s, and a little bit extra as well.”

Her research has been hands-on and varied, encompassing pasture analysis, soil sampling, and animal studies. “Initially, I was just doing pasture research - physically cutting pasture, using a plate meter, and tracking botanical composition over time. But I’ve also helped with grazing preference experiments, soil infiltration tests, and nitrous oxide measurements from urine patches.”

Conducting trials on small plots rather than whole paddocks presented challenges that required adapting existing methodologies. “I was basically using a lawn mower to collect pasture samples and weighing the catch. We had to make sure it was accurate, so we took sub-samples for botanical composition and quality. Instead of hand-plucking, I had to take my samples from what was collected.”

One of the key challenges of her study was working with pastures containing multiple species. “Initially, we were cutting samples and identifying species in the lab, but some plants looked too similar, and we’d miss key characteristics. So, we added in a visual assessment, using a quadrat to identify species in the field. It was a big test of my ability to recognise them - there were 20 or 21 different species!”

The results of her study raised important questions about pasture diversity. “Less than half of the species remained present throughout the study, and in the end, only four or five dominated - perennial grass, white clover, plantain, and red clover. They weren’t affected by grazing height or length, which makes sense given the breeding work that’s been done for them.”

That led to a broader consideration: “If you’re sowing so many species in a pasture mix but it just reverts back to a few, is it worth sowing that number in the first place? Or would it be better to look at something functionally effective that will actually last?”

Grazing management also had clear effects on yield and quality. “Longer defoliation - leaving pasture for longer between grazing, reduced total yield, while shorter intervals increased production. There weren’t significant differences in feed quality, but there were trends suggesting higher cutting heights and longer rotations could improve some quality parameters.”

Despite these insights, Wood acknowledges the need for further research. “More work needs to be done before clear recommendations can be given. With a longer study period or different locations, we might see more definitive results.” Regional variation is another factor that complicates findings. “Canterbury is often dry in summer, while the North Island can be a completely different story. You can’t assume what works in one place will work everywhere.”

The broader Whenua Haumanu programme is significant for New Zealand’s agricultural sector. “It’s the most comprehensive programme on the effects of both conventional and regenerative management practices in the country. It’s looking at standard and diverse pastures over seven years across multiple sites, which is something very few projects have done.”

With multiple aspects being studied - soil, animal health, pasture, and greenhouse gases - the findings could have a major impact. “Regardless of the results, the sheer scale of this project means the information will be valuable. You can’t make big conclusions based on a single site, but this research takes that into account.”

As farmers face increasing pressures around emissions and water quality, science will play a critical role in shaping the future. “With research, there are always more questions than answers, but this project has the potential to provide tools for improvement. It’s about highlighting opportunities and identifying areas that need further exploration.”

Wood’s journey into agriculture may have been unexpected, but her enthusiasm for the work is clear. The research she’s contributing to today could help shape farming practices for years to come.

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Angus Kebbell is the Producer at Tailwind Media. You can contact him here.