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An Ashburton Guardian Supplement
Fourth generation dairy Fourth generation dairy farmer set to
make his mark farmer set to make his mark P3P3
FOCUSIssue 43 - December 20, 2011
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2Herd scene with HamishHerd scene with Hamish
An advertising supplement ofthe Ashburton Guardian
Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those
of the Ashburton Guardian
Publication date: December 20, 2011 Next issue: January 31,
2012
We welcome any correspondence to either: Amanda Niblett, phone
307-7927 email: [email protected] Linda Clarke, phone
307-7971 email: [email protected]
FOCUS
Hamish DavidsonMid Canterbury Federated Farmers dairy section
head
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Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers dairy section head Hamish
Davidson has no complaints about the year so far.There is plenty of
grass for cows to eat, irrigation
has only been necessary in the last week or so meaning savings
in both water and electricity costs, and Fonterra has just adjusted
its forecast payout for the 2012 season up 20 cents to $6.50/kgMS
milk price, the dividend range remained unchanged.
The only down side of a growthy year is the variable quality of
pasture. Cows like consistent quality grass, but the difficulty
with such a good year is that the growth has caused feed quality
issues. It means the cows do not consistently produce the same
amount of milk and are more difficult to manage.
The heat and humidity in the past week has also taken its toll,
making cows lethargic and not interested in eating.
The extra grass has also meant a busy time for contractors, who
are struggling to keep up with the demand to make silage.
Hamish said an interesting battle was looming between milk
processors, with Fonterra, Synlait and now Westland competing for
suppliers and new conversions in Mid Canterbury.
Dairy farmers ultimately chose the supply path that fitted them
best financially and philosophically.
Fonterra required the most capital input, then Westland, and
lastly Synlait. Younger people that are strapped for capital or
wish to use that capital for development tend to go with
Synlait.
The Dunsandel processor is currently looking for capital to buy
more dairy farms and develop irrigation so its new nutritional milk
powder plant can process to capacity.
Hamish said the continuing expansion of dairying in the district
highlighted a shortage of experienced dairy workers, though
industry bodies like DairyNZ were working flat out trying to raise
skill levels.
Expansion though may mean a change of practices for some
farmers, with some opting
for more intensive farming systems. The cost of wintering herds
may lead to more cows under cover, on Total Mixed Ration (TMR) type
diets.
Hamish said dairy farmers had also come a long way in the past
20 years as they tried to reduce their environmental impact.
Effluent management was regulated, with penalties for o enders, and
most farmers now had nutrient management plans, which monitored how
many nutrients could be applied to the land before leaching became
an issue.
Those farmers who had their nutrient plans in the bottom draw
beside their business plan needed to get them out and make them a
working document.
He said dairying, for most farmers, was no get-rich-quick
scheme. The reality is the dairy industry is a profitable business
but a lot of people just want to support their family and have a
good life.
Fonterras revised payout was good news, though with the market
still volatile, it would be the end of season figure that
counted.
Following in dads gumboots.......................... 3Lemons
sign up with Westland....................... 4 Compliance checklist
......................................... 5Keeping track of
pregnancies......................... 6Tech solution to lameness
............................. 7Robotic milking economic
........................... 8-9
Pasture count feature ............................. 10-11DWN
gets some expert help ......................... 12 Conferences
calling .......................................... 13Getting the
low-down on grasses ................ 14Dipping and flushing
automatically ........... 15Maize and worms
............................................... 16
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3Following in dads gumbootsFollowing in dads gumbootsLinda
Clarke
Rural Reporter, Ashburton Guardianken
Nick Gilbert is a man who appreciates a nice set of . . .
udders.The 20-year-old dairy farmer says well
proportioned equipment at the milking end of a cow is essential
in his trade. He is already building his own herd of stud Jersey
and Holstein cows and planning to follow in the footsteps of his
father, his grandfather and great-grandfather as a dairy
farmer.
An inherited appreciation for the perfect dairy cow has taken
him recently into the world of stock judging, where he came first
in a national junior judging contest at the Royal Agricultural
Society Show in Hamilton. Another Mid Canterbury dairy farmer
Frances Beeston was second.
The ride to the show was not exactly smooth for Nick, who moved
to the North Island in July last year to work at an Otorohanga
dairy farm with connections to Queen Elizabeth, who breeds Jerseys
as well as corgis.
He shifted to a Tokoroa dairy farm in February, but was admitted
to hospital in October, just before the royal show, after he
collapsed at work. It was the second time in four months and
doctors were worried.
Mum Anne and Dad Peter flew from Mid Canterbury to Hamilton
Hospital, where Nick was assessed and monitored while specialists
tried to find a cause.
Determined to make the judging final, Nick begged leave from the
hospital and doctors allowed him to go. He says the contest passed
in a blur, and
organisers were worried because he didnt look so great. But the
end result was a win.
Nick said growing up on a stud dairy farm gave him a distinct
advantage in judging competitions. His family have been involved in
showing cattle at A&P shows around the region and Glenalla
Jerseys have been on the stud scene for several generations.
Breeding champion show cows is not a quick process and his
10-year goal is to have a herd of pedigree Jerseys that have good
udders and a bigger build. He has introduced Holsteins and
Ayrshires to the familys Winchmore farm, though he respects Peters
passion for Jerseys.
He does like the Jerseys friendly, easy-to-handle nature. He
looks for good balance, length of body and width when picking out
potential stock for his herd or winners in the judging ring.
While his medical condition is being sorted out, Nick is on
light duties. He cant drive, climb a ladder or operate machinery;
though he can play cricket.
The former Mid Canterbury representative cricket player turned
out for Waikato Valley in the Northern Districts Hawke Cup
competition last summer, but is pulling on the whites for Lauriston
while he recovers at home.
The enforced spell is giving him plenty of time to catch up with
younger brothers Michael, 17, and Luke, 14, as well as keeping an
eye on Veronica, Linda and Lyn three very special two-year-old
Jerseys he hopes will be the start of his own successful stud
operation.
PHOTO TETSU MITOMO 251111-TM-008Nick Gilbert and pedigree Jersey
cow Veronica, the start of his stud business.
