Plan 365 October 2014 by Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited

OCTOBER 2014

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

NUTRITION

FORAGE AND ARABLE

HORTICULTURE

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Plan 365 is a technical guide aimed at helping shareholders learn about best practice and the latest advancements in rural technology.

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

B12 production benefits All animals require vitamin B12 - sheep and cattle are no exceptions. In fact, without it they really don’t do very well. Vitamin B12 deficiency is characterised by general stock wasting, poor fertility rates, failure to thrive (particularly in young animals), loss of appetite and anaemia in prolonged deficiencies. In prolonged severe cases death may occur, usually from secondary immune suppression and associated diseases.

to stand and start suckling. They may

Ruminants rely on the bugs in their

the vitamin B12 stores of their lambs,

rumen to manufacture vitamin B12

since vitamin B12 readily crosses the

from dietary cobalt. Vitamin B12 is

placenta and is stored in the foetal liver.

essential for energy production and is

The same scenario applies to cows

also necessary for optimum growth and

pre-calve.

wool production.

These liver reserves do not last forever

Fast growing stock have a higher

though. Lambs and calves may require

requirement than adult stock. Lambs

further vitamin B12 supplementation.

and hoggets are therefore more

Supplementation can be achieved very

susceptible to cobalt deficiency than

simply through injecting sheep and

adult sheep, especially in the spring-

cattle with vitamin B12, to bolster cobalt

summer period.

levels, which will in turn help to improve

Cobalt deficient lambs are generally

their health and productivity.

smaller and weaker and take longer

Spring is the ideal time to elevate your

also have higher worm burdens and faecal egg counts and may be more susceptible to infectious diseases due to a non-specific immunosuppression. Unlike its mother, a suckling new born lamb cannot manufacture vitamin B12 from dietary cobalt. It is initially entirely dependent on the vitamin B12 stored in its liver and the vitamin B12 present in its dam’s milk. Supplementing the pregnant ewe with cobalt increases

animals’ vitamin B12 levels and ensure optimum health and better productivity. Injecting vitamin B12 is a safe, simple and inexpensive option that delivers 4 to 6 weeks of activity and fits in well with other drenching and dipping activities on-farm. Farmers can select from plain or selenised vitamin B12 options, so at farms where selenium levels are low, stock blood levels can be bolstered at the same time. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Bayer Animal Health. Elevate is a registered trademark of Bayer New Zealand Limited.

ELEVATE B12 2000 SELENISED 500ML

ELEVATE B12 1000 SELENISED 500ML

• For the treatment of cobalt deficiency, or cobalt and selenium deficiency in sheep and cattle. • No meat or milk withholding periods.

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A9883/A9884.

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A9876/A9885.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

First drenching of new season lambs “Short-changed” by definition is to give less than the correct change. This is normally not a problem - if you do not know about it!

why it is so important to ensure lambs get

Ensuring lambs get the most appropriate first drench may be one of the most significant decisions to affect their future growth, production and the level of pasture contamination on your farm. It is well documented that lamb productivity for new season lambs is where a farmer can be short-changed without even realising. Once lambs hit the ground, the same debate starts as when to drench and should tapeworm products be included. The mainstream advice is that tailing drenches are of little benefit in most situations. The question then is should lambs be drenched pre-wean or wait until weaning? Lambs are undergoing one of their most significant internal parasite challenges. Pasture will have a high level of worm egg contamination, initially supplied from ewes as their immunity is weakened. From that point forward, lambs will be the most significant source

liveweight gain but also reduced dag

right from the start. Weaning places a

score, by increasing faecal consistency

lot of stress on lambs - the combination

over both the other groups.

of separation from the ewe, removal of

There are several effective drenches that

milk and changing to a pasture based

can control roundworms - the level of

diet weakens their immune systems, all

worm resistance on your farm will dictate

happening at a time when they are already

either a double or triple combination. To

the most susceptible to parasites.

control tapeworm praziquantel is the only

This question has been answered in

active ingredient that will kill both the head

three trials conducted by Beef + Lamb

and segments of the tapeworm.

in the spring of 2010 in the Manawatu.

As a good standard of practice, it is

Lambs were grouped into untreated

recommended that lamb drenching

(control), triple drench and triple drench

starts the first couple of drenches

plus praziquantel (specific tape drench)

with an effective combination with an

treatment groups and monitored over 28

additional specific tape active. To follow

days. Across all farms the triple drench

on, it is recommended to continue with

group grew faster than control by 392g

an effective combination - whether this

total, the triple + praziquantel grew by

is a double or triple will depend on your

672g and the triple + praziquantel treated

management practice or the resistance

lambs grew 1.02kg heavier in 28 days than

levels on your farm.

untreated controls.

Do not get short-changed this spring.

A similar result was obtained by Southwell

There is pretty good evidence that a pre-

et al. in 1996 of 2kg liveweight gain over

wean drench has production advantages

2 months. Southwell also demonstrated

in many situations and that tapeworms

that praziquantel was the only tapeworm

can also reduce liveweight gain and

product to remove 100 percent of heads

have potential to increase fly strike,

and segments.

of worm eggs infecting pasture and this is

Not only did the triple + praziquantel give

the best possible anthelmintic treatment

through creating more dags on lambs. Article supplied by Bayer Animal Health.

COMBINATION PLUS TAPE 10L

EVOLVE® TAPE HIMIN 10L

• A broad spectrum sheep drench for the control of tapeworms (heads and segments), adult liver fluke and susceptible gastrointestinal roundworms and lungworms in sheep and lambs including benzimidazole and levamisole resistant strains.

• Highly potent three-way combination plus tapeworm control. • Helps delay the development of resistance to all actives. • Is effective against worms for sheep with single or dual anthelmintic resistance. • Controls roundworm, tapeworm, lungworm, itch mite and nasal bot. • Aids in the control of liver fluke. • Controls both tapeworm heads and segments.

81083

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A9871.

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55526

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A10340.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Smart dairy calf spring drenching It’s taken a lot of hard work to get your calves through to weaning but don’t take your foot off the accelerator now - internal parasites can significantly affect calf growth. You should put in place a drench programme that uses the right drenches at the right times to ensure your calves continue to achieve good growth rates.

threat to calves up to 15 months of age

you should include levamisole in your

- they often cause ‘subclinical’ effects -

combination drench for calves and

a decrease in appetite and growth rates

young cattle. Macrocylic lactones/

without any overt signs that calves are

avermectins (MLs/mectins) are

unwell. Ostertagia worms affect the

considered to be the best drench

abomasum, or true stomach and are

family for Ostertagia worms. Use of

considered the most harmful worms

combination drenches reduces the

in cattle. Trichostrongylus species

probability of resistant worms surviving

are important also, especially in late

drenching and the risk of drench

autumn and winter.

resistance developing.

When should I start drenching my calves?

