Dairy Focus August

An Ashburton Guardian Supplement

August 2012

There’s still room for growth in dairying Pages 2-3-4

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Dairy Focus August 2012

Dairy Focus August 2012

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The best place in New Zealand to go dairying global recession.

Nearly 60 per cent of the Mid Canterbury Linda Clarke, “Ashburton is clearly plains land is now rural reporter, the best place in the Ashburton Guardian in dairying or dairy country to go dairying. support, says Ashburton Canterbury has the farm consultant and largest dairy farms, the highest valuer Bob Engelbrecht. production per cow and per hectare Many conversions are continuing by in New Zealand. Herds here are an default. Farmers are opting for dairy average 840 cows, compared to a New cows over crops and sheep, to improve Zealand average of 386.” profits.

Irrigation that fuelled the conversion Bob, a trusted advisor to farmers in wave has also been a passion for Bob, this district for 45 years, says he can’t who says he feels privileged to have blame them. He thinks the district is had a front seat to such a major change not yet at saturation point for dairying in farming systems. either, though he says Mid Canterbury has traditionally been a strong farming “But in the end it is the farmers who have led it. We provide assistance to region because of its diversity. help them, but it is farmers who usually “I have farmers who said five years lead changes.” ago ‘only over my dead body’. Now Farming’s importance to the nation they have been milking cows for a also needs to be re-stated, he said. couple of seasons.”

Land-based exports make up nearly 70 Poor financial rewards for arable per cent of the country’s total exports, farmers top the list of reasons to yet 88 per cent of New Zealanders live convert. in towns or cities. “We are dominated “The alternatives of dairy farming by urban attitudes, yet agriculture are relatively good compared to other makes New Zealand’s way in the world.” land uses, subject to appropriate debt Bob says urban dwellers would do levels. But diversification has been our well to remember that. strength, with mixes of sheep, beef, deer, arable and dairying.”

“Tourism was, and never will be, He said arable farmers were the most competitive against agriculture. We have some great scenery but New skilled in the business and faced big Zealand cannot survive on tourism, risks growing any crop. But weather and market prices did not consistently though it is a useful contribution. We reward them. should focus on the things we are Dairy farmers, on the other hand, are good at and agriculture is one of those.” less affected by the weather and can In his future, New Zealand may need still milk in the rain, calve in the mud to consider growing crops geneticallyand keep going. “And once they have engineered to withstand weed, disease milk in the vat they don’t have to worry and other challenges, and store more about it. The tanker collects it and it is water for irrigation and other uses. marketed mostly by an organisation Bob could easily have been a farmer, working on their behalf. but chose not to. He was born in “Not so for arable guys.”

Oxford and lived there on the family’s Bob said dairy farming and irrigation 200 acre farm until he left high school had buffered Mid Canterbury from the for a job as a land survey cadet.

The farm ran sheep and a few dairy cows and Bob was called back to help out when his father became ill.

“It was an uneconomic farm in those days. I shudder to think I could easily have ended up there, and how naive I was. I would not have survived.”

By accident almost, he ended up going to Lincoln. He enrolled in 1964 for a Diploma in Agriculture, a two-year course with student numbers in that course that year breaking 100 for the first time. There were 400 students in total attending the agricultural college back then, including 11 women. The university now supports more than 3000 students.

Bob completed the diploma course then followed it with a Diploma of Valuation and Farm Management (nowadays it is a degree course).

He took a job with the Lauriston Farm Improvement Club after graduation and two years later teamed up with fellow farm

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advisors Bryan Royds, Dick Smith and John Tavendale to run their own consultancy business.

The year, 1967, was an interesting start to business. Wool prices had collapsed and farmers were battling a major porina outbreak.

Clients were many and varied, from farmers on 90 acres to 1400 acres, spanning arable, sheep and beef, dairying and horticulture.

Bob says the farmers ring from 7am until 10pm and in many situations he is treated more like a member of the family.

On-farm development over the years has been driven by irrigation, a subject Bob has been passionate about for 40 years.

“Ashburton has gone from being one of the least desirable farming districts to being most of the most desirable.

“The town is now regarded as the most dynamic rural town in New Zealand. I am told that by people who come here from other

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districts and really it is the consequence of three things. Primarily it is irrigation availability; second, the versatility of our soils and third, Ashburton town is a very good farm servicing town.”

Times weren’t always good though.