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Lemons sign with WestlandLemons sign with Westland4
Call us for a consultation specific to your needs.Specialists in
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Local Knowledge That CountsAlford Forest Road, PO Box 403
Ashburton Phone (03) 308 6011 Fax (03) 308 5108 Mobile 027 249
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James and Kerri Lemons fourth generation Lauriston farm has
become the first Canterbury dairy farm conversion to sign up to
West Coast-based dairy supplier Westland Milk Products.
The Lemons join existing Canterbury dairy farmers already on
board a co-operative they have joined because it has the grunt to
go places.
James Lemon said choosing to become a Westland shareholder came
down to the companys size, New Zealand ownership structure and
clear strategic direction.
Westland is a long established company on the West Coast and the
opportunity was before them to begin their future in dairying with
a company they could grow with.
Traditionally we will choose a company and stay with it so we
are quite loyal, James says. But what it came down to was the size
of Westland and the fact it wasnt a monopoly but had enough grunt
behind it to go places.
Westland director Noel Robb welcomed James and Kerri to the now
growing stable of Canterbury shareholders for Westland.
We have already made great strides into Canterbury and to sign
on a new dairy conversion is a significant step, not just for
Westland but for the Canterbury region which continues to thrive as
a result of growth in the dairy industry.
Westland is already well down its strategic path to transform
from a medium sized West Coast based supplier to a growth oriented,
valued added and nutritional dairy products marketer. This year it
commissioned the construction of a new reverse osmosis plant at its
warehouse and offices in Rolleston, Christchurch.
The company is also building a state-of-the-art nutritional
plant at its head office and production facilities in Hokitika.
Westland is actively seeking new suppliers in the Canterbury
region but warns some suppliers might miss out if they wait too
long.
Our growth in Canterbury has
a self-imposed limitation with new applications being considered
on a first come first served basis, Noel says. Our growth is
strategic and we will only take on a certain number of suppliers
until our needs are met.
James says the decision to join Westland was also strategic.
While Westland does not always pay the most money it does pay
competitively and consistently and that is what we are looking for
in our business, consistency and sustainability.
The entry share price of $1.50 per kilogram of milk solids was
also a substantially lower initial capital investment than other
co-operative options before them.
Kerri and I have five children so it was important for us to
convert the land without putting us and them under too much
financial stress.
This was important, as their decision to partially convert part
of their fourth generation farm to dairying was not an easy
one.
Once they took into account the synergies of owning and running
an integrated dairy/grazing/cropping unit, it was the bank manager
that took the convincing to resist the temptation to convert all
the 320 hectares. James feels
that would have made the business vulnerable in terms of input
costs associated with running the dairy platform.
In Canterbury, integrated dairy and cropping farms are few and
far between and banks are more familiar working with farms
undertaking a 100 per cent dairy conversion. This meant the Lemons
had to present their bank with their own financial model to state
their case.
For the Lemons and the bank, the numbers stacked up after
fine-tuning the land area for each operating enterprise. Of the 320
hectares the Lemons own, 200 hectares will be converted to the
dairy platform; it has good access to irrigation.
The remaining 120 hectares of the original block of farmland and
an additional 170 hectares of land they lease will continue to
operate as a cropping and dairy replacement grazing unit. The herd
will also be wintered on this area.
James says while dairying is essentially new to them, they have
a good understanding of what is involved, having leased service
bulls for mating, grazed dairy heifer replacements and wintered
cows while also supplying the dairy industry with feed grain and
maize
and grass silage for the past eight years.
We have a fair idea of what makes dairying tick so, apart from
the day-to-day management of the farm, it wont be too huge a change
for us.
Part of the attraction of owning an integrated dairy/cropping
farm were the synergies that arose from running both operations
simultaneously.
The effluent from the dairying operation will be returned to the
cropping land, reducing fertiliser inputs and cost while the
cropped feed grain will be fed through the dairy shed while
utilising the straw during wintering of the cows.
Maize and grass supplements will also be created from the run-o
area, providing the break crops required to ensure the cropped soil
remains healthy and productive. All this ties in together ensuring
the Lemons are self-sufficient and sustainable.
These are the obvious synergies of having an integrated unit,
James says.
He says relying solely on cropping for the bulk of the farms
income was not an option for family progression given the
volatility of the cropping market.
It only takes one hailstorm and 30 to 40 per cent of your crop
can be gone. The length of 12 to 18 months from the initial cost
outlaid to plant and grow the crop until receiving a return on that
produce grown is hard on your cash flow. With an integrated unit we
are going to get the best of both worlds.
The conversion will initially take on 750 cows but the
infrastructure is being built to accommodate for a capacity of 1050
cows at a later date.
While they wont start supplying Westland until August 2012,
young stock have already been purchased and the Lemons plan to take
possession of their herd in May next year.
Earthworks for the shed is currently under way and the farm is
being re-fenced and designed around the dairy platform to
accommodate the change from border-dyke flood irrigation to a more
efficient system of lateral overhead irrigation.
James Lemon (left) talks through conversion details with
Westland director Noel Robb.
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ComplianceCompliance5
3.3OXVZLWKDKLJKHUSURWHLQOHYHODQGEHWWHUGLJHVWLELOLW\ZLOODGGYDOXHLQ\RXUYDW
3URWHLQ0(0-.*'0%HWWHUUXPHQGLJHVWLELOLW\LPSURYHVXWLOLVDWLRQRIWRWDOGU\PDWWHUIHG1RPRUHGXVWZKHQIHHGLQJRQWKHIDUPDQGQRPHVV\PL[LQJRIGU\IHHGVDQGHQHUJ\OLTXLGV
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6Keeping track of pregnanciesKeeping track of pregnanciesIan
Hodge, BVSc. MACVSc.
Riverside Veterinary Services Ltdc.
td
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It is summer time again, and what a bumper season for growth of
both animals and grass it has been so far. I have had farmers
telling me they are
struggling to keep up with grass growth, that they have made
more silage/balage than ever, and that their cows are looking in
very good condition.
Milk flow also seems to be exceptional, with some very
encouraging peak flow values.
In our practice early pregnancy testing is in full swing. At 35
to 42 days after mating scanning is accurate and enables us to
accurately age all pregnancies. This will give you critical
information on calving patterns of the early mated cows.
By knowing this information you can accurately draft cows in to
springer mobs which can have benefits in terms of preventing
metabolic diseases and mastitis.
