National Lucerne Organization

The National Lucerne Organization (in short, NLO) is the representative body for the South African lucern seed and hay industry. It was established in 1952 as a controlling body but was recently transformed into a service organization for the lucerne industry. These services include the co-ordination of research projects, the collection and distribution of information, technology transfer, cultivar evaluation and the stabilization of the industry.

The mission of the NLO is to provide the best services possible to the industry to ensure the sustainable production of high quality lucern seed and hay through continued research and technology transfer. Further the NLO wish to seek new applications for lucerne as well as broaden the market for producers by opening possible export markets.

For emerging farmers, it is relatively easy to enter the lucerne industry and produce their own fodder as well as create a positive cash flow by producing seed and hay. By ensuring that only the best quality lucern seed and hay is being produced, the industry will be more sufficient and profitable, also for the emerging farmer. The NLO seal of quality is being attached to all bags of tested seed and is the insurance to producers that only quality seed is being established.

The NLO also developed a new grading system for lucerne hay which will make the trading of hay much more effective between sellers and buyers. Lucerne hay can now be conveniently traded through our website by registered members by clicking here or if you aren't a registered member yet, you can register now.

Click here to go to the introduction of the Lucerne plant.

First online lucerne hay trading facility for South Africa

[Click here for Afrikaans version]

The National Lucerne Organization have just announced the establishment of the first online lucerne hay trading facility for South Africa. For the first time now, lucerne hay producers will be able to sell lucerne hay lots through the NLO’s online website trading facility on an auction basis.

Sellers and buyers of lucerne hay can now register online at the NLO website and sellers can then register lucerne hay lots for sale through the NLO online auction on their website. Only lucerne hay analyzed and graded according to the NIR method will be sold through the online auction site. Registered buyers can then bid online on these lucerne hay lots and at closure of the bid period, the lot will be closed for bidding. On acceptance of the winning bid, the transaction will be concluded by the NLO between the bidder and the seller. The successful buyer then pay the seller through the NLO and delivery of the lucerne hay is arranged between the seller and the buyer. The buyer will be responsible for transport cost of the lucerne hay.

Eenvormige en akkurate gradering

Eenvormige en akkurate gradering van lusernhooi volgens die Nasionale Lusernorganisasieskema

Lusernhooi (Medicago Sativa L.) is een van die mees belangrikste hooigewasse vir herkouers en veral melkbeeste in Suid-Afrika. Behalwe die energie- en proteinbydrae wat lusernhooi tot ‘n rantsoen maak, beskik dit ook oor unieke eienskappe soos natuurlike buffervermoe, fermenteer vinnig, medisinale waarde in die vorm van anti-oksidante en ‘n ryk mineraleprofiel. Verder dra dit by tot die verteerbaarheid en deurvloeitempo van die totale rantsoen, en gevolglik die droematerialinname en melkproduksie van koeie. Hierdie verhoging in inname en produksie sal egter grootliks afhang van die kwaliteit van lusernhooi.

Lusernhooikwaliteit word deur verskeie faktore soos lokaliteit, klimaat, grond, bemesting, water, snystadium, kultivarverskille, voginhoud, blaarverlies, opberging, vervoer, siektes, insekte, en onkruid beinvloed. Die invloed van hierdie faktore op die variasie van lusernhooikwaliteit in Suid-Afrika is duidelik waarneembaar vanaf die resultate van ‘n studie (Tabel 1) wat aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat uitgevoer is. Hierdie variasie beklemtoon die behoefte aan ‘n akkurate en eenvormige kwaliteitsbepaling en/of graderingstelsel vir lusernhooi in die praktyk.

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