Economic reforms introduced by the Labour Government in 1984 left farmers seriously exposed to massive debt levels. By the autumn of 1986 land values had dropped by 70 per cent, lamb and crop prices were low, and the district was in a drought. Interest rates were as high as 30 per cent and lenders were worried about their money. “We had a lot of meetings with banks. It was a stressful period for all in the farming community.”

He says for most farmers at least one of those stressors, drought, is a thing of the past thanks to irrigation.

He knows careful irrigation works. It improves the soil capability and creates a more confident farming community. Irrigation

was also a magnet for businesses like South Pacific Seeds, Five Star Beef, CMP and Talleys to come to the district.

Environment Canterbury’s proposed Land and Water Plan may threaten that continuing development though. Farmers should be alert.

Bob says farmers will be seriously limited by the recently-notified plan, though many will not have had time to read or understand the 233-page document.

“Some of the things in the LWP if taken to conclusion will mean that agriculture will have to back off its intensity. It means a lower stocking rate of cows and that has huge consequences for this district and parts of New Zealand.”

Policy writers seemed blind to the fact almost every farmer wants to improve the land, so it can produce profitable crops now and for future generations, he said.

Story continues on page 4

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Dairy Focus August 2012

Dairy Focus August 2012

“It upsets me that many of the urban population don’t understand farmers. The perception many city people have, even some in Ashburton, is that farmers are poorly educated, have far too much wealth and income and they play golf three days a week. It is nothing like that.

he can, showing people the good work farmers do and how it adds to the national economy.

“In 1967 when I left Lincoln, the land-based contribution to exports was 67 per cent. Today it is the same. So in spite of government and other leaders in the last 45 years trying to change our focus, our income from agriculture is still the same percentage as it was.” Hardly a sunset industry, as suggested by Prime Minister David Lange in his day.

“Farmers here, particularly arable farmers are without question the most skilled farmers in New Zealand. They have had to be to survive. Especially in the pre-irrigation days, they would have one good year, one average year, one bad one. If Bob does worry about bureaucracy taking over you were not thinking constantly about how to and political correctness becoming a substitute for respond to the widely-variable weather, you would commonsense. not survive.”

“It is much more complicated to get and retain Bob has been a driving force in Irrigation NZ, resource consents for water or effluent disposal formerly the New Zealand Irrigation Association, now compared with what it used to be. There has over the years and water continues to be a passion. to be a balance between moving forward and He remembers in the pioneering years, driving people trying to ‘save the world’.” out to Pendarves where farmer and irrigation pioneer Brian Cameron was banging 6 inch pipe in For New Zealand to keep going forward on a farming front, the country may need to look at the ground. “Some people thought he was crazy but he found water and it is really when the deep growing genetically-engineered crops, he said.

Farmers are not currently rewarded financially for well irrigation in New Zealand started.” their GE-free status.

He and Brian joined forces, though the irrigation Bob said that at the end of the day people around association struggled and went into recess in the the world will continue to buy food mostly based 1980s, when farm development stopped under Rogernomics. With the late John Young and other on how much it costs. “People who say no are trying to stop the tide because eventually these enthusiasts, Bob revived it and reformed the group in 2001 as Irrigation New Zealand. Since things will happen. We need to keep these things then it has flourished, tackling technical and in mind. Never close the door. It may be the best political issues. answer to our future.

Bob says environmental opposition to

irrigation development is frequently sparked by you down average they will let an th r tte misinformation. It is frustrating. be 1. You need to be and disappoint. be to ed ne u yo d average – an e and It is ironic to hear, he says, Land and Water Plan 9. Farm programm ’s time. continual better still in a year ed ne – promoters praising plans in the North Island for t en em ag an m il is most w water storage with combined hydro-generation 2. Attention to deta onitoring and revie m . important. and irrigation. ughout the season erything. thro ev is g” in m n “ti te of od 3. Go . Self-deception is “We tried to do that 25 years ago at in the bling – read, ask 10 4. Be well informed ears and (usually) the biggest stum high country. It could have happened but the ep nest with questions, learn. Ke block. Be totally ho greenies said ‘no’. We don’t have to save all of ed and se eyes open. ur analysis of crop yo New Zealand in the way it used to be.” ce if an itor – rform 5. Measure and mon u can’t yields and animal pe , yo He says the district’s fertile soils and the town you don’t measure results. know n’t ca are better for irrigation. u yo d rm an fa r of ito mon 11. Scale and size ake. m to s n ge ca t an bu ch – at lp wh If not for that precious water, the population operation can he portant verse effect if not re e would be lucky to be 10,000 and mostly low 6. Focus on the im th ve ha ng up on factors, don’t get hu intensity sheep farms would dominate the well controlled. rmers eat, trivial issues. landscape. As it stands, nearly 60 per cent of 12. Top farmer perfo as a g in th ch su no the their is ea e br the Mid Canterbury plains is in dairying or d an 7. Ther ep sle k, stem in the drin t don’t Bu s. dairy support. es low-cost farming sy sin bu g in rm fa . eir Ashburton district , they approach th air sp de Bob says the rift between town and country nal farm l and sporting 8. Use a conventio family, recreationa ” has deepened in the past few years and he od .