In addition to these management improvements, cows that are
discovered to be empty at the time of early scanning can be CIDR
treated and be bull mated.
In many herds about 10 per cent of non returning cows are not
pregnant. These are the so called Phantom Cows. By finding these
cows early we can
increase their chances of becoming pregnant to the bull. This
will reduce your overall empty rate.
The profitability of early pregnancy testing is very good when
you consider
the cost of doing the process against the lost value of an empty
cow and having to replace her with an equivalent pregnant cow. The
reduced empty rate at the end of the breeding season also
contributes to the profitability.
Establishing your six-week in-calf percentage is also important.
This is best done by scanning the entire herd 14 weeks after the
start of mating.
At this point pregnancies eight weeks and older will make up
your six week in-calf percentage. This is a critical measure of
reproductive success. It should be 70 to 75 per cent.
If you leave your bulls out for six weeks and have mated for 12
weeks in total, scanning the entire herd six weeks after the end of
the bull mating period will also give good accurate information
about the stage of pregnancy of the later mated cows.
Those cows with pregnancies 12 weeks old and less will generally
be due to calve in October and November.
Timed pregnancy testing to yield specific results can be very
useful for
good herd management. Wintering cows in mobs to either gain or
maintain condition score, springer management, replacement numbers,
inductions and culling are some examples of why you should
accurately age all pregnancies at the correct times.
During summer you should be vigilant to ensure your calves
maintain the correct growth rate path. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
deficiency and parasitism are reasonably common during summer.
Any calves displaying abnormal behaviour or fitting could have a
thiamine deficiency. Prompt veterinary attention will be
required.
Diarrhoea in calves could be a sign of parasitism. Parasite
larvae can develop to infective stages in 10 days under the correct
conditions and re-infection of calves can occur. Please discuss and
implement a robust parasite prevention strategy this summer in
conjunction with your veterinarian.
Very best wishes for a happy and safe Christmas, a break from
milking, and a prosperous New Year!
Accurate pregnancy testing and dating are both valuable tools on
a dairy farm.
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77
Tech solution to lamenessTech solution to lameness
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(Locally owned and operated)
Technology can be a very helpful thing to enhance productivity.
New equipment is being developed all the time. In many cases it
makes our lives a lot easier. I know what that is like. If it wasnt
for the hoof trimming crushes that we sell I probably wouldnt be a
hoof trimmer.
But every bit of new technology has a cost. I am not talking
about financial cost even though that is an obvious and sure cost.
I am talking about a cost in skills.
If technology is taking over a job that we used to have to do
then we dont need that knowledge or skill anymore. For instance our
hoof trimming crush is restraining a cow so we can work on her feet
or do anything else with her. Now we dont have to learn anymore how
to restrain a cow with the minimum of facilities, so that skill is
lost and no doubt not many farmers are too worried about that.
Like I said earlier, I wouldnt be a hoof trimmer without that
crush technology and most farmers postpone hoof trimming longer
when they dont have the right facilities.
So, in this case, the technology has more advantages than
disadvantages, but what about some other technology?
Last month I was talking about
lameness at mating time and lameness in bulls. One of the farms
that I inseminated for this year has put in a heat detection
camera. Initially I had some big question marks about this sort of
technology. What happens if the camera breaks down and people are
not well trained in spotting cycling cows?
Another concern is that if we need less skill from our sta then
we make life quite boring for them and we probably end up employing
less capable people.
You can get into big debates about this sort of thing and Im not
really in the mood for that at the moment but it is a thought worth
considering.
However, when it comes to lameness in bulls at mating time I
think there is a great opportunity with this heat detection camera.
To me it seems that that technology needs to be refined a bit but
if you have heat detection technology that is about 99 per cent
accurate then you can take the cows to the bulls instead of taking
the bulls to the cows.
So, instead of having 15 or so bulls running with the herd who
need to be rotated and who can be a pain, you could draft the cows
that are on heat and put them in the paddock with the bulls. This
way the bulls dont need to be rotated, they dont need to walk over
the
tracks every day, you can graze them in longer pasture and so
you can minimise lameness in your bulls.
I have changed my thinking about this camera technology and see
it as having greater advantages than disadvantages.
It may well be that in the future we chip our cows with chips
that can measure hormone levels and monitor general health. We are
probably a long
way away from that type of technology and there are some real
disadvantages with it but when this technology comes it will change
farming quite considerably.
We may think that with technology we can make our lives perfect,
but we will always need Christmas.
Have a great Christmas and a blessed 2012!
Fred HoekstraVeehof Dairy Services
raes
Technology can be a wonderful thing just like this cow
crush.
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8Robotic milking economicalRobotic milking economical
Healthy SoilsHealthy Soils Biological Farming Consultant
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deficiencies.It doesnt have to be that way we are able to provide a
proposed solution.There is a direct relationship between the
minerals in the soil and the health of plants and animals. Just
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You need to measure and supply the correct chemistry for each
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Dunsandel-based dairy consultant Helwi Tacoma has been crunching
the numbers on robotic milking systems. Robots are becoming more
common in Europe and America, and he wanted to know if they have a
future here.
They work technically and were already established in Holland
when I left in 1991. I was curious to know if they would work
economically in New Zealand.
The simple answer is yes. Helwi thinks the new systems will
become a lot more common but wont necessarily suit all farmers.
The main advantage is high cash flow. Its a big investment with
high inputs, high outputs and potentially a high cash flow. It can
make you more money if you look at it on a per cow basis. But the
flip side is, because more capital is employed, the risk is higher
than with a conventional system.
The only way to make it work on paper is by achieving higher
production. That means a good sized cow, say 600kg body weight, fed
concentrates for high production. You will need a couple of
kilograms of concentrates per cow per milking.
Cows who receive higher levels of inputs will choose to be
milked two-and-a-half or three times a day. The pay-o is
higher production.
The rewards are not just financial. A cow person will get a buzz
out of getting all this milk out of cows and seeing them in top
condition and in good stock health. That isnt a financial thing but
it feels good.
Most of the world has barn-raised cows so the robots are in the
barn with the cows. New Zealand predominantly has cows raised on
pasture so robotic
Premier Engineering Ashburton Ltd
John, Zane and Gaye thank you for your support in 2011 and wish
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systems here are developing di erently.