What type of drench should I be

Remember you shouldn’t use drenches

using in these young calves?

that contain MLs/mectins, such as

Using an oral combination drench

abamectin, in calves less than 100kg

is the way to go. Oral drenches

liveweight due to the risk of toxicity. An

are recommended over pour-ons,

ideal drench to start with is Scanda.

especially in young cattle, as pour-

Scanda is a low-dose dual combination

on absorption and efficacy has been

drench that contains oxfendazole and

shown to be variable in recent trials.

levamisole. Once calves are more than

Each drench family kills worms by a

100kg you can advance to Alliance, a

different method, so combinations

low-dose triple combination, which has

of two or more actives from different

the addition of abamectin for better

drench families are more effective than

efficacy against Ostertagia worms.

single active drenches. Use a drench

How often should I be drenching

that contains the actives that are

Which worms do I need to worry

these calves?

effective against the important worm

about in calves?

species in that age of animal. In New

Cattle in their first year of life are

In calves, there are three gut worm

Zealand, Cooperia have developed

species most likely to interrupt calf

widespread resistance to both the

growth rates. Cooperia worms are a

ML/mectins and white drenches, so

Calves don’t need to be drenched until they have a worm burden. This isn’t likely to occur until pasture has been their main feed source for at least three weeks – so not until they are weaned in most cases. Don’t administer drench in milk or administer drench to calves around the same time as milk feeding, as there is a greater risk of drench toxicity. Weigh your calves (or a sample of them) prior to drenching so that you get the dose right.

more susceptible to worms and are the biggest contaminators of pasture with worm eggs. A planned drenching programme at 28 day intervals from weaning, with an effective short-

ALLIANCE® 5L • Low-dose, triple combination drench. • 1mL/10kg for sheep and cattle. • Contains cobalt and selenium. • For use in cattle more than 100kg. Also available in 10L.

SCANDA® SELENISED 2.5L • Low-dose, dual combination drench. • 1mL/10kg for sheep and cattle. • Ideal calf starter drench. Also available in 10L plain and selenised.

acting combination drench, is usually recommended to avoid production losses due to worms and to help control pasture contamination. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Coopers. Registered trademark. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. ®

55619/55620

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A10249.

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33833/26183/26182

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A7368/ A7130.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Take the preventative approach to ticks this season We are about to enter the time of year when tick numbers begin to increase and failure to implement control measures now makes it virtually impossible to catch up later on. In addition to the normal animal health issues that are brought about by tick infestation, including anaemia, skin irritation and hide damage, ticks also act as transmitters (vectors) for the blood-borne disease caused by Theileria orientalis. With 404 case herds reported in 2013 (Ref: VetScript June 2014), it is now more vital than ever to control tick numbers as best as you can to minimise your risk. A survey of 196 farms in June 2013 reported that the number of cow deaths as a result of Theileria orientalis was 590, with 2,856 cattle showing clinical signs (Ref: VetScript June 2014). With Theileria orientalis, not only is there a risk of cattle deaths, there are further costs in treatment of clinical cases that are not always 100 percent successful. Sub-clinical cases may also lead to a loss in production from both milk yield and impacts on reproduction,

BAYTICOL 5L

resulting in delayed calving dates or

Treatments are recommended in

even the potential loss of a calf from the

combination with other tick control

dam.

strategies such as grazing pasture with

Andrew McFadden, veterinary

other species before exposing cattle,

epidemiologist at MPI’s Investigation

keeping sward length low (ensuring a

and Diagnostic Centre, modelled the

less hospitable environment for ticks)

epidemic over three affected regions in

and utilising acaricides strategically.

May 2013. Results showed the per farm

Using a preventative tick control may

impact from Theileria orientalis could

help to limit the spread of T. orientalis

be $14,000 - but the range was $4,000

and reduce your risk.

- $29,000 (Ref: VetScript June 2014).

Article supplied by Bayer Animal Health.

Farmers can never eliminate ticks from the environment as the vast proportion of their lifecycle is actually spent in and on the ground, where it is very hard to treat them at all. Acaricides act to treat and control ticks on the animal. While you’re never going to have 100 percent protection, you can help limit the risk if you can reduce the likelihood that stock are bitten by ticks. Quarantine measures are recommended for cattle in high risk areas and cattle that have recently been moved to an area where Theileria infection is known.

Bayticol, your proven acaricide in tick treatment. • Kills ticks on contact, so the tick doesn’t have to bite to die • Treats and controls at all three stages of the lifecycle • Provides persistent activity for 3 to 6 weeks against re-infestation • Has total body coverage • Is rainfast • Is safe to use on cattle and deer

The animals should then be treated

• Has no recorded resistance

twice in autumn and twice in spring, or

• Has nil meat and milk withholding periods

every 3 weeks during stressful times.

OTHER OPTIONS 12706: HERD PACK 10L

19993 Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A5335.

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NUTRITION

Feeding heifer calves supplements beyond 100kg liveweight Current practices are failing to allow the majority of dairy heifers to reach optimum frame size and weights at calving. Jersey and Crossbred heifers are generally faring better than Friesian heifers in forage-only systems. Heifer calves seem to be doing well on the home-farm up until 100kg but forage quality and quantity must be good consistently thereafter, right through to calving. How feeding in early life can affect lifetime production is only just starting to receive attention. The prepuberty period (4 to 10 months of age) was suggested as a critical time, during which excess weight gain (greater than 0.8kg/day for Friesians) might lead to fat deposition in the udder, which could limit milk production. Post-weaning diets to support steady growth of frame and muscle are likely to be more beneficial in the long term than periods

reduce the risk of surprises at mating or

for previous shortfalls post-puberty,

calving time.

extra conserved forage or hard feed

Grass quality can fall during the summer,

may be necessary. Straights such as

with reduced protein and increased

rolled barley, soya hulls or palm kernel

fibre levels that reduce both digestibility

expeller could be considered but may not

and intakes. Autumn grass can have

be ideally balanced in terms of energy

more protein and less energy than is

and protein supply, major minerals

ideal for heifer growth. Winter can be

and trace elements. Compound feeds

a challenging time – pasture and crop

should be considered if a wider range

quality drops – so determining the size

of nutrients are required in a convenient

of crops and allocations requires care

form for heifers that are slipping behind

and inclement weather can increase

targets and need a boost. One month

maintenance requirements.

of high energy pellets, such as NRM

Dairy heifer grazing and management

GrowUp Finisher 16% at 1kg per day

needs to be good, with contingency plans in case of poorer than expected forage growing seasons and inclement weather, which can increase demand. Underfed animals are less able to cope

(after introducing gradually) would deliver enough energy for 12.5kg liveweight gain. A 2 percent improvement in pregnancy rates is likely to go most of the way to covering the cost of a little more than one

with parasites and may require a more

25kg bag of pellets.

comprehensive anthelmintic programme.

Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Farmlands Nutritionist.

When pasture supply is limited or when bigger gains are required to make up

of excessive weight gain (associated with fat deposition) to recover from a previous shortfall against targets. Small calves do not eat more to try to catch up to their larger peers and the gap between light and heavy calves sent away to grazing is likely to get wider. Pressure on grazing often means that calves are sent away to graziers at set times – if possible, selectively feeding later borne calves compound feed to 120kg liveweight may be worthwhile. The use of scales or at least weight bands is worthwhile, to determine what animals need help and Good quality crops can support adequate winter growth rates.