-b m dd ias “o us d enth programme – avoi time with the same tries to challenge that thinking as much as on s, ed se or s or “fringe” crop

Synlait - it’s about growth

“If someone cut the rope tonight and New Zealand slipped into the sea, most of the world wouldn’t notice, let alone care. As a country, we are not as important as many New Zealanders think.”

► Bob’s services to Lincoln University over the years will be recognised by the institution next week, when he will be presented with a medal for long and meritorious voluntary service to the educational institution. He says it will be something to share with wife Dianne, who has uncomplainingly loaned him to the important business of farming for four decades.

Bob is one of three to receive university medals this year, alongside South Canterbury farmer Alvin Reid and Lincoln valuer and farmer John Ryan.

While he does not yet know the specifics of his citation, Bob said he had tried to help the university and its students over the years. His ties with graduating classmates remain strong, 45 years on.

And he still lives by the philosophy that when you stop learning, you stop living.

Synlait Milk has grown its supply base to over 150 Canterbury farms since its inception in 2008 and has plans for further expansion this season.

“A key pillar of the Synlait Milk’s business strategy is to become the processor of choice for New Zealand dairy farmers,” says David Williams, milk supply manager for Synlait Milk. Synlait says its milk suppliers are as important as its global customers and has developed a new campaign to strengthen that partnership.

“Committed partnerships acknowledges the trust and commitment our suppliers have put in Synlait Milk by actively choosing to supply us,” says marketing and communications manager Michael Wan. Part of the campaign involves delivering

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Synlait has taken an integrated approach to developing the committed partnerships story and has recently undertaken several projects to improve supplier communication and service. The most noticeable is the recent rebranding of the Synlait tankers.

“We were increasing the numbers in our tanker fleet and needed to brand the new tankers. At the same time we have taken the opportunity to update all the tankers while the fleet is still relatively small,” Mr Wan said.

The new tankers are capable of carrying 34,000 litres of milk and will create supply chain efficiencies for the company. The new design incorporates a strong use of the

corporate colour palette and the company mission statement ‘making more from milk’.

It also features a dynamic swish, which is an adaptation of the Synlait Milk logo and also represents the movement of milk within the tankers.

been designed to work together as a suite of information rather than stand alone individual information sources.

“Over the coming months and year we will be applying best practice and our new campaign to our supplier communications The Synlait tankers have also gone high vis, meaning at night they reflect, increasing and service delivery. We have identified the visibility of the tankers for other drivers key projects and initiatives to enhance our service delivery in a cost-effective manner on the road. to our suppliers,” Mr Williams said.

“This will make our tankers more visible Synlait processes 550 million litres of in low light, in the early morning and late evening when our tankers are often visiting milk per year, from which 95,000 metric supplier farms,” Mr Wan said. tonnes of milk powder is produced. Synlait In addition to the new tankers, all Synlait products are exported to over 50 countries, while the company employs over 130 staff suppliers have received updated supplier packs. The content of the new pack features and has an expected revenue of over $360 current industry information and has million for the 2012 financial year.

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Dairy Focus August 2012

Canterbury suppliers of increasing importance to Westland Contributed by Westland Milk Products

New Zealand’s second biggest dairy cooperative Westland Milk Products, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, is hailing its foray into Canterbury as a success.

being a smaller company means farmers have the confidence that as shareholders they have influence and ready access to the board and staff.

flexible company with a reputation for innovation. It is through a greater focus on nutritionals markets that we can compensate for the volatility of the bulk commodities market and give our shareholders a more secure and stable future.

“It’s also fair to say that while we’re a smaller player in the dairy industry, we’re In 2010 the company began to court still big enough to count and have a real supplier shareholders in the Canterbury impact.

Westland is one of the top 100 region and now has 14 farms signed up, “Our success has been driven by the companies in New Zealand, with a turnover mostly in the Ashburton area. As proposals inspiration and adaptability of our farmer in excess of $525 million. We market to for further developments at its Rolleston shareholders, who willingly stepped into plant progress, Westland Milk Products will more than 70 customers in more than 40 the independent company arena in 2001. different countries around the world.” continue to look for additional suppliers Since then they have embraced new this side of the mountains.