Most of the robotic systems in New Zealand use rotational
grazing and three raceways. Every eight hours the cows go onto a di
erent break alternating between the three raceways.
In one scenario Helwi compared the cost of robotic milking 500
cows to a standard herringbone shed. Eight robots at a cost of
about $2.2 million would be needed to milk a 500 head herd. If the
robots were used with pastured cows, a separate milking shed would
also be required.
This compares to a cost of $800,000 for a standard 40-a-side
herringbone. Everything else is the same for pastured animals
raceways, stock water and fencing. So there is a big di erence in
set-up costs.
Manufacturers emphasise that when you install a robotic milking
system you get not only a milking machine but a total farm
management system. A robotic system provides much more data per
cow, per milking and per quarter. This information gives you the
ability to optimise your operation.
Robotic systems do depend on concentrates because the cows go
through milking for the feed reward.
The operating costs per kilogram of solids are going to be
higher, and so are the financing costs. But there are more
kilograms of milk solids rolling out, and the financial outcome
can be as good or better compared to a conventional grazing
system.
Helwi says there is danger in relying completely on bought feed
because there is nowhere to go if feed prices go up and milk prices
go down. Pasture-based farming provides more options, and farms can
be set up to grow their own concentrates.
In a second scenario Helwi compared a rotary milking system with
robotics, assuming a similar sized farm and similar capital
investment. The result was surprising.
For the same capital input, a farmer would make $400,000 after
tax on the conventional system. They would make $350,000 with the
robotics but with less than half the cows and a lot less work.
For the robotic side of the equation, Helwi looked at 420
barn-raised cows milked with six robots all year round on 247 ha.
He compared this to 1050 cows milked seasonally in a 60-bale rotary
on 285 ha.
The rotary shed would make $50,000 more each year though there
are two buts. One is that the robotic farm has 50 unused hectares
that can grow more feed or crops to provide an additional source of
income.
The second but is that the rotary carries more than twice the
number of cows and requires a lot more infrastructure.
A farmer starting from scratch buying land, cows and
infrastructure with some $4 million equity invested would create
about the same debt in both systems, i.e., $8.5m for robotic and
$8.7m for rotary.
Helwi says he assumed the conventional system would produce
1900kg of solids per hectare.
Not many people achieve that. Some people do but its a pretty
high performance. Most people would come back a notch to
1500-1600kg of milk solids per ha, so they wouldnt be getting the
financial performance that you get from robotics.
He assumes the robotic system can achieve 1850kg per milking
hectare but thats with less than half the number of cows. So that
comes down to getting about 500kg of milk solids from a cow in the
rotary but 700kg per cow in the robotic.
Continued next page
PHOTO SUPPLIEDHelwi Tacoma is one of about 30 consultants who
have their own businesses under the umbrella of parent company
Intelact Ltd. His business is called Farming Systems Ltd, and hes
been a consultant for some 12 years. He trained as a
veterinarian.
-
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Timaru : 81 Hilton Highway, Washdyke 7910. Phone (03)
688-7042
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The team at Hanham Concrete wishes The team at Hanham ConcreThe
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Helwi based both systems on a grass-based diet because its the
most efficient way to farm. He assumed 45ha of wheat are grown on
the robotic farm, and peas or canola are bought in for extra
protein.
Slurry from the barn is used to fertilise crops. That isnt
available if the cows are pasture-raised; and the farmer would have
to buy in fertiliser. Then again they wouldnt require a herd-home,
so it still works out about the same.
Helwi worked out this scenario for clients and he was surprised
when it came out roughly the same. In the end it comes
down to the style of farming people want to do. I dont advise
one way or the other. Its up to them how they run their farm and
their life. There are a number of people thinking of robotics. They
are the early adopters. I cant see it as a rush; but over time that
number will grow.
Robotic milking machines are gaining popularity in Europe and
the US because of the cost of labour but Helwi isnt convinced there
is much labour savings under New Zealand conditions.
If it is hard to find good quality labour, robotics can help. On
the other hand, sta
The practice of keeping of cows permanently in barns is
controversial in New Zealand. Many Kiwis believe animals should
have shelter available but that cows evolved to eat grass and
should be on pasture for most of their life, with space for normal
herd interactions.
Helwi Tacoma is comfortable with cows living in barns,
however.
There is a farm in Morven with 16 robots and the cows are inside
around the clock. To me they look a picture that has happy cows
written all over it.
He says 90 per cent of cows in the world are raised in barns and
New Zealand and Australia are the odd ones
out in having predominantly pastured dairy cows.
Its not the indoor living thats a problem, its how people do it.
If youre a bad cow person, you will end up with a mess no matter
what system you use. Ive seen awful things happen on pasture
systems, and equally in barns.
Theres nothing wrong with housing cows 24/7, provided its done
properly with enough feed, light, fresh water, comfortable lying
space, room to walk around, and hidey holes to get out of
aggressive behaviour from herd mates.
I have an ingrained dislike for people who mistreat animals. I
cant abide that.
Beyond the morality, to mistreat animals isnt a good business
proposition. They just dont perform. There is no future in
mistreating animals.
There are three main ways to keep barn-raised animals. One is a
slatted floor with a cellar underneath. The animals tread the dung
through the slats and the slurry is stored and spread back on
pastures.
With a solid floor a continuous scrapper system gathers up
manure and puts it in a sump, again for spreading.
The third option is a big heap of compost. Fresh straw, bark or
post peelings are added every day and
aerated with a rotary hoe. If done right its the ultimate in cow
comfort. The pack heats up and kills bugs. Its not easy to do well,
however, he says.
He thinks barns will become more common here for animal welfare
reasons especially in the South Island. They can be used to shelter
the cows from bad weather and keep them out of deep mud on break
feeds.
Barns will also become desirable for environmental reasons. They
give farmers complete control over the slurry, which has the added
benefit of lower fertiliser bills.
Barns also prevent soil damage from animals pugging the
ground.
To barn or not to barn that is the question
PHOTO SUPPLIEDStradbrook robotic dairy farm at Mayfi eld, New
Zealands fi rst commercial robotic dairy, has been operating since
September 2008. It is owned and operated by the Carr Agricultural
Group. The cows milk themselves any time of the day or night.
who work with a robotic system have to be very switched on.
A big part of robotic milking will be the mind-switch required
by farmers.