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NUTRITION

Understanding laboratory analysis PART 2 – METABOLISABLE ENERGY AND CRUDE PROTEIN

Laboratory analyses are a relatively inexpensive way to check the nutritional value of home-grown forages and potential big purchases, such as maize silage and supplements.

animal feeding trials, where laboratory

abreast of the protein content of the total

results have been judged and equations

diet. Protein is critical for growth and

developed. Some relatively recently

milk production. Whereas the cell walls

popular by-products (like palm kernel

of plants consist of carbohydrates, the

expeller) have not been extensively

cell walls of animal cells are composed

tested with animals, so there is less

almost entirely of protein. Rather than test

For ruminants, the ME (metabolisable

confidence in the accuracy of laboratory

samples for protein (which is complex),

energy) value of feeds gives an indication

tests that report their ME. There are

laboratories determine the amount of

of the energy available to the animal

several equations to determine ME from

nitrogen (N) present. They assume that

for maintenance and production and is

laboratory analyses and methods to

protein on average contains 16 percent

defined as:

determine digestibility vary, so different

N, so multiply the N by 6.25 and report

New Zealand labs will give different

the crude protein percentage. This is a

results for the same sample. In North

reasonable estimate but in silages for

America, Total Digestible Nutrients is

example, up to 70 percent of the total

more commonly used to measure energy

N may be in the non-protein form due

levels and equations used to determine

to extensive breakdown by microbial

ME is normally quoted as megajoules/

ME may not be directly comparable to

fermentation. Protein requirements

kg DM (i.e. millions of joules). Unlike a

New Zealand values.

depend on the class of stock being

directly measurable parameter like dry

The increasing use of low protein

fed and their level of production -

matter, the ME of a sample sent to a

supplements like maize silage and grains,

supplementary protein can be very cost

laboratory is typically calculated on an

compounded by the seemingly increasing

effective if it is limiting production.

equation based on digestibility. It is only

variability in pasture quality, have

an estimate of what a feed should deliver

increased the importance of keeping

Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Farmlands Nutritionist.

Metabolisable energy = Digestible energy – (methane energy + urinary energy) Digestible energy of feed = Gross energy – faecal energy

when fed as part of a balanced diet to animals with good rumen function. Most organic matter has very similar gross energy – straw has lots of energy and will keep you warm if burnt – but the degree and nature of the fibre present greatly reduces its digestibility and the ME. Generally, the higher the ME, the higher the digestibility of forages or supplements. The exception to this are feeds containing fat above 5 percent, whose high ME value can offset a high fibre component. Over the years, the ME of different feeds has been determined by detailed

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NUTRITION

Good tucker for pigs The much maligned pig is a misunderstood creature. “Sweats like a pig”, “dirty as a pig” and “ fat as a pig” suggest something different from reality – pigs sweat very little, prefer to keep themselves clean and, especially in modern times, have been bred to be lean. For those who want to put wholesome food on the table or just enjoy pig ownership, NRM Pig Tucker is available to help make pig feeding safe and convenient, without the need for an in-depth knowledge of pig nutrition. Feeding table scraps to pigs The 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak in the UK, during which more than 10 million sheep and cattle were killed to halt the disease, was thought to have originated on a pig farm where untreated waste food had been fed to pigs. Feeding table scraps along with pelleted feed can be a cheap and economical way to raise pigs on a lifestyle block. However, it’s important to be aware of the regulations that come with this practice, which is generally termed as swill feeding. Under

the 2005 Biosecurity Regulations, it is a requirement that all meat, or food waste that has come into contact with meat, must be heated to 100oC for one hour, to destroy any bacteria or viruses present. Failure to comply with this regulation can mean that an individual can be fined – but more importantly, the wider New Zealand livestock industry can be at great risk. In addition, whilst appearing to be the archetypal scavenger, pigs are less well-equipped than ruminants to cope with mycotoxins, are far more sensitive to mouldy feed and can suffer if treated like a proverbial dustbin for waste feed. Compound feed for pigs

and vitamins help support the growth,

NRM’s Pig Tucker is available as pellets

health and fertility of pigs at all stages

or larger nuts. It contains vitamins and

from two weeks post-weaning. Whilst

minerals and is a nutritionally complete

growing pigs should be fed ad-lib for

feed, meaning that if desired, only pellets

maximum growth, some feed restriction

or nuts may be fed on a daily basis to

may be necessary at older ages to

meet the pig’s requirement. Additional

minimise fat deposition. Dry sows and

table scraps, bread or milk can be

boars are typically fed 2-3kg/pig/day but

provided but the pellets should make up

when feeding pregnant sows care should

the majority of the diet to get the best

be taken not to overfeed, as excessive

results. Based on quality ingredients,

weight gain causes overfat sows, which

the addition of minerals, trace elements

have a lower feed intake and therefore reduced milk production after farrowing. Lactating sows can be given ad-lib access to pellets (up to 8kg) to maximise milk production. Pig Tucker is suitable for smaller breeds such as KuneKune – the feeding rates should be reduced to around 0.5-0.75kg/pig/day and care should be taken not to allow pigs to become overweight. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Farmlands Nutritionist.

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HORTICULTURE

Brown rot management in summerfruit Brown rot is a fungal disease that may cause serious damage to summerfruit. It is a disease that is prevalent in all regions where summerfruit is grown and most severe where spring and summer rains are more frequent.

Managing the crop canopy is important

Infection generally occurs during

rot establishing.

prolonged wet weather periods during

Chemical control involves growers

to ensure effective spray penetration. Equally important is keeping a short moon sward between tree rows – and a clean herbicide strip free of weeds will reduce the humidity levels and therefore hinder spores of brown

flowering. The disease manifests as

maintaining a weather based protectant

blossom blight or twig canker at this time. Later infections appear as a rot

fungicide programme over the flowering | Brown rot on peach at harvest time.

on ripening fruit, both on the tree and

period, ensuring cover is applied prior to any infection events. Sprays for

in storage. In all cases, the disease

brown rot should be timed from pink

causes significant yield losses and if

until the petals fall. During this period,

not controlled at flowering, it will be an

there are many options using DMIs

uphill battle for the rest of the season.

and other chemistries. Be sure to

A prime source of inoculum is from

understand the maximum number

the mummified fruit from the previous

of applications of each chemistry

season, which have remained on the

and the timing.

tree. Even fruit that has fallen to the

The second important control period is

ground is an issue, even though they

the 3 week period immediately before

may have rotted away.

harvest, or when fruit begins to colour.

Control of brown rot revolves around

The choice of fungicides at this time

cultural, tree health and chemical options. Orchard hygiene is the crucial cultural remedy. Removing decaying fruit or accelerating the

depends on what has been used at | Brown rot on apricot left on tree for several months, damaging next year’s wood. This must be removed at pruning time.

breakdown of spent fruit will minimise

is less susceptible to disease. That

the food source for the fungi. Similarly,

said, high rates of nitrogen should be

removing fruit “mummies” has the

avoided, as this has been associated

same effect. Pruning any cankered or

with increased incidence of disease.

dead twigs and mulching or removing

On the other hand, fruit calcium levels

from the orchard will also reduce

are critical and should be maximised.

inoculum levels.

Foliar sprays with Calcium 175, pre-pit

Tree health is influenced by nutrition

hardening and post-pit hardening will

and it is well established a healthy tree

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help this.

flowering. With all sprays used, they will only be as effective as the coverage achieved. Brown rot is a disease that can be managed relatively easily. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store or your local Farmlands Horticulture Technical Advisor. Article supplied by Jeff Kevern, Farmlands Technical Advisor, Hawke’s Bay.

