PASTURE growth rates in Gippsland have not followed the script this year.

The wet spring created lots of grass but the cool conditions has slowed growth and prevented producers cutting silage.

Dairy consultant John Mulvany said pasture growth across South and West Gippsland barely reached 40kg of dry matter/ha in September and October, but had increased with warmer temperatures last month.

Mr Mulvany said soil type was a telling factor in pasture growth this year and those on flat brace or grey soil in South Gippsland were the worst-off. Silage production had also been delayed by heavy rain in spring.

"Silage quality couldn't be too bad, there are still a lot of people with silage from last year so pressure to cut it this year is not there and that's fitted beautifully with this spring," Mr Mulvany said.

East Gippsland Brown and Wigg agronomist Beau White said while there was a lot of grass around, pasture production had not followed the normal growth curve.

"It hasn't been the normal pasture curve in regards to growth as temperatures have been quite low compared to a normal year," Mr White said.

Ag-Challenge consultant Jeff Urie said he thought growth rates were only slightly lower than last year, but the biggest issue facing producers was pasture quality.

"Digestibility in the pasture will drop quite rapidly from now on, unless producers control the reproductive tillers in the pasture," Mr Urie said.

He said grazing, cutting silage or topping the reproductive tillers was essential to productive summer pastures, but waterlogged paddocks was preventing this.

Leongatha South dairy farmer Ben Croatto said his spring pasture production was down about 10 to 20 per cent and his silage and summer cropping had been delayed.

"Every day you can't cut the silage the quality drops, it would have been good to get it off a month ago," Mr Croatto said.

But Mr Croatto said while this year had presented a few management challenges he expected pasture growth to be extended.

"Its been a good spring but its been hard to manage in certain parts," he said.

"We should still have green grass until Christmas and there's every chance it will last until January."

Dairy farmer Kevin Jones said he needed to cut his silage in the next 10 days but his farm - between Foster and Toora - was too wet.