Robotic milking is a new way of milking cows. That sounds like
something out of a brochure but its true.
The farmer doesnt spend a lot of time doing physical things
anymore. They
are not doing cups and driving animals. Instead they leave it to
the animal. If she wants to be milked she is.
The farmer spends time monitoring the tremendous flow of
information provided through the robots.
Robotics require far more thinking. Its all very well to have
screeds of information on every cow but farmers need to use it in
some way.
-
10
Pasture Count NZGrass is king
Nicks Pet Food LtdBUYER OF UNWANTED ANIMALS
CATTLE, BOBBY CALVES& HORSES
Telephone (027) 210 1621After Hours (03) 322 7626
NZFSQA accredited
An Ashburton Guardian advertising feature
Farming is a business. Profit is only made when revenue from
production is less than the costs to produce it, so it makes sense
to optimise the most cost-eective grazing substance available,
grass.
Fresh grass is one of most productive and viable feeds available
to dairy farmers. A well managed grass based grazing system is
known to lower the cost per unit of milk production, produce a
superior milk composition, such as greater fatty acids and has more
sustainability with regard to economic, social and environmental
eects.
The principle of grazing management is to match grass growth
with nutritional demand to achieve the maximum output at the least
cost. Managing a successful grass based grazing system can be time
consuming, and if done incorrectly, can hinder grass growth and
restrict sufficient feed to stock.
Pasture Count NZ is an independent, reliable and accurate
pasture reading service, utilising the latest technology to provide
dairy farmers with facts and figures on the amount of pasture in
their fields.
Yoan Roberts has established Pasture Count NZ, to let technology
do the walking for dairy farmers.
With a strong dairy farming background, Yoan grew up on a dairy
farm, and assists his brother Rhys on his dairy farm. After doing a
business management course through the Southern Institute of
Technology, Yoan followed this up with Agribusiness training on
pasture management and grazing.
The pasture count industry is new, as Yoan saw a need for dairy
farmers to have a service to provide accurate information on
individual paddock pasture cover. It is something that dairy
farmers will do if they have time, but for an absolutely accurate
reading, the technology required is expensive and takes a lot of
calibration and computer software knowledge to obtain optimum
results.
By utilising Yoans services, the dairy farmer has no expensive
outlay for the equipment, they have more time to spend with their
stock and running their businesses rather than running up and down
each
paddock taking readings of pasture.
Yoan believes it is vital to measure grass in order to optimise
grass efficiency.
From the information that Yoan provides, farmers at a glance can
see the feed wedge and pasture growth rates of every paddock. They
can view which paddocks are performing well, and which ones may
require more irrigation or fertiliser.
At a glance they can see which paddock has the most feed, so
they can plan the most productive paddocks to send the cows into.
They can instantly view if the paddock has sufficient feed for the
herd, and once the pasture is growing at rates faster than what is
required, paddocks can be set aside for silage, which can later
be utilised during the slower growth months.
People would agree the New Zealand dairy farming is based on an
all-grass feeding system. Its our cheapest and most readily
available feed, so it makes sense to have a service to harness the
growth management, to increase milking productivity and reduce
costs on feed supplements.
Story continue on page 11
Yoan Roberts Outstanding in his field. He established Pasture
Count NZ to provide an independent, reliable and accurate pasture
reading service to assist farmers with grazing management.
Using the latest in pasture measuring technology, Yoan receives
accurate, digital information on the pasture cover of each
field.
Yoan constantly investigates and trials the latest technology to
provide the most accurate pasture count available to his
clients.
-
11
Pasture Count NZ
Yoan RobertsM:027-503-4064 - E: [email protected]
The Pasture Reading Specialist
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provide:U/>}`>Ui>}iVi}`>U``>>``VVi`>Uii`i`}iU>i
Scott Carnochan (Galloway Dairies) and Yoan Roberts from Pasture
Count NZ.
Call Yoan now for a FREE consultation
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187 West St, Ashburton - Ph 308
2055www.jeffmarshallsuzuki.co.nz
Jeff Marshall Motorcycles has what you need - pasture meters
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Proud to have supplied a pasture meter to Yoan from Pasture
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Sales and service of all C-Dax
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Come in today to order your C-Dax equipment for your farm.
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emmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg?????????????????????????????????????????????me
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This information assists high milk production, and reduces costs
in additional feed and nutritional supplements, as when managed
correctly, it is possible for the farmer to utilise the grass to
provide year-round feed.
Yoan is not a consultant and his services provide only the facts
and figures to allow farmers to make their own decisions on grazing
and pasture management. He isnt affiliated to any other company to
try and sell additional products, his service is to provide the
most accurate figures available to assist farmers with their own
management of their pasture.
While Yoan cant disclose individual statisticson what other
farmers are producing, he can let farmers know if their growth is
above or below average compared with other results, as an
indication if their growth is optimal for the areaor not.
Included in the feed management report that Pasture Count NZ
provides its clients are:
Total kg/dm summary Average cover kg/dm/ha Individual paddock
cover dm/ha Growth rates Feed wedge
Grass measurement is the key to successand planning ahead will
allow shortages andsurpluses to be identified and opportunities
used. The more pasture harvested and consumed by cows the higher
the operating profit.
Pasture Count NZ has a growing database of clients who have seen
direct benefits to the service provided, through higher pasture
growth.With Yoan also working with his brother Rhys, who works a
500 cow share-milking position, both himself and Rhys have been
able to witness first-hand the eect of monitoring the pasture
levels for optimum growth.
This confidence in results and a growingreputation in
performance has resulted inPasture Count NZ becoming an ATS
supplier, so now farmers have the added convenience of paying
through their ATS account with theadded benefit of a hearty
discount.
Yoan attributes the businesses success to the years of
experience he has had on dairy farms,including valuable knowledge
from his parentswho work for Livestock Improvements in NewZealand
and the UK. Local business partners
and advisors have also given him invaluable help and advice to
help his business achieve stellar results.
Je Marshall Motorcycles has been brilliant in helping me with my
farm equipment. Je has been there for me any time day or night when
I have needed help with my bike. Also Simon Nikolo at Grow Mid
Canterbury was instrumental in helping me to get my business
started. He recommended the NZ Trade and Enterprise course that
taught me business management techniques, and has been a fantastic
business mentor, Yoan said.