Mr Quin said Westland is growing its share technology, on farm and in the factory. As of the important nutritionals markets, a united co-operative we have surrounded Chief executive Rod Quin says that ourselves with practical and passionate Canterbury dairy farmers are appreciating especially in areas like China, and that’s people who are committed to the same the easy entry into Westland Milk Products where the future lies. principles that applied 75 years ago and and the attractions that a full cooperative “These value-added products have tremendous prospects for us as a smaller, model can offer. He said the advantage of which remain our foundation.”

The company’s plans for Canterbury further enhance its appeal to potential shareholders in the region.

become unnecessary. As Westland Milk Products’ presence grows in Canterbury it plans as to expand its manufacturing capability in Canterbury by building a Its reverse osmosis plant at Rolleston currently handles around 120 million litres of dedicated nutritional products plant milk annually. The milk is concentrated by 50 at Rolleston. As well as utilising more Canterbury milk, this new plant will provide per cent before being transported by train to Hokitika for processing. This process is a employment opportunities in the area. highly efficient way of moving milk between “The backbone of Westland Milk Products Westland’s sites. will always be the magnificent dairying Eventually, though, transporting milk across the alps might be reduced or even

land on the West Coast with its unique, lush, climate,” Mr Quin says. “But the

opportunities in Canterbury are exciting and by developing them we give the company greater flexibility and resources that will strengthen our position in the market and enhance our resilience and adaptability.

That’s good news for farmers both sides of the Main Divide.”

Anyone interested in finding our more about supplying Westland Milk Products can apply for further information and an Investor Statement at info@westland.co.nz or 03 371 1600.

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Dairy Focus August 2012

Dairy Focus August 2012

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Glen a Queen of the calves Contributed by ATS

Glen Coffin marvels at the contrast between her calf rearing operation at Klondyke Dairy in Mid Canterbury, owned by Margaret and Murray Turley, and the farm she used to work on in England.

“There I had done a good season if I had reared 50 calves. Here it is sometimes closer to 50 calves a day!”

She and husband Charlie are dairy migrants from Dorset who have spent the past four years at Klondyke Dairy near Ashburton, relishing the opportunity Canterbury’s scale and the industry’s support provides them compared to the UK. Charlie manages the 2000-cow operation that is stepping up to 2300 this season. Glen oversees the intensive and demanding job of rearing 1300 plus calves, dairy replacement and the beef calves. In an industry where a number of larger scale commercial calf rearing operators have dropped out in recent years, her role is as vital in replenishing the beef industry with young stock as it is rearing healthy, productive dairy replacements for the dairy operation.

Recent shortages of beef stock reflect the lower numbers of calves reared over the past three years. It comes just as the planets are aligning with low global supplies, strengthening demand from non traditional markets, and positive grass supplies.

While Glen is confident rearing numbers that would daunt many, she also admits being open to learning new methods to get the best results in the operation. Last year saw her make a major shift in her approach to rearing which, despite her open mindedness, she admits challenged her views.

“Of the three of us, Murray, Charlie and myself, presented with the new approach, I have to admit, I was probably the most sceptical. I tended to take the if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it view.”

That approach, after speaking with ATS, was to move to the Queen of Calves rearing programme, developed and marketed by Bell Booth. First launched in New Zealand in 2001, the programme aims to have calves raised on the programme converting energy more efficiently into bodyweight, ultimately consuming less milk, more lower cost cereal based feed and benefitting from better rumen development.

The programme sees young calves fed twice a day on whole milk, including the addition of X Factor probiotic compound to the milk. The probiotic puts “good” bacteria into the calves’ stomachs, populating it and preventing “bad” bacteria building in numbers.

The key benefit is in the early rearing phase. Over the first 18 days the X Factor will help knock back bacteria often collected by the calf from its environment, and even its mother, that make it more susceptible to infection and poor health. After that first three-week period the heifer replacements will continue to receive whole milk twice a day, with the addition of Queen of Calves compound, while the beef calves go to straight whole milk powder replacement.

Glen says a focus of hers, based on her UK experience, had always been to try and build up the amount of “hard” feed, such as straw and meal, the calves receive as quickly as possible from an early age, given the cost benefit and value to helping rumen development.

productive stage in life.

