As winter grazing winds down, the next move you make could define your profitability -and your environmental impact - for the rest of the season.
Catch crops are no longer just “good practice.” They’re fast becoming one of the most effective, high-return, low-risk decisions you can make post-grazing. If you’re finishing up with winter crops, now is the time to act.
What is a catch crop?
A catch crop is a quick-growing, winter-active crop sown immediately after a winter-grazed paddock. Its job? Soak up excess nitrogen, protect your soil, and turn potential nutrient loss into feed.
On free-draining soils, particularly across Canterbury and Otago, residual nitrogen from winter crops like fodder beet or kale is highly mobile. Without something in the ground to trap it, nitrate leaching becomes a real risk - both environmentally and economically.
The science behind the strategy
Recent research shows that planting a catch crop immediately after grazing can reduce nitrate losses by up to 41% compared to leaving paddocks fallow.
That’s not just ticking a compliance box - it’s protecting one of the most valuable on-farm inputs you’ve already paid for.
The return stacks up, too
Catch crops can deliver gross margins of $1400–$2100 per hectare in a relatively short growing window. That’s feed grown off land that would otherwise sit idle - and a return on fertiliser that would otherwise leach away.
With the right species, you can:
- Graze in spring
- Follow with a summer crop
- Or roll straight into autumn regrassing
What to plant (and why it works)
We recommend fast-establishing cereals like:
- ✅ White oats / Black oats – quick to strike, excellent nitrogen uptake
- ✅ Barley – adaptable, good feed quality
- ✅ Ryecorn – cold-hardy and vigorous
- ✅ Triticale – deep rooting, high bulk potential
Pro tip: For extra pasture flexibility, under-sow with Italian or annual ryegrass. These species stretch the life of your catch crop and provide valuable early autumn grazing.
Timing: The sooner, the better
The effectiveness of a catch crop depends entirely on how quickly it gets in after grazing. The sooner it’s sown, the more nitrogen it captures - and the better it yields.
Waiting even two weeks can halve the benefit.
If your stock are off a paddock, don’t wait. Conditions are aligning across many regions—soil temps are on the rise, and drilling windows are opening.
Winter 2025 Catch Crop Specials
Ready to move? We are.
Our stores are stocked with proven seed options ready to go - including:
- White & black oats
- Barley
- Ryecorn
- Triticale
- Italian & annual ryegrass mixes
Your Catalyst agronomist is on hand to help you:
- Pick the right species for your system
- Time sowing windows based on paddock conditions
- Tailor the plan to maximise productivity and profit
Turn residual nitrogen into real results
A catch crop is more than a cover - it’s a strategic move that protects water quality, improves soil health, and adds serious value to your farm system.
Talk to your local Catalyst agronomist today or call us on 0800 670 770 to place your seed order and lock in your catch crop plan.
Let’s use the N before you lose it.