For independent, reliable and accurate pasture readings, Pasture
Count NZ will let its technology do the walking for you, for
optimum pasture management.
Story by Amanda Niblett
Yoan demonstrates how the pasture measuring technology saves
dairy farmers time and money by providing fast and accurate pasture
count information.
-
12
Inspiration comes with appointmentInspiration comes with
appointment
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One of the countrys most influential woman business leaders is
bringing her inspirational leadership style to the board of
agricultures fastest growing network.
Sue Lindsay has been appointed to the board of the Dairy Womens
Network (DWN) after the retirement of founding member Christina
Baldwin.
Sues high level of energy and inspirational vision for female
leadership will be familiar to anyone who has attended some of our
successful conferences in recent years, says DWN chair Michelle
Wilson.
Her presence on the board cements DWN as a leading force in
rural womens leadership, and is a personal commitment to see more
women move into leadership roles within the industry.
Lindsay brings a strong affinity for the rural sector, having
grown up on a farm near Winton and running it for three years
following her fathers death.
She was a leading light in agri-business management for nine
years, as
head of rural supplies company, CRT, in Southland.
During her time there she doubled revenues for the Top 200
company and instilled a culture of commitment and passion to
service within sta members. She has since been working closely with
rural women, developing and delivering BNZs Women in Agribusiness
leadership courses and collaborating with international business
consultant, Tom Peters.
Over the years I have seen DWN develop a strong nurturing
environment, helping women develop on a personal and professional
level. There is a wealth of confidence and competence within the
group and many of its members are ready to step up within the
agribusiness industry, she says.
She believes it was far sighted and visionary work by DWN
founding members to establish a strongly internet-driven forum for
dairying women. This structure helped women get together on-line
and has helped network numbers build quickly.
Women need to be able to connect
easily given the busy lives so many of them have. The
internet-based network has helped dairying women collaborate well
and has made the network a body highly regarded - that is reflected
in the calibre of its sponsors and respect it is given.
Sue Lindsays latest research work has provided her with a
springboard for identifying and promoting potential leading women
from within DWN ranks.
She is about to release the work, titled The Feminine
Perspective the role of women in the New Zealand economy.
Global research indicates women are involved in 64 per cent of
all buying decisions, but our work indicates it is nearer 70 per
cent in New Zealand. I would suspect it is even higher for women
involved in dairying businesses.
Despite this level of influence, she is concerned at the low
level of involvement women have beyond the farm gate in the New
Zealand agribusiness sector.
Only 11.8 per cent of positions on New Zealand agribusiness
boards are represented by females, and that figure needs to be at
least 30 per cent to generate the critical mass to have
meaningful impact.
She sees DWN as the ideal incubator to push the talent there
onto those boards, given the number of women already key partners
in dairy businesses rivalling many corporates for turnover and sta
levels.
In seeking great leaders for inspiration, Lindsay cites Air New
Zealands CEO Rob Fyfe and Howard Schultz of Starbucks as two
leaders who understand the need to engage their people at all
levels of the business to achieve the organisations full potential
sustainably.
The level of engagement of sta in many businesses is low, and
there is a need for us to re-examine how we get Generation Y
engaged with companies. I believe it is time for a new leadership
story and without a commitment to that change a leadership crisis
looms.
There are many studies that show a balance of male and female
leaders is beneficial to a company in all respects. We are simply
not seeing that in New Zealand agri-business.
DWN has created a critical mass of like minds and will be a key
driver for dairying women wanting to advance to leadership
positions in the agri-sector in coming years, its great to be part
of that from the inside now.
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-
13
Conferences callingConferences calling
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Mid Canterbury dairy farmers are being invited to participate in
the New Zealand Dairy Business Conference, the 43rd annual event
hosted by the New Zealand Large Herds Association and Altum.
Phil Butler, chairman of the Palmerston North team organising
the event, says the conference in March next year has a programme
designed by farmers, for farmers.
We address the topics that come up outside of the formal
discussion groups, around the opportunities for progression and
improvement, rather than the mechanics of cows and grass. As the
countrys biggest export earner, the dairy industry is vital to the
New Zealand economy. As participants in the industry, we need to
ensure we are up with the play with research, technology and global
trends, to help drive continued progress and improvement.
The conference is themed turbo charge your knowledge and will
include presentations key business and industry leaders on their
views of the research, technology and brand opportunities both now
and in the future.
Owen Greig, a member of the local organising committee, says the
opportunity to network with dairy farming business colleagues and
agribusiness professionals in a lively, positive environment, was
another drawcard.
He farms with his family 15 minutes from Palmerston North,
milking 2000 cows on a self-contained unit of 1500ha. He is also a
shareholders councillor for Fonterras Southern Manawatu ward.
The programme is designed to challenge our thinking, as we kick
o with a look at the state of play in the economy, from a global,
domestic and on farm perspective, with Dr Adrian Foster of Rabobank
AsiaPacific, and business commentator Rod Oram airing their views.
Our afternoon session will
explore ways of adding value to New Zealand through brand and
technology opportunities.
On Wednesday morning participants visit the Massey, AgResearch
& Fonterra Research Centres, and Landcorp farms in the Motua
basin. Spaces on each of these trips is limited, so delegates are
advised to register their spot early.
The Altum Gala Dinner on Wednesday evening features comedian Dai
Henwood, and local band Two Old Men.
On Thursday the conference will explore progression through the
industry from solid foundations to governance, strategy and
succession planning with addresses from Tim Alpe (2010 Entrepreneur
of the Year), Ben Allomes and Theo Speirings.
Mr Greig said farmers will get maximum value from attending the
whole conference, but its possible to register for individual days
if thats all time allows.
The conference will be held at Awapuni Raceway, in Palmerston
North, from March 27 to 29.
For full information on the programme, line-up of guest speakers
and to register, visit dairybusinessconference.co.nz .
The South Island Dairy Event is going to Otago for the first
time in its 14-year history. SIDE chairman and Southland
dairy farmer David Holdaway says the annual event which normally
alternates between Canterbury and Southland each June, was to be
held at Stadium Southland in 2012.
The rebuild of Stadium Southland following the snow damage of
2010 is taking longer than anticipated and we decided to shift the
event to the University of Otago in Dunedin. This is a great
opportunity for SIDE in the Otago region and makes it easy for
local dairy farmers to experience the three-day event without
travelling to Canterbury or Southland, he said.