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HORTICULTURE

Biostimulants that really stimulate Being a grower, it is risky to rely on luck and increasing crop growth to be more profitable. To increase profitability the grower needs to be proactive, constantly evaluating new techniques to beat the competition. One trend is to have produce available for the early market, before prices fall to the lower, regular returns. Another option may be to plant the crop outside the usual season when there is little competition, making it possible to achieve higher prices.

create extra stress on young or

These can be profitable tactics but at

“Yes, we can!”

the same time, we are trying to push

Mr Kumar is using biostimulants that

or grow the crop outside its natural

really stimulate plant growth and yield.

season and plants will struggle to

Based in South Auckland and growing

reach their potential yield. As we

for the past 6 years, his best returns

move through spring, most growers

are achieved in the peak winter time

are geared up for their busy time and

for his hydroponic tomatoes. He is

improved quality.

expect plants to perform strongly.

using biostimulants as a drench,

Biostimulants manufactured by

However it is common to have cold

starting in autumn, to help the plant

leading companies are generally also

winds, thunderstorms, late frosts or

roots grow very quickly, achieving

made from natural plant extracts and

sudden drops in temperature, possibly

maximum nutrient uptake. Spraying

therefore have no withholding period

for days at a time. Such conditions

biostimulants during winter, to minimise

(pre-harvest interval). This allows

plant stress from cold temperatures

application even 2 or 3 days prior to

and low light, is another practice that

harvest. Steven Dass, Field Manager at

can increase yield.

Farmlands Pukekohe, has seen good

This also applies to outdoor

results recently with a local grower.

emerging plants and shoots, which can result in a major setback: plant metabolism slows down and they struggle to grow, taking some time to get back to their normal growth rate. This is where “outside the square” thinking comes into the picture. Even under the stressful conditions, can we help the plant maintain its optimal metabolism and growth? Is it possible to give a plant that “extra kick” to resist and recover from stress? Ask Mr Kumar and the answer is

crops. When scientifically proven biostimulants are used in a proper, targeted manner, we can protect the

16847: 1L / 46513: 5L / 46514: 25L

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better growth, increased yield and

In this case, his grower says regular application of biostimulants to the crops helps to “freshen them up and

plants before extreme stress occurs

look better on the shelf”.

and also help the plants overcome

For more information, please talk

stressful conditions. As the plants

to the friendly team at your local

recover quickly, the grower can achieve

Farmlands store. Article supplied by Valagro.

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HORTICULTURE

Mealy bug control to help reduce Grapevine Leafroller Virus Grapevine Leafroller-associated Virus Type 3 (GLRaV-3) could develop into epidemic levels and cripple the grape growing industry. GLRaV-3 affects both white and red wine-grape varieties and significantly affects both vine performance and wine quality. Moreover, the presence of this virus appears to be on the increase.

mealy bug (Pseudococcus longispinus) is mostly seen living in the upper vine canopy and citrophilus mealy bug (Pseudococcus calceolariae) is generally found clustered on grape vine roots. The highest number of mealy bug infestations can be found late season in the grape bunch area, feeding within the shelter of the grape bunch and hidden away from natural predators. Mealy bug can have a symbiotic association with ants, who protect them from other predator insects in exchange for a sweet honeydew they secrete. Broadleaf weed species under the vines, such as nightshade and clover, are also host plants worth monitoring. Control of the virus clearly begins with controlling the vector. Chemical control

On red grape varieties, visible

depends on the growth stage of the

symptoms on leaves are reddening

vine. Programmes revolve around the

between green veins and reverse rolled

broad spectrum insecticide Tokuthion

and oil, buprofezin (which interferes with the moulting process of juveniles) and the systemic insecticide Movento 100SC. Imidacloprid also has a place in the programme. Mealy bug control will also be enhanced with predators. The sowing of plants that encourage lacewings and hover flies will help. Releasing cryptolaemus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the predatory ladybird, is another option. Mealy bug control is a specialist area

back leaf, which develops later in the

and your local Farmlands Horticulture

growing season towards veraison.

Technical Advisor is there to determine

White grape varieties do not express

the best programme to achieve the

the same leaf symptoms, apart from

result you desire.

some leaf yellowing and the reverse roll

For more information, please talk

back leaf. Virus infected vines will have

to the friendly team at your local

delayed maturity and reduced yields

Farmlands store.

as the vines age. Monitoring, tagging and collecting leaf or cane samples for laboratory testing will confirm

Article supplied by Blake Herbison, Farmlands Horticulture Technical Advisor, Hawkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bay.

your diagnosis. Mealy bugs have been identified as the vector for the disease. For that reason, monitoring and mapping mealy bug incidence is critical for planning control measures. The long tailed

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Boost your bottom line with new pasture Renewing under-performing paddocks this spring can add thousands to your bottom line. “Other things can wait. Getting poor paddocks up to full production can’t,” says Agriseeds Pasture Systems Manager, Graham Kerr. “Research tells us the amount of pasture eaten is the key driver of profit on New Zealand dairy farms and sowing new grass and clover into run-out paddocks is still one of the best farm investments you can make. “New pasture gives low cost feed to keep productivity up and expenses down." While cost control is critical, farmers cannot afford not to maintain and build the areas of their business that improve farm profitability, Graham says. “The cost of pasture renewal is a one-off but the gains repeat themselves grazing after grazing. Unlike imported supplements, which are fed once and then gone, extra growth from new pasture sown this spring can be grazed again and again.” New pasture varieties typically grow 6-8 tonnes more DM/ha (or 50100 percent) than old, poor producing grass and clover. They produce more milksolids/ha, have higher metabolisable energy (ME), offer better seasonal growth and are easier to manage for optimal quality. Graham says when the numbers are crunched, few other farm investments deliver a better return than new and improved pasture varieties.

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For Colin Muir, herd manager at Pareora Dairy in South Canterbury, one of the most obvious measures of improved productivity from new pasture genetics is faster return times on his grazing rotation.

most, we’d be looking at getting back into the Trojan paddocks every 18 days, compared with 23-24 days for slower ones.

Trojan ryegrass was sown across 100ha in December 2012 and January to March 2013, as part of the process of converting the irrigated 233ha (effective) farm to dairying. It was supplied by Farmlands Technical Field Officer Dave Schrader, from Farmlands Timaru.

Colin calved 920 cows at Pareora this spring. Last year the farm milked 900 cows for a total production of 364,000kg/MS. All cows are wintered off and some supplement is imported but pasture is definitely the most important and cost effective source of feed for the business, Colin says.

Having seen Trojan’s performance at the previous farm he managed, Colin Muir says he knew it would produce plenty of palatable DM.

Trojan ryegrass combines key attributes of persistence, endophyte, quality feed and high yield to help farmers get the most out of their cows and their land.

“It’s gone very well here. We’re able to graze it a bit quicker than some of our other paddocks – during October and November, when we’re growing our

To find out more, talk to your helpful Farmlands team today.

“It was probably a bit faster to establish than some of the other ones, too.”