The Queen of Calves probiotic supplement compound added after the first three weeks helps overcome the Better feeding using a system like Queen of Calves in limitations in whole milk. It contains marine plant extracts the early stages improves mammary development in and beneficial bacteria, creating a high carbohydrate young heifers through ensuring higher growth rates. addition to the natural benefits of whole milk.

Maintaining those growth rates right through to first Massey researchers found the programme delivers calving ensures improved milk production, and as increases in growth rates of between 50 to 100g a importantly improved reproduction. day, while feeding X Factor in the early stages made Dr Margerison has noted if heifers are well grown in the “significant” differences with respect to calf health. early phase and it cannot be achieved with milk alone, Three research projects have achieved higher growth supplementing milk with Queen of Calves will minimise rates with Queen of Calves compared to traditional milk having to grow calves faster, later in life. programmes.

Glen believes she managed to shave a week off weaning Glen has a proven system combined with good facilities and routine for moving calves through. The operation times without sacrificing weaning weight, with the comprises two large sheds split into 12 pens, where the calves appearing content and developing well on the calves will spend three weeks. Once put outside into programme. rearing paddocks in mobs of 40, they have access to “We would probably have cut back on the whole milk by shelter sheds for the bad days, and continue to be fed about a litre, averaging four litres a day in two feeds. “ once a day.

The calves also seemed to suffer less from overfeeding After the all-year-round routine Glen and Charlie worked and getting nutritional scours, and were keen to tuck into with in the UK, Glen says she finds New Zealand’s seasonal the hard feed on offer. “I did find it was important to make dairy pattern a welcome change. sure there was plenty of water on offer to them, they “It is possible to just focus on each stage of the year, seemed to need that with the hard feed they were taking from mating to drying off to calving, to rearing calves and in.” back to mating, it helps get your staff focused and skilled An encounter with cryptosporidium at each area, rather than dealing with everything last season was unwelcome and on the go at once.” challenging, with the calves having to

Her first hand experience is supported by research be treated with antibiotics. However conducted at Massey on the Queen of Calves programme. she put them back onto X Factor after the treatment and found they The university has conducted three trials on the bounced back a lot quicker and programme, and dairy nutrition specialist Dr Jean healthier from the setback.

Margerison says it is no great secret that straight whole milk for calves has its deficiencies.

The Massey research has found early growth before three months The desired growth rate can be limited, and while milk of age is a spring board for input can be lifted to try and counter that, it reduces rumen development, and also comes at greater expense ensuring overall better performing animals once they hit their compared to lower cost cereal based feeds.

lied s supp Photo

d Glen an

Coffin.

Charlie

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‘Adding value to Canterbury’s Agriculture’

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Dairy Focus August 2012

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

Dairy Focus August 2012

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

11

ADF system is brilliant Article Supplied

Fertigation emerging as a complementary technology It combines seamlessly with the application of granular fertiliser in promoting pastoral and crop production. It’s the icing on the cake by applying nitrogen when and as Fertigation involves applying fertiliser required once the soil has good through the irrigation system, allowing nutrient levels. famers to control the timing, amount “It’s is an efficient way to apply the and concentration of fertiliser applied. correct nutrients at the correct time to The technology has been used in intensive horticulture and orchards for optimise plant growth.” many years with great success.

Mr Pile says fertigation benefits farmers through: Fertigation Systems Ltd owner Graeme Pile says the bottom line is • Reducing costs of applying fertiliser that operators can retain production, • Less soil compaction while lowering costs, resulting in better • Reduce nutrient leaching by profitability. applying the nutrients little and often, and easier to manage grass “Fertigation has been used on some production.

Canterbury farms for the past 5 years – and those operations have also seen In some areas with reduced Nitrogen the benefits of reduced costs and leaching limits, fertigation is one way to increased profitability. mitigate “N” lost to the environment. By only applying what the plant requires “At the moment, farmers using there is less nutrient to be leached. fertigation employ it as an integral part of their nutrient programme.

When fertigation is combined with As farming continues to change, with pressures from all angles, fertigation is an emerging technology which can counter some of those pressures.

tools, such as soil moisture sensors, precision irrigation and nutrient budgeting, farmers will find it easier to farm sustainably, Mr Pile says.

“There will be no fertilisers being applied to sensitive areas, such as creeks, springs or rivers, or to roads and tracks that are on the farms.

“Farmers can apply fertiliser when the soil is able to hold the nutrients, as the moisture level is below field capacity.”

Since having the ADF (Automatic Dipping and Flushing) milking system installed on his Mid Canterbury dairy farm in February, Jeff Gould has no doubt he has finally found the solution to an ongoing problem with mastitis.