The theme for the 2012 event is people, perception, pride.
Milton dairy farmer Brangka Munan is leading the event committee
for 2012 and says these were three recurring themes that kept
cropping up as the committee brainstormed the programme of
workshops for 2012.
People are such an important part of the dairy industry. Ask any
dairy farmer what the toughest part of the business is to get right
and the answer most times will be managing people. Cows and
grass is the easy part, Mr Munan said.
And perception - is dairying the job of last resort or the
preferred career choice for our young school leavers? Perception
really is reality and as dairy farmers we need to understand what
practical things we can do to address the sometimes
less-than-positive perceptions of dairying in the wider
community.
He says the third aspect of the theme, pride, is something dairy
farmers feel is in short supply in dairy today. Maybe its just a
part of the Kiwi psyche, but were not good at broadcasting our
successes. Dairying is a Kiwi success story but it seems that if it
doesnt involve a ball of some sort, we dont like making a big deal
about it. We need to tell our fellow New Zealanders about our All
Blacks in gumboots!
SIDE is a joint venture between South Island dairy farmers,
Lincoln University and DairyNZ. SIDE 2012 will be held in the St
David Complex, Otago University, Dunedin on June 25 to 27,
2012.
Registration opens in March 2012. Programme details and further
information will be posted on side.org.nz as it is confirmed.
Papers from previous events and information about other SIDE
activities are also available online.
THE NEWS IS SPREADING!
Contact Layton Watson
Watson DiggingPh 0274-360-159
or AH 03-303-5040
Versatile - Spreads all kinds of manure and waste
Massive output - Large capacity and fast emptying time
Precision spreading - Over entire 20m spread width
Excellent weight transfer - Minimises soil compaction
A conference byfarmers, for farmers
SIDE heads to Otago
Owen Greig
-
14
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from this to this using one of these:
From mid-next year, farmers will to be able to rate the di erent
perennial ryegrass cultivars in terms of expected profit, thanks to
the DairyNZ Forage Value Index (FVI).
The DairyNZ FVI is a major outcome from a new industry-operated
forage evaluation system currently being developed by DairyNZ and
the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association
(NZPBRA).
DairyNZ principal scientist and project leader, Dr David Chapman
says until now, farmers have had limited information on the
expected profit of sowing new perennial ryegrass cultivars.
Dairy cattle have had a well-developed breeding worth system but
pastures have fallen behind in the economic evaluation stakes. This
situation is about to change, he says.
The traits that will be included in the DairyNZ FVI are seasonal
pasture production (winter, early spring, late spring, summer and
autumn), metabolisable energy concentration, and persistence. Each
perennial ryegrass cultivar will have a DairyNZ FVI, and associated
trait values and reliabilities.
Economic values, which are the
expected change in profit for every unit change in a trait
value, are a key component of the evaluation system.
Using farm system models, the Forage Evaluation Team
(representatives from DairyNZ, NZPBRA and Lincoln University),
found that for the upper North Island, extra feed in autumn had the
highest predicted economic values, followed closely by summer and
early spring.
The value of extra feed during these periods was double the
value of extra feed in late spring. In the lower North Island,
Canterbury and Southland, extra feed was most valuable in winter,
early spring and autumn.
According to the seed industry
National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) data analysed by the team,
since 1991, the trend for genetic gain in perennial ryegrass has
been greatest for summer pasture production (+27 kg DM/ha/year),
followed by autumn (+20 kg DM/ha/year), winter and late spring
(both at +5 kg DM/ha/year).
There has been no increase in early spring pasture production
over this time.
This result is not surprising as we have been breeding for
cultivars that produce less seed head, to improve spring quality.
says Graham
Kerr, member of NZPBRA Technical committee.
Genetic gains in total production of +50-55 kg DM/ha/year, or
+1,000 kg DM/ha since 1990 are being realised. Assuming efficient
harvesting by dairy cows and persistence of DM yield, these changes
in seasonal and total production are worth an estimated increase in
profit of $20/ha/year.
When yield data from NFVT trials and other sources are spliced
with the economic values, we have a way of calculating economic
merit of a
cultivar, says David.
The DairyNZ FVI brings this all together so that the perennial
ryegrass cultivars with the best seasonal and total growth
characteristics will rise to the top of rankings within a
region.
He says the DairyNZ FVI will also rate persistence, and the
scheme will steadily strengthen over the next three years, as
further testing is done to improve reliability of cultivar trait
values and in turn their economic merit values.
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PHOTO KIRSTY GRAHAM 240908-KG-054Farmers can now gain access to
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Milk back in schoolsFonterra plans to roll out its milk for
schools programme in Northland next year, covering 110 schools
and 14,000 children.
The giant dairy co-operative will install refrigerators in
schools to keep the milk cool, unlike the Government programme
which operated in New Zealand schools between 1937 and 1967 and
resulted in bad experiences with warm milk.
Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings said milk o ered a unique
combination of nutrients essential for childrens growth and
development, and the company wanted to make milk for
accessible.
Milk is an important building block for good nutrition. We want
Kiwi kids to grow up drinking milk as it is good for them.
Fonterras pilot scheme is voluntary, and results will be
monitored during the first three terms of 2012, with the intention
to go nationwide in the 2012 school year.
Mr Spierings said Fonterra was continuing to review the price of
milk in New Zealand.
Our motivation is to have more New Zealanders drinking more milk
because it is important for basic nutrition. To achieve this, we
have to make it a ordable.
Traditionally milk consumption in New Zealand has been
increasing around 1-2 per cent per year but it is currently
declining by a similar rate. We are exploring a range of options to
turn around the consumption decline.
-
15
Dipping and flushing - automaticallyDipping and flushing -
automatically
Dairy farmers turned out to see the new ADF Milking System at
work on Martin and Sarah Earlys Mayfield farm recently.The Earlys
milk 900 cows through a 54-bale rotary
shed on Barnswood Road, and installed the automatic dipping and
flushing system in August. They were the first farmers in the
region to install the ADF system, which is gaining traction in New
Zealand as a way to improve animal welfare and control
mastitis.