Article supplied by Agriseeds.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Choosing the best kale Kale is an excellent feed source when you’re looking for weight gain in stock - but the days of making this choice based solely on dry matter (DM) are long gone. With a wide selection of modern kale cultivars available, it’s important that farmers are focused on making the correct selection based on their individual situation, to ensure they deliver stock plenty of leaf and also good plant quality. Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Drew Carruthers has experienced success with Regal kale on a farm in Waikouaiti, Otago. “Feed quality and the higher ME (metabolisable energy) content of Regal kale is a great way to grow yearling cattle out for November sales,” farmer James Dempster says. “Regal is a big leafy crop with good levels of dry matter and the cattle do well on it. There’s not a lot of wastage. They are on Regal for a 70-75 day winter and with the inclusion of baleage, they are able to grow at 400-600g/day over the winter months. The young cattle do well on it,” he says. A recent Canterbury kale study (Westwood et al. 2014)* delivered results that can help with the identification of the best kale cultivar based on the specific needs. Key results were as follows: Dry matter yield: Regal® and Gruner yielded significantly more DM than Kestrel or Rawera kales. A late winter flush of leaf growth lifted yields of Regal and Kestrel but not Gruner or Rawera. For the best of both worlds, yield and leaf, choose Regal. Leaf percentage: Regal and Kestrel delivered more leaf compared with Gruner or Rawera. The difference was

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| James Dempster in a Regal kale paddock, Otago.

very obvious by late winter. For a leafy crop, particularly in late winter, choose Regal or Kestrel. Energy content: Kestrel contained significantly more energy (MJ ME/kg DM) and less fibre (NDF) than the other kales. While Kestrel yielded less dry matter per hectare, the energy density of Kestrel lifted MJ ME yield per hectare to levels comparable with other cultivars. Stem quality: Kestrel had the best quality stem with MJ ME of top stem 13.0 and the stem base 11.6 MJ ME. Rawera stem base was very poor quality (8.7 MJ ME/ kg DM), almost 3.3 MJ ME lower than stem top. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. If DM yield of feed is your only requirement, choose Regal or Gruner. Both yield well, however Regal flushed with new leaf growth in late winter while Gruner lost leaf. When late winter leaf and yield is needed, choose Regal over Gruner.

2. Where stock liveweight gain and/or body condition score is your priority, choose Kestrel. With very high quality stem and good leaf percentage, Kestrel delivers the premium feed option. Where yield and quality are equally important, Regal's high leaf percentage and top yield delivers both, optimising performance for your stock. SELECTION TIPS: 1. Regal is the kale of choice for excellent DM yields and leaf production, even in late winter. 2. Choose Kestrel when high energy feed is needed for top priority stock classes. For more information, contact your local Farmlands Technical Field Officer. Article supplied by PGG Wrightson Seeds. Reference: *Westwood C.T., Cutts M.K., Russell R.J., O’Brien K.M. (2014) Effect of timing of harvest on nutritive value and dry matter yield of four cultivars of kale (Brassica oleracea L. Var. acephala) Proceeedings of the New Zealand Grasslands Association (in press).

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Planning for a future fodder beet crop Growing a fodder beet crop requires significant forethought and planning to ensure good crop establishment and high yield. Many farmers achieving top yields with fodder beet are incorporating the crop into their paddock rotation and know what paddock the beet will be planted in, two years in advance. This gives them time to check the paddock history, fix any fertility issues the paddock may have and ensure that conditions are optimum for planting. Paddock selection is key when it comes to determining both the yield and utilisation of the crop. When selecting a paddock, do not choose the worst one on the property or one that requires a significant amount of work to break it in. It is also important to consider access for grazing stock or harvesting equipment, as well as how well the paddock tolerates winter grazing. If the paddock has water table issues, or is prone to washouts, it may not be the best paddock choice. Fodder beet prefers a light to medium, free draining soil but will thrive on a range of soil types, provided they are reasonably well drained and not acidic. As pH is a key issue for fodder beet crops, any corrections need to be made 12-18 months prior to planting beet. It is recommended that a soil test to 150mm is used to determine soil fertility. Doing this early allows more time to get the pH to the optimum range of 6.2-6.5. Lime can be used to correct pH levels that come back around 5.6-5.9, but when the pH is nearer to 5, consider another crop rotation prior to planting beet. There are a number of other cropping options that will provide good dry

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| Farmlands visit to Canterbury beet, November 2013.

matter production, while at the same time allowing weed control and fertility corrections to be undertaken in preparation for a beet crop. SF Punter chicory, SF Bolt triticale and short term ryegrasses such as SF Indulgence are all good options for filling in a year before planting beet. While these break crops give the opportunity for selective chemical weed control, it is important to ensure that chemicals do not leave a residual. Following a brassica crop can be problematic, mainly due to the chemicals used for weed control. T-MaxTM, RadiateTM and Telar in HT brassicas all have a 2 year stand down period prior to beet. Discuss chemical options for weed control in brassicas with your Farmlands Technical Field Officer. Cereal growers should avoid using chlorsulfuron, while those that follow a maize crop need to be aware that atrazine can affect fodder beet seedling establishment. Where chemical residuals are present, seedlings will often be slow to emerge, with discoloration and

disfiguration that impacts upon overall crop growth and yield. Always check with your Farmlands Technical Field Officer on what chemical options to use when 2 years out from selecting paddocks to grow beet in. After the break crop, if time allows, a fallow period can be used to continue weed control and conserve soil moisture. The seed bed should be well worked, free of clods and with target seed bed moisture (0-50cm) of 80 percent to ensure a quick and even establishment. Multiple surface workings and nonselective herbicide applications prior to planting reduce weed burden prior to planting and may reduce the need for an extra specific chemical application post-emergence. Correct seed bed preparation is one of the most important steps to a high producing fodder beet crop and your local Farmlands Technical Officer can help you to achieve this. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Seed Force.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Caucasian and white clover hybrid an exciting advance A caucasian clover and white clover hybrid with roots growing deeper than typically seen in clover is the latest advance in more drought tolerant pasture. Germinal Seeds’ AberLasting is a hybrid clover that combines the rhizomes (underground roots) of caucasian clover with the nutritive and nitrogen fixing qualities of white clover. The result is a deeper rooted clover that makes the most of the caucasian clover’s strengths, which are its long life, resistance to pests and diseases and ability to tolerate heavy and continuous grazing once established. Caucasian clover on its own can be slow to establish and has poor seed production, while white clover can be limited by its stolons (rooting stems) at ground level being less effective in dry soil. But the plant breeders behind AberLasting have developed a clover hybrid that exploits the rooting vigour of caucasian clover while retaining the high nutritive value and year round growth of white clover.

with Aber high sugar ryegrass varieties. Dunedin-based Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Drew Carruthers says the roots and overall growth of AberLasting sown late last October at Stoneburn, near Palmerston, look promising. “The farmer and an agronomist were both impressed by the plant’s establishment and the size of its roots for a relatively young clover plant.” AberLasting had been distributed in seed mixes by Drew to east and central Otago farms as a pre-commercial release of AberLasting, so they could trial the deeper rooting clover. “In theory, if AberLasting is half as good as its breeding suggests then it should be more tolerant of clover root weevil,” said Drew, a TFO for 17 years who previously farmed sheep and beef near Gore. Clover root weevil has caused a widespread decline in clover performance and consequently set back lamb growth rates in damaged pasture.

In AberLasting the best of both parent plants are combined to offer farmers the agronomic payback of a reliable clover coupled with an inherent drought tolerance. A small leaf clover, AberLasting is suitable for use in all grazing systems and particularly in permanent pasture where water is limited – and all Aber clovers are bred to be fully compatible

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| Farmlands Otago TFO Drew Carruthers takes a close look at pasture sown in ryegrass with AberLasting as part of the clover mix at Stoneburn, near Palmerston.