Developed in the UK, ADF Milking has been operating since 2005. The system, designed to disinfect the teat immediately after milking and sanitize the cluster between cows, had already proven itself popular with farmers overseas and was being used on farms throughout Europe, the US and Canada before its introduction into New Zealand and Australia two years ago.

In an equity partnership with Wyvern and Beth Jones, Jeff and his wife Kelly milk 1130 cows on their 300ha property near Ashburton. As milk production increased Jeff noticed so did the incidence of mastitis and, although they had no problem with somatic cells, they were averaging about 20 cows with clinical mastitis, something he describes as "milk

down the drain and a big cost".

"I was sick of the amount of mastitis we were getting and I knew what it was costing us. We were also wasting so much teat spray we just couldn't spray properly with the system that we had unless we did it manually and that wasn't an option."

Since having the ADF system installed by local ADF agent Laser Electrical Ashburton, Jeff said it was performing better than he ever imagined it would.

"It's brilliant; it's reduced the mastitis by approximately 75 per cent and the amount of teat spray we use. I worked it out the other day and I think we will probably use about three drums of teat spray a year now, as opposed to the 16 we were using in the past, that's a huge difference. The saving in teat spray pays for the interest alone on the cost of the installation it's working perfectly and the teat condition of the cows now is better than ever.

"It's a brilliant system that I'd recommend to anyone, I really don't know how to explain just how good it is; the

system is faultless."

Since taking on the ADF agency 12 months ago Laser Electrical Ashburton have installed more than six systems and already has more than six signed up.

Laser’s rural and dairy division manager Phil Moore, has two teams of guys working on the installations which he says take approximately five days. Laser’s trained technician then spends another couple of milkings at the shed completing the final commissioning to ensure optimum coverage of the teat.

Phil and his team are very impressed with the automated maintenance system.

At 2000 milkings lining and injectors are sent to the farm prompting farm owners to complete maintenance themselves, then at 6000 milkings Laser Electrical performs a complete service and maintenance.

“The ADF system is very good and, with having more than 15 years’ experience in the industry, I can’t see how you could go wrong. It is the ultimate teat spray and flushing system.”

Photos supplied

Laser Electrical’s Dairy and Rural Services Manager Phil Moore (right) and Craig Kelly from ADF Milking undertake commissioning of an ADF milking system previously installed on a Mid Canterbury dairy farm, part of the excellent after-sales service from Laser Electrical and ADF.

Mid Canterbury dairy farmer Jeff Gould has reduced the incidence of mastitis by 75 per cent since the installation of the ADF milking system on a 300ha dairy farm, resulting in reduced teat spray costs and greater milk yield.

suppliers of ADF Milking Systems

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12

Dairy Focus August 2012

Dairy Focus August 2012

13

Climate change - better get used to it Cattle are being bred with genes from their African cousins who are accustomed to hot weather. New corn varieties are emerging with larger roots for gathering water in a drought.

Someday, the plants may even be able to “resurrect” themselves after a long dry spell, recovering quickly when rain returns.

this new normal and re-establish a different paradigm than what we’ve had in the past,’“ Gill said.

It’s no different for farmers in the nation’s Corn Belt, who are confronting a drought that stretches from Ohio west to California and from Texas north to the Dakotas. Only in the 1930s and the 1950s has a drought covered more of the US, according to the National Climatic Data Centre in North Carolina.

Across American agriculture, farmers and crop scientists have concluded that it’s too late to fight climate change.

They need to adapt to it with a new generation of hardier Nearly half of the nation’s corn crop is in poor or very poor animals and plants specially engineered to survive, and even condition, as well as a third of soybeans. thrive, in intense heat, with little rain.

The damage would be much worse without the crop “The single largest limitation for agriculture worldwide is science advancements of the last 40 years, said Andrew drought,” said Andrew Wood, a professor of plant physiology Wood, a professor of plant physiology and molecular and molecular biology at Southern Illinois University. biology at Southern Illinois University.

On his Kansas farm, Clay Scott is testing a new kind of “This year’s just terrible, but 20 years ago these crops corn called Droughtguard as his region suffers through a would have been completely burned up,” said Scott, who second consecutive growing season with painfully scarce also grows wheat and raises cattle in Kansas. “This year we’re precipitation. going to grow a decent crop even with drought.”