ADF Milking is a system that automatically dips the cows teats
straight after milking, before the cups are removed. The cups are
then flushed out using a water-sanitiser mix that e ectively
eliminates the risk of cross contamination from infected cups being
passed from cow to cow.
The whole process takes less than 20 seconds and the system can
be installed in any dairy shed (although you do need to have cup
removers installed).
ADF has won awards at National Fieldays, praise from farmers and
the industry all round.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the udder. It is usually caused
by bacteria that enter through the teat end and infect the udder.
It is also a costly disease. Each case of clinical mastitis is
estimated to cost about $200 per case in cost of drugs and
discarded milk, labour and short term production losses.
The Earlys are in their fifth year as dairy farmers and had the
system retrofitted in August. It was installed between milkings and
at night to cause minimum disruption to the daily milking
schedule.
While it was early days in terms of monitoring, mastitis cases
had dropped, meaning vet bills were
less and more cows were producing milk for pick-up, he said.
The somatic cell count (SCC) had also dropped. SCC is the number
of body cells counted in a sample of milk; most of these somatic
cells are white blood cells that move from the blood into the udder
after bacteria enter and infect the udder.
Martin said it ticked the box as a sensible spend, and while ADF
was a Rolls-Royce model the system would pay for itself in two and
a half years.
One person had previously been used to take the
cups o after milking and manually spray cows udders with an
iodine spray; that worker had been freed up for other jobs.
He said it was all about sustainability, and making ongoing
improvements to what was a multi-million dollar business.
This system I believe is worth investing in.
The system is being sold in Mid Canterbury by Laser Electrical,
and owner Brent Christie said it complemented the companys rural
and dairy division.
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NOW
PHOTOS SUPPLIEDAround 40 farmers visited Martin and Sarah Earlys
Mayfi eld dairy farm this month to see a new automatic teat-dipping
and fl ushing system at work.
Farmers watch the system at work in the dairy shed. The system
can be fi tting to existing milking systems.
-
16
Tips on growing maizeTips on growing maize
Kitset price from $52, 600 incl GST71.68m2 2 1 1
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Plant and Food Research scientist Andrew Fletcher had some tips
at FARs crops expo this month for making the most of maize silage
crops.
He said yield was driven by the capture of sunlight in the
canopy, though Canterburys cool spring temperatures a ected how the
canopy developed.
He had some suggestions for practices that might accelerate
canopy development and photosynthesis.
Plant populationIncreasing plant population is one
way to improve the interception of sunlight. However, the value
of any extra silage produced needs to be balanced against the cost
of extra seed. Recent research has indicated that profitability
might be increased in Canterbury by aiming for a plant population
of 130,000-140,000 plants per hectare.
Row spacingIn theory, reducing the row
spacing in maize crops should lead to earlier canopy closure and
hence
more yield. However, previous work has not been able to
demonstrate any benefit of reducing maize row widths.
Sowing dateEarlier sowing dates of maize
will mean that the crop canopy is closed earlier and more of the
incoming sunlight around mid-summer (highest incoming sunlight)
will be captured. However, because spring soil temperatures are
low, the window for sowing maize in Canterbury is very short and
therefore there is not much opportunity to adjust sowing dates.
Plastic mulchPlant and Food has recently
been trialling a new technology that covers maize seeds with
clear photodegradable plastic mulch. This raises soil temperature
and enhances canopy development.
FARs Diana Mathers also had some advice for growing successful
maize silage. She said arable farmers have successfully shifted to
reduced tillage systems for cereals and legumes but maize growers
had been reluctant to give reduced tillage a go.
FAR and MAF SFF are funding a single pass planting system for
maize project to encourage maize growers to plant a small area of
their crop with a reduced tillage system.
A number of farmers and contractors in three regional groups are
working together to share their knowledge and experience.
She said trials in the Waikato comparing conventional tillage,
strip tillage and direct drilling over the last four years showed
no di erences in yields.
However the maize was planted, attention to detail was important
and contractors under pressure could be forgetful, she said.
It pays to be there at the start of planting to check that the
planter is set up to do a good job. Check the seed placement and
the slot closure. Seeds in an open slot are vulnerable to drying
and being eaten by slugs and birds.
Make sure that the slug bait is being applied; slug damage is
one of the most likely things to go wrong.
DairyNZ is setting the record straight soluble fertilisers do
not destroy worm life in soil.DairyNZ strategy and investment
leader for productivity, Dr Bruce Thorrold, says there is a
mistaken belief among many that soluble fertilisers, such as urea
and superphosphate, kill earthworms.
In fact, soluble fertilisers will often increase the earthworm
numbers, says Bruce. To sustain a healthy earthworm population,
which is so important for good soil, farmers should limit soil
damage in winter.
In the December edition of DairyNZs Inside Dairy magazine,
AgResearch principal scientist Alec Mackay lends his expert opinion
to help dispel the myth around fertiliser use.
The application of soluble fertilisers
to maintain soil fertility will not destroy soil life, says
Alec. Fertilising ensures a continual food supply for earthworms. I
see an emphasis on management practices that limit soil damage in
winter as being far more important in maintaining a healthy
earthworm population.
Earthworms are primary decomposers feeding on organic matter,
such as dead plant material and cow dung their numbers grow as the
quantity and quality of organic matter increases.
For example, a sheep-grazed hill country pasture receiving 375kg
superphosphate/ha/yr since 1980 recorded earthworm numbers in
excess of 1000/m; double that of pasture which remained
unfertilised for 26 years.
Earthworms are at their most active
in the winter and early spring. During the winter months, when
soils are wet, earthworms are most vulnerable to treading damage by
livestock. Pastures damaged by livestock at this time will reduce
earthworm numbers and activity.
In an ideal situation, three types of earthworms should be
present in
soil. Epigeic earthworms that feed on organic matter on the soil
surface and do not form permanent burrows; Endogeic earthworms that
ingest topsoil and its associated organic matter, forming
semi-permanent burrows; and Anecic earthworms that draw organic
matter from the soil surface into their deep, permanent burrows to
feed.
Dishing the dirt on earthworms
Depth of activity of the three functional earthworm groups.
Figure adapted from Fraser and Boag, photos courtesy of R.
Gray.
PHOTO LINDA CLARKE 071211-LC-002 Precision drilled maize on a
cultivated plot at FARs Chertsey trial site.
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