Plan 365 September 2014

SEPTEMBER 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

Prepare yourself for docking and fly treatments Another year rolls around and paddocks start filling with lambs, signalling the arrival of spring. Its coming also means that docking, a major management event on sheep farms is almost here too. Preparing for docking is a challenge - organising a team of staff and friends to help out, checking equipment and purchasing a range of animal health products.

Then there are the vagaries of weather to be factored in. This year, it appears that the El Nino effect has only a 50 percent chance of developing and if it does, the MetService say it won’t be a strong event.

Prevention of possible adverse stock events at docking is important, so be wary of fly strike of the docking wound, especially when tailing with a hot iron.

Blood doesn’t attract flies - but if the stump becomes infected then pus will attract flies. Fly pressure may not appear significant at docking but a few flies are all that is required to set up a localised strike, which progresses up the tail to the rump.

Often it occurs so rapidly that by the

Cyromazine products will give adequate

time the lamb is identified as lethargic,

protection against fly strike until stock is

it dies without warning.

yarded pre-weaning.

Cyromazine spray-on products

A follow up backline treatment under

like Swat Spray-on are specially

high challenge situations will

formulated with a low volume high

give cover until weaning, making

concentration, so that it sticks to

it especially suited for farms with

wool around the docking wound and

remote yarding facilities. Once lambs

also to the scrotal area of ringed ram

are weaned, Swat Liquid becomes a

lambs. The active’s ability to retain

suitable option, as lambs have longer

concentration in areas where wool is

wool. This can be applied through

limited gives this product an advantage

jetting equipment.

over saturation-type products. Other

For more information, please talk

features include:

to the friendly team at your local

non-flammable, short withholding

Farmlands store.

period and no mixing, which makes

Article supplied by Bayer Animal Health.

preparation and application simple and

®

®

Swat is a registered trademark of Bayer Leverkusen. ACVM Registration No. A10168.

mess-free.

SWAT SPRAY-ON 10L • Protects against all commonly found strike flies.

• Can be used on all breeds of sheep.

• Ideal for lambs at docking.

• Controls organophosphate resistant strains.

• No known resistance.

PURCHASE SWAT SPRAY-ON 25L AND RECEIVE AN APPLICATOR GUN

FREE WHILE STO

CKS LAST

49611

OTHER OPTIONS

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A10168.

57847: 25L

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Get tough on tetanus Unvaccinated lambs are more likely to die from clostridial disease.

Pulpy Kidney and Tetanus are the two most important clostridial diseases of lambs. The period from birth until after weaning is the period of highest risk for

protection against Tetanus and stimulates

antibodies against clostridial diseases

immunity against Pulpy Kidney. It has

that transfer to the suckling lamb via

been specifically developed for use at

colostrum (the first days’ milk). These

docking in at-risk lambs.

maternal antibodies protect lambs up to

LAMB VACCINE provides lambs with:

weaning - so cover the high-risk period

1. Immediate short-term protection

for Pulpy Kidney and Tetanus.

both of these diseases.

against Tetanus – the main killer of

If ewes were not vaccinated at pre-lamb,

Vaccination is the only viable method of controlling clostridial diseases, including Pulpy Kidney and Tetanus. To protect lambs against clostridial diseases, proper pre-lamb vaccination of the pregnant ewe is recommended. This will stimulate

the ewe’s immune system to produce

lambs at docking

lambs are at risk. To provide protection

2. Short-term Pulpy Kidney protection

through the highest risk period for

(sensitiser) 7-10 days after

Tetanus, use LAMB VACCINE at docking.

vaccination. Pulpy Kidney is the main

LAMB VACCINE is a unique product that

killer of lambs, from a few weeks of

provides immediate, short-lived

age to weaning For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Clostridial vaccination programme When ewes do not receive a pre-lamb clostridial vaccination, their lambs are born without the high level of clostridial protection provided by annual pre-lamb vaccination.

Clostridial vaccination programme for lambs born to unvaccinated ewes Pre-lamb

Docking/Tailing Vaccinate with LAMB VACCINE

Weaning ®

Vaccinate with MULTINE sensitiser ®

Lambs born to ewes with no pre-lamb vaccination programme

Vaccinate with MULTINE® booster 4-6 weeks later

A complete vaccination programme is vital to maximise lamb and ewe survival. Lambs require a two-shot primary vaccination programme starting at weaning, to protect against the five common clostridial diseases that cause sheep deaths in New Zealand.

An annual booster, given to ewes at the correct time pre-lambing, will provide longer lasting and more extensive protection to newborn lambs.

Recommended clostridial vaccination programme Weaning Vaccination with MULTINE® sensitiser

Vaccinate with MULTINE® booster 4-6 weeks later

Pre-lamb

Docking/Tailing

NILVAX® or MULTINE® annual booster

Vaccinate high risk lambs with LAMB VACCINE®

Note: If ewes are not mated until two-tooths, a pre-mating booster will be required.