“These are products I really need,” Scott said. “I couldn’t be Until a few years ago, most research was designed to any happier that they are working on these products.” improve the plant’s overall resistance to a variety of threats, including insects, weeds and diseases. But the effort The urgency is also evident in Texas, where rainfall has also helped instill drought tolerance, said Roger Elmore, been below normal since 1996. Crops and pastures were extension corn specialist at Iowa State University. decimated in 2011 by a searing drought, and some got hit again this year. Ranchers have sold off many animals Now crop scientists want to go even further. In seed they couldn’t graze or afford to feed. Cattle inventory, at laboratories, they are developing corn varieties with 97.8 million head as of July 1, is the smallest since the US larger roots to absorb more water and smaller tassels Department of Agriculture began a July count in 1973. that save more of the plant’s energy for making kernels.

At least one rancher is now breeding cattle with genes that The new strains also have leaves that use less water for trace to animals from Africa and India, where their ancestors transpiration, the process that releases excess moisture after photosynthesis. developed natural tolerance to heat and drought.

“Pollination looks excellent, ear-fill is good,” he said. “I’m excited to see what the yield looks like.”

It’s not clear yet how far this kind of engineering can be pushed and whether seeds can be developed to endure the Weather forecasters are working on their own climateadaptation strategies, with the goal of helping farmers most severe droughts. choose which crops to plant and when.

“When you get so severe, basically nothing does well,” Eventually, meteorologists might be able to offer more said David Lobell, an environmental earth systems science precise seasonal forecasts that predict the number of days of professor at Stanford University. continuous rain or days suitable for fieldwork.

While corn is the most studied and engineered grain it isn’t “These are the kinds of things that have a the only crop getting attention. disproportionately large influence on farming,” said Gene New Mexico State University scientists are working on Takle, director of Iowa State University’s Climate Science more drought-tolerant varieties of alfalfa to improve the Program. nation’s hay crop, which is critical for feeding dairy and The National Weather Service predicted months in advance beef cattle. Shortages have contributed to the widespread that June and July would be hot and dry in Iowa, Takle said. livestock sell-off.

“What could we have said back in March that would have At South Dakota State University, plant science professor given farmers some actionable information to cope with Bill Berzonsky, announced last week the development of a this?” he said. new hard winter wheat variety he expects will outperform - AP older seeds. It’s not promoted as a drought-resistant

Wood is studying resurrection plants — mosses and ferns Ron Gill, a rancher who also heads the animal science department at Texas A&M University, said research has been that dry up and look dead after being deprived of water for weeks but spring back to life when watered. The goal is to under way for years to develop cattle that can withstand isolate genes that allow those plants to recover quickly from heat and grow on lower-quality forage. drought and transfer those traits to crops such as corn.

Last year, he started incorporating into his herd Beefmaster “We don’t want to turn corn into a cactus,” Wood said. His cattle, a cross between Brahman cattle, which originated perfect plant would tolerate mild drought and, when it in India, and European breeds that include Herefords and Shorthorns. He’s also experimenting with the appropriately finally rains, quickly resume “normal biology and output.” named Hotlanders, a Texas breed developed for its heat Developed by St Louis-based Monsanto and Germantolerance using genetics from Senepol cows bred in the based BASF, Droughtguard is a combination of the best Virgin Islands. drought-tolerant seed.

As ranchers replenish their livestock, the advice from Scott is among about 250 corn growers who are testing the experts is to breed drought tolerance into herds. variety on 10,000 acres from South Dakota to Texas. His final “We’re telling people, ‘Regardless of what you have to buy judgment will come at harvest time, but he’s encouraged by what he sees in the field. to restock, your future breeding programs need to target

Photo AP

Cattle rancher Ron Gill looks over his herd as he checks his livestock’s grazing pasture in rural Wise County near Boyd, Texas.

Gill has been cross breeding cattle with more drought tolerant breeds that can better withstand heat and droughts.

Story continues over page

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Dairy Focus August 2012

Dairy Focus August 2012

Trimming an injured claw

Herbage testing for herd nutrition assessment Total nutrition including energy, protein, • Potassium levels are higher over winter and spring, then trend down over macro and micronutrients during summer. calving and early lactation is critical to cow health while also determining milk • Magnesium and calcium — both key production both this year and next. elements for the lactating cow — trend Animal nutrition manager from lower in winter and spring. farm nutrition company Altum, Jackie • The majority of trace elements trend Aveling, says that an energy deficit in lower over the spring period as pasture this period could impact cycling and growth increases, with a few exceptions. conception rates, so it is important to “In a forage based diet, pasture provide a high quality balanced diet to potassium levels exceed the needs of meet nutrient needs. calving and lactating cows.