“Anything that can retain a deeper rooting system should be more resilient and that has got to be an advantage.” Germinal Seeds says further good news for farmers is that medium and large leaf white clover/caucasian hybrids are in the Aber pipeline, to benefit a wide variety of pastoral farm systems. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Germinal Seeds.

| The influence of rhizome genetics is evident in this close-up of AberLasting’s dense root growth.

THE FARMLANDER |

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Key points to consider when planting lucerne this spring The current resurgence in the use of lucerne across a range of farming systems will once again see many farmers planting the crop this spring. Known for its high feed value, fast growth rates and excellent animal performance, lucerne is a reliable perennial feed option. This coupled with drought tolerance and persistency puts it well ahead of many other forage options available for farmers. In addition to this, a vast amount of recent publicity from both Lincoln University’s Professor Derrick Moot and noted Marlborough farmer Doug Avery has highlighted the flexibility and robustness that lucerne adds to a farm system.

well as throughout the life of the stand with an annual winter spray.

Recent work has highlighted the benefits of establishing lucerne in the spring. Warming soil temperatures and conserved soil moisture will ensure good establishment. It is critical that there is a sufficient period of fallow prior to when lucerne will be sown, as to ensure good soil moisture and maximum opportunity to control weeds prior to planting. Using a break crop, such as a brassica or a cereal, prior to planting your lucerne is advised. This gives you time to eliminate ‘hard-tokill’ weeds such as couch, horehound, dandelion and hieracium with a greater chemical spectrum, before the crop is planted. A high weed burden will negatively impact upon the productivity and persistence of any lucerne crop, and it is important to keep weeds in check from the establishment stage, as

There are a wide range of lucerne varieties available for use in New Zealand. One of the key things to consider when you are looking to select a variety is what you plan to be using it for: grazing, silage/hay or both. Not all varieties are best suited to grazing.

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At establishment, in cultivated soil, always look to use Trifluralin. Fathen is one of the main weed issues around establishment and Trifluralin is very effective when incorporated into the spray programme correctly. Post establishment and in direct drilled situations there are a wide range of chemical options, to ensure that weeds are not present in the stand. It is important to keep weeds under control from the early stages of establishment, even when the weed populations appear to be low. Get in touch with your local Farmlands Technical Field Officer for recommendations specific to your crop.

Lucerne varieties are rated according to their dormancy. It is important to consider the dormancy rating of the lucerne and ensure that the majority of dry matter production will occur at a time that is well matched to the feed demands of your farming system. The lower the dormancy rating, the less active the plant is during the winter period. Traditionally low dormancy varieties (with ratings of 3 and 4) are used in cold, inland environments, while those with less winter dormancy (ratings 5 to 10) are grown in more

coastal areas with more benign winters. Seed Force has made it easy to work out the dormancy ratings of their lucerne varieties. Force 4, Force 5 and Force 7 are available to farmers this spring, with the number in each name giving an indication of the dormancy rating. As more farmers look to graze lucerne, there has been a shift towards using varieties with a higher dormancy rating on warmer, north facing sites, at inland locations. This earlier spring growth gives greater grazing flexibility and farmers will often lamb onto the lucerne crop, or graze with ewes and lambs soon after lambing. In these situations, a variety such as Force 7 will benefit farmers looking for early spring production from their lucerne crop. All three lucerne offerings from Seed Force have the ability to be grazed or cut. The Force 5 and Force 7 varieties being introduced this season have been specifically bred for good grazing tolerance and cool season activity. Typically the higher the dormancy rating, the less suited the plant is to grazing as the crown of the plant is elevated above soil level, leaving it prone to grazing damage. However, elite plants with good cool season growth were selected from heavily grazed plots to develop the cultivars, which are both robust under grazing. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Seed Force.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

One50 - a popular choice amongst farmers West Otago farmers Cliff and Elizabeth Brenssell have been growing One50 AR1 perennial ryegrass for the past four years. Their high producing dairy support and beef fattening farm of 160 hectares has instigated the change from earlier flowering ryegrasses and grasses with low endophyte (LE), to the later flowering One50 AR1 (+20 days). This has provided them with more options, stronger summer and autumn pasture production and protection against the pasture insect pest, Argentine Stem Weevil (ASW). “It is high producing land, so we want the best,” Cliff says. One50 perennial ryegrass is one of the highest performing cultivars available and it comes as no surprise that it is a popular choice amongst farmers that are after high quality, high persisting and superior summer, autumn and winter growth. Cliff and Elizabeth operate a cut and carry system at Crookston, approximately 7km east of Heriot, where they are essentially a “grass factory”, growing and selling grass. One50 has enabled them to get the most out of their system. The grass they grow can support dairy heifers through winter with no supplementary feed and they get four cuts per year from their pastures, with an annual application of 500kg/ha of 15% Potash Sulphur Super to replace what is removed. The grass silage is an excellent supplement feed to tie in nicely with the large amount of winter feed crops Cliff grows and sells standing.

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With a 20 day later heading date than Nui, One50’s flush of production occurs towards mid to late spring, with excellent summer growth carrying on into the autumn and winter. This suits Cliff and Elizabeth’s system, where they don’t particularly have a need for that early spring growth that earlier heading ryegrasses can provide. “Summer and autumn growth is more important for us,” explains Cliff - “and we need the higher winter activity of late heading ryegrasses like One50”. With their own beef wintering barn, the Brenssells are able to utilise this when the beef market is looking good by buying in beef calves in the autumn for trading and selling as stores in November. The decision to start using AR1 novel endophyte on the Brenssells farm was made due to the increasing pressures of ASW and the thinning out of their pastures. AR1 is an animal safe endophyte, producing the non-toxic alkaloid, Peramine, which provides effective insect control against ASW. Historically, Southland farmers had sown grasses with standard endophyte, which was high in the alkaloids Peramine, Ergovaline and Lolitrem B. The latter two alkaloids led to reduced animal production and health problems, through ryegrass staggers and heat stress. This in turn led to the significant market shift to the use of low endophyte grasses, which offer no protection against any pasture insect pests. Subsequently the Southland region has observed the gradual re-establishment and increasing

| Farmlands Tapanui TFO Nick Aitken, Cliff Brenssell and Agricom Sales Manager Gareth Kean.

populations of seriously detrimental pasture insect pests (such as ASW) back into their pastures. One50 with AR1 endophyte has allowed Cliff and Elizabeth Brenssell to get the most out of their high producing farming system, increasing production at critical times of the year and reducing the detrimental effects that ASW can cause. “We have been happy with One50 and will continue to use it in the future,” Cliff says. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Agricom.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Kick start your brassica crop Pasture shortages are encountered all too often by farmers these days and they can have a serious impact on productivity – not to mention the stress they can cause. Planting a brassica crop can provide good quantities of high-quality feed, which helps to fill the gap when pasture is low. However, to get the best out of a brassica crop, it needs to be managed well, starting before the crop is even sown. Grant Gillard, Ballance Merchant Relationship Representative, says one of the keys to a good crop is ensuring soil fertility is adequate to meet your yield goals. “Make sure you soil test, preferably well before planting, so that you have a measure of current nutrient levels and an indication if any are lacking. You can use the test Ballance has developed specifically for brassicas. “Soil testing will also measure the pH - for brassicas you need this to lie between 5.8 and 6.2. If your pH is low, you will need to add lime - this will take at least 6 months to take effect, which is why you need to soil test early. Also, if any nutrients are lacking, testing early will give you plenty of time to correct this.” If you need to adjust soil fertility, a product in the Superten range will often be appropriate. Alternatively, if your magnesium levels are low (if Quick Test Mg is below 8-10), Serpentine Super could fit the bill. Note that brassicas do not need a lot of sulphur to do well

