Northern Tasmania has become a major grower of grass seed since 2000, replicating farming practices from New Zealand.
Both annual and perennial grasses are grown, with the dairy industry being significant users of annual grasses which produce big pasture yields for two or three years. The grass is sown in autumn and grazed hard in late winter before being shut up in September. It is heavily fertilised and watered before being wind rowed (cut and left on the ground) in January. It is harvested a week later and sent away for cleaning. The cut crop can then be watered to produce sheep feed over summer and autumn. Yields are between 2.5–3.5 tonnes per hectare.
