Agenda

• Welcome



• Overview of Vegetation History



• Tussock Grassland Management



• Where to next?

Present:

Leanne Harley

Bruce Jolly

Jack Davis

Mark Hasselman

Russell & Jeanette Emerson

Ockie Bosch

Willy Allen

Kate Wardle

Apologies:

Pat Garden, John Aspinall, John Beattie, John Stevenson, John Waldron, Iris Scott.

General Comments made on Questionnaire:

Tussock grassland condition diagrams: not enough options to chose from in terms of tussock density with varying amounts of Hieracium.

Strategies:

The summary of strategies given for each tussock grassland type was distributed amongst participants, and discussed.

Points raised: Wetter areas probably had more flexibility to temporarily reduce stocking rates than drier areas, where this is possible only in Spring or Autumn.

Drier areas face more risk, in terms of drought and rabbits, making careful management more necessary.

Fescue Tussock Grasslands

The ability to lightly graze by set stocking was questioned, as sheep will not graze the block evenly, preferentially picking out the more palatable plants. Better control over grazing pressure can only be achieved through subdividing the sunny from the dark country, with judicious grazing.

Pros and cons of set stocking

Historically in Lindis country, large mobs used to graze large blocks all season. As season progressed, the stock would move into the shadier country, resulting in successful utilisation. Today, whilst this system is aspired to, there are new dimensions- new classes of stock, fertiliser inputs, hay, fencing, rabbits and weeds.

Other participants observed that in this traditional system, the sunny faces used to get hammered, leaving the shady faces in better condition. Today, set stocking success is affected by aspect.

In dry rabbit prone country, tussock has regenerated on sunny faces in last 30 years, probably due to rabbit control.

Tussock flowering, seeding and seedling establishment

It was felt stock would preferentially graze the Hieracium flower before the tussock flower, even with heavier stocking. Young tussocks were observed occurring in disturbed sites (eg. Where frost heave was occurring), rather than where ground cover was dense.

It was noted that light grazing of lambing blocks in Spring depended on the farmer correctly guessing what the season was going to be like. It was suggested (from a conservation viewpoint) that such areas shouldn't be used for lambing, as the tussocks generally get more heavily grazed as a result.

Short Tussock seeding and establishment observations:

The harder the tussock is grazed, the more it seeds.

Seeding appears to be seasonal.

Oversowing and top dressing favours seedling establishment.

Observations on impacts of different stock types on short tussock health

Overall there was agreement that more care is required with cattle, especially in wet seasons and winter. Cattle, if left too long in a block, can pull tussocks out by their roots. In Winter, cattle eat tops of tussocks poking out of snow, but this isn't' bad for tussock. On the whole, tussocks appear to recover.

Cattle and sheep are a good mix for tussock health.

Observations regarding tussock response to fertiliser applications:

In undeveloped native country, short tussock grassland species don't appear to respond to super phosphate applications. It was suggested that if nitrogen was present (clovers), then a better response could be expected.

Generally, participants didn't see a need to apply fertiliser to undeveloped short tussock grasslands, as so few nutrients are lost from system. However, it was suggested that soil tests should be used to indicate whether fertiliser inputs are required.

Silver tussock likes fertile sites, so flourishes in developed areas where very few other natives. Elsewhere flourishes where natural soil fertility is high.

Observations regarding benefits of grazing on short tussock health

Benefits depend on site. Where Hieracium infestation, grazing removed flowers.

In Lindis, in areas which have been destocked for 80yrs, vegetation condition has declined, with declining pH, and a monoculture of Hieracium pilocella, and H.lepidulum, & briar in gullies. However, judicious grazing appears to stimulate tussock growth. On the whole, tussock condition has improved in last 50yrs in this area.

In Dunstans area, dense fescue tussock occurred on dark face, where grazed to maintain cover of more palatable blue tussock. Therefore fescue tussocks became more dense (they can handle heavier grazing than blue tussock), making development quite difficult. In this dry country, it takes 10yrs for tussock to recover from grazing pressures (rabbits) on sunny faces, and 4 yrs on dark faces.

In wetter areas, eg. Hawea, it was suggested that these tussock grasslands are lightly grazed, so don't get hammers, whilst in Glenorchy, short tussock grasslands are probably carrying more stock today than previously, as fewer stock go into the backcountry. Should stock numbers be reduced?

Grazing pressure on short tussocks is dependent in part on type and condition of intertussock species. If got clovers, then these are preferentially grazed before the tussocks are. Questioned whether grazing can be complementary with conservation objectives?

Future of short tussock grasslands: depends on climate change, and Hieracium spread

Group agreed that best management of fescue tussock grassland under DoCs management would be: rabbit control, judicious stock grazing and no fertiliser applications.

In higher rainfall areas, tussock conditions is good in grazed or ungrazed stands.

Observations on impacts of different stock types on tall tussock health

Care with wethers, as they can utilise country that other stock won't. Especially at high altitude and on steep country.

I the Idas and Hawkduns, the tall tussock grasslands have become monocultures in places, with no intertussocks or young tussock seedlings between. Questioned whether a tussock monoculture was healthy in terms of regeneration and sustainability.

Flowering is seasonal- in dry years.

In the Lindis, where tall tussocks have been destocked, vegetation condition is deteriorating through Hieracium spread, replacing native intertussock species. Set stocking controls and maintains a good mix of herbs and grasses in undeveloped country.

In wetter areas eg. Glenorchy, tall tussock can be waist high. As it becomes more unpalatable, grazing pressure gets pushed below this zone, or above, in the herbfields. However, the current management of virtually no stocking and no burning is seen to be the best strategy fro this country.

In wetter greywacke country of Hunter valley, the tussocks have a dense canopy, whilst in the schist drier country in Timaru Creek, the tussock are lighter and shorter (historically have been grazed harder here).

Observation regarding spread of Hieracium lepidulum

Observed in Timaru Creek area that H. lepidulum is present everywhere, irrespective of canopy density and amount of disturbance, but especially sunny faces.

Observed young matagouri bushes dying where H.lepidulum has encrouched on it.

Where to from here?

Recognised that different management is required for different areas. If the best way to conserve tussocks can be determined for each district, then this information publicized, that would be good.

Recognised that different people may want to use different strategies, so the framework into which farmer information feeds, must provide a range of management options for the user to chose from.

Highlighted need for DOC to develop management plans for their newly acquired tussock reserves.

Need to draw on overseas experience regarding Hieracium invasion in other rangelands eg. USA.

Farmers are to discuss within their landcare groups, where good tussock grassland sites exist in their area, so that monitoring, where not already taking place, can be established.

Exiting monitoring includes:

Sites set up through Landcare Research (Roger Gibson)

Catchment Board sites

Special lease monitoring sites from tenure review.

Other farmer sites.

Most farmers do not burn this tussock type as access through tussocks can be maintained by grazing management (600 - 1500mm).

Conservation only: Modifications to above strategies:

Sheep only (cattle damage tussocks)

Set stock in early December to remove Hieracium flower heads.

Only graze late Spring/early Summer (for Hieracium control)

Better rabbit control.

Wetter areas: Above strategy plus destocking may enhance values, but run risk of manuka spread.

2. Undeveloped System

Dry areas:

Production/Conservation: Lightly graze Winter to early Summer

Spell Summer/Autumn for recovery.