Four years into switching from conventional winter cropping to hay bale grazing, Deane Parker and Melissa Scarlett are seeing transformational results.

The couple are operating a 200-hectare irrigated dairy farm in Hororata, central Canterbury. Aside from buying in their high-quality hay, they are self-contained with 360 cows.

Motivated to improve soil health — and avoid muddy, churned up paddocks post winter — they started experimenting with hay bale grazing.

This spring, a month after cows finished grazing for the winter, grass shoots were emerging from the bale patches scattered across the paddock. Beneath the hay litter and new growth lies layers of roots, and below that, moist, healthy soil — showing their new system is not only working but thriving.

“Soil health is one of the most underrated parts of farming. It blows my mind how few farmers put a spade in the soil and look at life underneath the ground,” Deane said.

What is hay bale grazing?

Hay bale grazing is a regenerative agriculture practice coined from the coldest climates in North America. Where practical, the method offers an alternative to traditional crop grazing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Beginning in early autumn, paddocks are put aside to allow pasture to grow to pre-grazing cover (around 3000 to 4000 kilograms of drymatter per hectare) by winter.

Shortly before winter starts, bales are spread across the paddock in a checkerboard formation and cows feed on hay and pasture in breaks, typically moved every three days.

Litter left behind from the hay bales and established pasture helps protect the soil from pugging and decreases leaching by providing a filter for dung and urine. The hay litter also provides seeds for pasture regrowth.

The system requires more area per cow than cropping to further help reduce pugging. The benefits for well-drained soils will be higher than heavier wet or clay soils.

Pastures regenerating naturally