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- don’t add any sulphur if soil testing shows your sulphate-sulphur levels are between 2 and 10, as doing so would promote the formation of SMCOs, compounds that are unfavourable for stock health. “Brassicas need fertile soil to yield well,” says Grant. “In particular, they have high requirements for nitrogen and phosphorus (the target is an Olsen P of 15-20). Brassicas don’t have extensive root networks, so they’re poor at foraging for nutrients. Putting nitrogen and phosphorus close to – but not touching – the seed at planting helps get them off to a good start.” There are a number of options to consider when choosing a starter fertiliser, including Cropzeal Boron Boost, DAP and Serpentine Super. One of the advantages of choosing

Cropzeal Boron Boost is that it has been developed specifically to meet the requirements of brassica crops. It is a compound fertiliser, with nitrogen, phosphorus and boron included in every granule. Since there is no chance of segregation, you can be sure that boron will be distributed evenly through the crop. This is important, because boron deficiency in brassicas can cause plant health issues, including brown heart in bulb-forming crops, like swedes and turnips and hollow stem in other species, like kale. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

New ryegrasses bred for our farmers Two new ryegrasses have addressed the most common issues faced by pastoral farmers - winter and early spring growth and grazing tolerance. The two newest cultivars from DLF Seeds' plant breeders in New Zealand are Ansa and Bronte diploid perennial ryegrasses with AR1 endophyte, which have been designed to meet the specific needs of NZ farmers. “Farmers want pastures that grow well throughout the year but especially in winter and early spring, when our cold temperatures and short days limit pasture growth and make it difficult to feed animals cheaply,” says Pedro Evans, plant breeder. “So that was one of our main priorities when we started breeding perennial ryegrass 9 years ago. We screened thousands of plants and selected the very elite performers in winter and early spring.” This breeding emphasis has been borne out in replicated trials. Ansa perennial ryegrass yielded better than 10 of the 11 cultivars it was tested against over winter, with Meridian the only cultivar equal to Ansa. Ansa also performs very well throughout the rest of the year.

| Elizabeth Kitson, DLF Seeds plant breeder, inspects Ansa ryegrass in an early trial.

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Pedro, as a result of conducting pasture research in Australia for many years, also understood the link between tiller density of ryegrass and its persistence. “A second characteristic we selected for was high tiller density, as this is important for the plant to maintain good ground cover, tolerate grazing and droughts and compete strongly with weeds. To select for grazing tolerance, we grazed severely with sheep, before picking out the plants with the best recovery and density.”

says. “We had to graze it in early winter with Friesian bulls when it snowed and it went completely black with pugging but it has bounced back really well and grown strongly in early spring. It’s also palatable, the stock love it.”

| Ansa ryegrass in late winter, Wairarapa.

| Sam Sturgess with Chris Pemberton in his crop of Kyros fodder beet.

Ansa has a medium-late heading date, with high annual production but with outstanding performance in winter and spring. Bronte has similar growth but a later heading date, finer leaf and even higher tiller density. Farmlands Technical Field Officer Sam Sturgess, now based in Oamaru, was impressed with the trial performance of Ansa and recommended it to Rod and Chris Pemberton, who farm on the hills east of Ettrick, Otago. Chris is pleased with the choice and will plant more Ansa this spring. “It has very good winter growth and is robust,” Chris

Ansa is highly recommended for all high-performance farm types, including dairy farms, where its high production, especially over winter and early spring, is greatly appreciated. Bronte suits farmers wanting a later heading ryegrass and the high tiller density and ground cover also make it an ideal grass for sheep and beef farms, as it tolerates periods of intense grazing very well. Previous releases from the DLF New Zealand breeders were the tetraploid ryegrasses Jeta AR1 and Tanker and these have proven to be high performers in regional trials and on many farms. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by DLF Seeds.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

The principle of silage making The goal of silage making is to conserve and store crop nutrients using lactic acid bacteria, to ensure rapid fermentation in air-free conditions and to minimise losses from harvesting until feeding. Whatever the system, the ensiling and storage system's main functions are to exclude air during the ensiling process and to prevent air from entering the silage during storage. Speed of harvest, moisture content, chop length, silage distribution and compaction can greatly influence the fermentation process and storage losses. Efficient fermentation generally ensures a more palatable and digestible feedstuff. This promotes maximum dry matter consumption by livestock that usually results in improved milk and/or liveweight gain performance.

Silage insights â&#x20AC;&#x201C; key points on bale wrap 1. A high proportion of valuable forage grass such as ryegrass and clover. 2. Mow at the time of ear or panicle emergence of the dominating plant and at the latest when the plants are beginning to bloom. 3. Mow after the dew has dried off at approximately 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10cm off the ground, depending on the risk of soil contamination.

Testimonial "Season after season I've been running Silawrap through my wrappers. It's NZ made and that's a good thing. But as well as that I like the fact that all the other boxes are ticked as far as my business is concerned too. When my customers feed their bales out, they demand the quality of the silage is up to a particular standard. Using Silawrap all these years has helped me do this for them." George de Emden. Contractor from Ohauiti, Bay of Plenty.

4. Rapid pre-wilting to 35-55 percent DM, no more than 24 hours for grass and 48 hours for legumes such as lucerne and red clover. 5. Spread the forage in as wide a swath as possible within 1 hour of cutting. 6. Chopping of crop to allow for higher compression and better substrate availability. 7. Optimise compression of the crop. Aim for 200-220kg of dry matter/m3. 8. Addition of silage inoculant if necessary to control fermentation or is a planned use. 9. Use high quality film with 55-70 percent pre-stretching. 10. Use a minimum of six layers, to get a better air seal and assist in reducing film damage. 11. Handle and store bales very carefully.

Article supplied by IPL.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Poncho seed treatment benefits pasture establishment Poncho is a proven seed treatment insecticide, developed to help farmers get the most out of every hectare by protecting newly sown grass and achieving optimal pasture establishment. Poncho provides a broad spectrum insect control that protects developing grass plants against Argentine stem weevil, black beetle and grass grub attack during establishment. According to Bayer SeedGrowth Seed Treatment Specialist, Colin Dunstan these insect pests have the potential to destroy thousands of hectares of new pasture every year. “Because Poncho protects emerging seedlings against insect attack from the time of sowing, it leads to better grass establishment, with the added benefit of reducing weed ingress and helping maximise new pasture production and optimising new pasture composition, "Colin says. Poncho protects by forming a protective halo around the germinating seed and later around the roots of the developing seedlings. It is then taken up by the plant as the seed germinates and transported throughout the plant, to deliver protection to the whole plant during its establishment.

