White clover: the forgotten component of high producing pastures?

• Understanding how white clover grows and interacts with ryegrass allows farmers to manage pastures for greater white clover content. • Timing of the first grazing of newly sown pasture is important; it should occur when white clover seedlings are small rosettes and before lateral expansion of the plant begins, to avoid damaging new stolons. • Between 1 and 2.5 years after sowing the clover taproot dies and the plant fragments into smaller plants. At this time, farmers often observe a decline in clover content. • Two factors that influence the ability of white clover to thrive are nitrogen and light. White clover content is improved through pasture management, including strategic N fertiliser use, that reduces shading from ryegrass.