“One of the best methods to determine “Potassium can negatively impact on if a herd is consuming adequate nutrients is herbage testing to pinpoint the availability of magnesium in the cow which increases the risk of milk any limiting factors in the diet in fever. Identifying pasture potassium combination with analysis from other and magnesium levels will help farmers supplementary feeds.” plan an effective supplementation Dairy pasture data collected over the programme,” says Jackie. past five years from thousands of Altum “A robust supplementation clients has been statistically analysed to a 95 per cent confidence interval by programme includes a combination region, element and month to confirm of methods including high quality seasonal trends: magnesium directly provided to the

A farmer once made a comment rotten smell. That smell should be that he didn’t want to get his cows’ enough of an indication that it is not Fred Hoekstra Veehof Dairy feet trimmed in the wet weather helpful to use bandage.

Services - opening up the wound would However, letting the air get to the only create problems. This is an wound is not enough. The weight interesting comment, and I can appreciate his train needs to be taken off the wound. This sounds very of thought. logical, yet very few people actually do it with Opening a wound would expose it to bacteria trimming. Most people refer to a claw block. which will increase the risk of infection, especially There is nothing wrong with using claw blocks and in wet conditions. But, even though an exposed in many cases using a block is crucial to the healing corium is running the risk of getting infected, not of the cow, but if the claw is not trimmed properly opening a wound would increase that risk. it can still negatively affect the cow. It does happen A lame hoof that has a hole needs to be treated. sometimes that claw blocks come off prematurely.

The principle is that the corium needs to be If the claw is not trimmed properly the wounded exposed and the weight taken off the damaged claw is going to carry too much weight again. So claw, that is the key of good hoof trimming. If the how do you trim a cow properly then? The principle wound is not opened up properly, it doesn’t mean is the same as putting a claw block on the healthy that the bacteria are not at the corium. If anything, claw, but, instead of making the healthy claw the bacteria are trapped in the wound and are higher, you need to make the lame claw lower. You more likely to go through the corium creating an can do this by lowering the sole of the damaged infection. claw on the 2/3 area from the heel side. Lowering Opening it up and letting the air get to it will take this area can sometimes create as much height a lot of the infection pressure away, and the wound difference as using a block. can heal up a lot quicker.

Another advantage is that it is easier to see if the Using a bandage is not advisable as often the under-run has been eliminated properly and it is bandage is not taken off on time. When you much less likely for a hard ridge in the hoof to pinch eventually do take bandage off you can smell a the wound.

herd through water, dry cow molasses lick blocks and pasture dusting.”

Sodium can increase magnesium uptake in cows and provides other health benefits.

“For optimal health and maximum production balance is the key. These are just some of the factors that a pre-calf and early lactation herbage analysis can pick up.

“Detailed analysis of the herbage test taken at the correct time will assist in identifying a direct supplementation programme, which then can be implemented to remedy the shortfalls and give the herd a better chance of reaching its optimum production potential.”

Jackie says this can also be linked to a fertiliser programme, which provides a method to introduce a background dose of important elements such as magnesium and selenium for stock.

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16

Dairy Focus August 2012

Make a difference with a Nuffield Scholarship Mid Canterbury people who want to make to study the latest agricultural developments, a difference to farming, food and rural and meet leaders and decision makers not communities are being encouraged to apply accessible to the ordinary traveller. for a Nuffield Scholarship.

Applicants must have proven experience The prestigious scholarships are awarded in all areas of agriculture, horticulture and annually. One of the three 2012 scholars is agribusiness management and demonstrate New Zealand Young Farmers CEO Richard an ability and desire to participate in Fitzgerald of Methven and applications leadership in agriculture and the wider rural close at the end of the month for next year’s community. scholarships.

Scholarships are for four to six months, Mr Fitzgerald and wife Ruth run a 253ha and include participation in an international intensive mixed cropping farm near group tour through either Asia, Europe, Methven. Â He started working for New North and South America for approximately Zealand Young Farmers fulltime in 2002, six weeks as well as attendance at the annual initially as the contest manager for the Contemporary Scholars Conference, usually National Bank Young Farmers Contest, and in March, where they spend a week with has been its chief executive officer since other Nuffield Scholars from around the 2007. world.

His scholarship research topic is on the Normally two or three scholarships are capability development of farmers through awarded each year. Applications for the farmer networks.

2013 scholarship close on August 31, with Nuffield scholarships have been awarded final interviews taking place in October in to progressive New Zealand agribusiness Wellington. people since 1950 and give successful applicants the opportunity to travel overseas To find out more go to www.nuffield.org.nz