Colin says there are clear advantages of sowing Poncho treated seed compared with sowing untreated or “bare” seed. The Poncho advantages were recently once again clearly demonstrated in direct comparisons between Poncho treated seed and bare seed on three farms in South Canterbury. On each farm, new grass paddocks were drilled with both Poncho-treated seed and bare seed, so that the farmers could observe the difference under their own conditions. Colin says the seed mix was kept the same across the paddocks and about one hectare of each paddock ended up with Poncho treated seed. The farmers involved did not normally use any seed treatment on their new grass. After the paddocks were established, grass growth was measured repeatedly to compare total dry matter (DM) production between Poncho treated and untreated seed. Gary Webley has a 120ha dairy support block at Maungati. After seeing how well the trial Poncho grass established in autumn, he says he’s looking at using it for new grass in the future. “From up on the hill above the paddock, you could actually see where it was in the middle of the paddock. It was a better strike and it grew quicker.” His test paddock was measured twice - Poncho treated seed outgrew bare seed by 241kg DM/ha the first measurement and by 594kg DM/ha the second measurement. Trevor Nicol also farms at Maungati and he too is re-considering the use of seed

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treatment, now that he has compared Poncho seed to bare seed for new pasture on his 260ha rolling dryland sheep and beef farm. Two paddocks were sown in late November and he says he was delighted with the results. “It was very noticeable, right from the time the grass came out of the ground. It would probably be unwise if I didn’t use it again.” Poncho treated seed yield measured 8 weeks after sowing was 1,785kg DM/ha more than untreated seed. The price of grass seed was the main reason why Michael Stevens at Cave wanted to experiment with the Poncho treatment. “It’s worth so much money - we don’t want insects attacking it.” Farming sheep and beef on 750ha of flat to steep hill country, Michael’s test paddock was sown in March and there was a noticeable difference between Poncho treated and bare seed, he says. “The strike rate was better and when we put the plate meter over it on 24th April, it showed that it yielded quite a bit better.” Poncho treated seed produced 325kg DM/ha more than untreated seed. This was then grazed, left to recover and retested on 26th June, with the Poncho treated seed producing an extra 228kg DM/ha, compared to the untreated seed area. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Bayer Agri-Nutrients. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. P5967. Approved pursuant to the HSNO Act 1996, No. HSR100825. Poncho® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Installing your water tank HELPFUL HINTS AND TIPS FROM PROMAX So winter is over, things are starting to dry out and spring has sprung! Many of you will be looking to get new water tanks to ensure an uninterrupted water supply for the summer ahead! Here’s some handy hints and tips to ensure the installation of your new water tank goes smoothly!

inlets, outlets and valves you require. Planning how you will install and plumb the tank is important – it is highly recommended you run your project past a drainlayer or plumber to ensure your plans will work! To take advantage of the maximum catchment of water, it is ideal to place tanks at the end of a building. This way

Firstly – preparation is key:

downpipes can be fed from both gutters

1. Ensure that the tank site is flat and

into the one tank. Please note that

level, free from rocks or stones and

the overflow capacity must match the

any foreign matter that may damage

downpipe capacity. For example, two

the tank’s base.

90mm inlet downpipes would require

2. Ensure the tank site is well

tank overflows can go below the ground

or level the site.

and come up again, to meet stormwater run off.

300mm larger in diameter than the

caused by vermin such as rabbits. Promax corrugated tanks can be buried and fully back-filled up to 1 metre in the

your backyard!

Remember that a full tank will weigh up

When you are planning to bury a Promax Important considerations when plumbing the tank are: 1. Ensure a flexible hose is installed after the gate or ball valve with a

blown away if not secured down. Adding

minimum 300mm length.

200mm of water to the bottom of the tank

2. The tank outlet must NOT be

is usually enough to weigh it down.

subjected to extra force,

An important part of the preparation is

e.g. over-tightening of fittings.

to think about the number and types of

any form of erosion or site destruction

planted around it is more attractive in

installation.

windy or stormy, your tank can easily be

deteriorate after installation due to

issues – also a buried tank with shrubs

sand from washing away after

the tank once it has been delivered – if it’s

5. Do not allow the tank site to

a great way to avoid height restriction

cover should be used to prevent

You may also need to ensure you secure

and capacities.

warranty. Burying your Promax tank is

4. If a sand base is used, a retaining

surface it sits on is stable and firm.

number of overflow pipes, their sizes

ground – and still retain their 20 year

tank.

to 30 tonnes – so it is important that the

sizes and capacities must equal the

equal capacity overflows. Note also that

compacted if fill is used to prepare 3. Ensure that the tank site is at least

4. The number of inlet pipes, their

corrugated tank, you should prepare the base with 100mm minimum of compacted sand, just as you would if installing the tank above ground. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Promax Plastics.

3. Overflow must be piped clear of base to avoid erosion.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

How much is it costing you? PUGGING Farmers quite rightly cringe during those wet winter months, or after a big downpour, when they see stock trampling good quality pasture into the ground. While the immediate effects of less palatable feed and pasture availability on production are apparent, pugging can have a dramatic effect on future profitability. Investment in land drainage is one very effective way to deal with this issue.

| High soil moisture content - prone to pugging, poor root development.

issues and costs increased by additional

limit movement or locate stock to drier

supplements and stock movement

paddocks, stand-off pads and increased

requirements. Dependent on severity,

supplements, more resistant grass

pasture recovery can take up to 8 weeks.

cultivars and/or capital investment in

Compaction/compromised soil structure

land drainage.

leads to the longer term negative effects

Sub-surface land drainage can be

of pugging - limiting root penetration, less

seen as a one-off capital cost that

dry matter yield and the invasion of less

delivers ongoing benefits. The removal

productive grasses and/or weeds. Again,

of excess soil moisture from paddocks

dependent on severity, DM production

through a well-designed and installed

can be adversely impacted for up to 12

drainage system will reduce the severity

months by 15-35 percent.

of pugging. Apart from this significant

To quantify the sort of losses we are

benefit soil temperature will increase,

talking about, an average 110 hectare

extending the growth season and

Waikato farm yielding 14.3 tonnes of DM

increase DM production, pasture will

per hectare (DairyNZ average pasture

develop better root systems, accessing

growth data), with 10 percent severe

soil nutrients and becoming more wind

pugging and 50 percent moderate

and drought resistant. Drier paddocks

pugging, could cost a farmer more

will lead to improved land use efficiency

than 173,000kg DM per year. With the

through greater mobility of stock and

DairyNZ Forage Value Index (FVI) valuing

machinery around the farm, as well as

Waikato pasture at an annual average of

having a beneficial effect on general

36.8 cents per kg DM for the 2013/2014

stock health.

Pugging is an outcome of high soil

season, this represents an average loss

Talk to your local land drainage

moisture content during grazing. Wet

of $63,664 per year.1

contractor about the benefits of high

soils have a lower load bearing capacity,

flow sub-surface drainage pipes, such

so compress more under treading

as smooth-bore NexusTM polyethylene

pressure. Sward is buried, pasture is

land drainage pipe. More efficient land

damaged and soil structure is negatively

drainage makes sense, incrementally

impacted. Soil, air and water movement

increasing the benefits outlined above

is limited and biological activity

and when considering the return on

reduced, as is access to soil nutrients.

investment.

The amount and severity of pugging

For more information on land

damage is directly related to the type

drainage or rural pipelines in

of farming operation, stocking density, grazing duration, soil type and weather conditions. Heavier soils are more prone

general, talk to the knowledgeable | Drained land - improve pugging resistance and root development.

Article supplied by Iplex.

to pugging damage.

Strategies to minimise pugging include

In the short term, production can be

strategic grazing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; reduced grazing

affected by underfeeding, animal health

time/ stock density, back fence cows to

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team at your local Farmlands store.

Dr. C. Westwood, AgriBusiness, Issue 105, Page 13. 1.

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