Article supplied by Coopers. ®Registered trademark. ACVM No. A934, A935, A1009, A1011, A8734, A3977. COOPERS NZ/LBV/0614/0001

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

High spring weight gain in heifers key to life-long production Just a little more attention given to yearlings at key times of the year may see them reach their true life-long production potential. To realise this potential heifers have to calve without any problems, which is very dependent on their size. Post calving, they then need to get in calf again and have roughly 2.5 cycles to achieve this goal.

Is this a tall order? When viewing the statistics it would seem so, as first calvers make up a higher proportion of non-cyclers, have lower fertility and eventual empties than any other age group - all resulting in lost milk production this and following seasons.

planning is essential. Spring flush from

double-active product such as Saturn®

September to December is the one and

Pour-on (abamectin and levamisole) will

only time of year where bulk high quality

eliminate type two Ostertagiosis and any

feed is available, without the disease

incoming L3 larvae. Another advantage

limiting ramifications of facial eczema,

of a combination drench is its ability

which is more prevalent in autumn.

to reduce the chance of resistance

Yearling heifers will grow faster here than

development, which can be an important

any time in their life. Having this feed is

feature if heifers are on a run off with large

one element of the equation - the other

numbers of predominantly young dairy

is animals that have the appetite to take

cattle, or the farm has known resistance.

advantage of this situation.

This spring, Saturn Pour-on combination

Internal parasites, especially Ostertagia

drench will give farmers the best chance

spp, play a role in reducing appetite,

to exceed target liveweight gain per day,

which can lead to severe stomach

which will not only maximise fertility but

damage as inhibited larvae stages erupt

enable the calving weight and BCS to

simultaneously (type two Ostertagiosis).

be reached well before calving. This is

This all coincides with the spring grass

important, as weight gain in the last month

flush, where the same condition that grows

of pregnancy is near impossible, due to

Body weight is critical to yearling success.

grass favours parasite survival too. The

the size of the foetus restricting intake.

The optimum body condition score (BCS)

spring outbreak of Ostertagia increases

For more information, please talk

of 5.5 will give the heifer every opportunity

the successive seasonal challenge and

to the friendly team at your local

to deliver to its theoretical potential. In

further lowers heifer grass utilisation, which ultimately prevents them from

Farmlands store.

an all-grass system, there are limited opportunities to make gains if body weight

reaching the optimum BCS.

slips below the target BCS, so careful

A well timed drench treatment with a

SATURN POUR-ON 2.5L

DUELL® CATTLE 11L

EDGE INJECTION 2 X 500ML

• Effective broad-spectrum combination pour-on for cattle.

• Controls mature and immature roundworms and lungworm.

• Controls sucking lice.

• Convenient low volume dose rate.

• Easy to apply.

• Double action combination oral cattle drench.

• Combines two anthelmintics with alternative modes of action.

• Low dose ideal for cattle 1ml/10kg.

• Ideal product for calves, bulls and non-milking cows.

• Controls BZ and levamisole resistant parasites.

• Combination injection for cattle.

• Effective against all important internal production limiting worms.

• Ideal for younger stock in autumn and spring.

• Contains the trusted active doramectin together with levamisole for enhanced protection.

53848

OTHER OPTIONS 53849: 5L Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A10206.

| THE FARMLANDER

45723

10% BONUS PRODUCT

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A9766.

Article supplied by Bayer Animal Health.

Saturn is a registered trademark of Bayer Leverkusen.

ACVM registration No. A10206.

12854

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A10696.

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Is the cost of infertility driving your cows off the farm?

According to industry data, infertility is costing many New Zealand dairy farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. With the cost of an empty cow through lost milk production, the purchase of a replacement, grazing costs and the cost of genetics-loss estimated to be about $3,000, the need for a proactive approach when preparing cows for reproduction is absolutely fundamental to sound economics.

Great tools for reproduction

Poorly-grown heifers, underweight

tissue from the effects of oxidation.

animals, cows with low trace element

Folic acid (vitamin B9) reduces

status and diseases associated with

the risk of neural tube defects

lameness and mastitis have causal

involved in formation of the central

effects on lowering fertility. To assist in

nervous system.

offsetting the stresses associated with these issues, farmers need to:

Vitamin A is known to promote the health of mucous membranes, skin health and the growth of body tissues.

It reduces the reproductive tract’s susceptibility to infection.

Vitamin D stimulates phosphorus and calcium absorption, essential for bone formation in rapidly-growing animals.

Vitamin E acts primarily as an antioxidant. Its most important area of function is in the lungs, where it protects red and white blood cells and

Iodine can positively impact on hormone production, which in turn

(a) provide the cow with essential

supports heat detection, the readiness

elements that prepare her for

of the cow to ‘come up’ and maintain a

reproduction,

strong heat.

The key indicators farmers need to aim for are: • Improved heat strength • Improved length of heat • 90 percent submission within the first 6 weeks • Fewer absorptions Talk to your Farmlands store about a Nutrimol 4n1 Mating Programme. Ask for a copy of the Nutrimol 4n1 brochure, ‘It's Business Time’. With an investment of only $9.00 + GST per cow, it makes good economic sense to implement a 4n1 programme 30 days before mating begins. After all, getting it right means more days in milk - and more profit.

Nutrimol 4n1, available from Farmlands in 20L, 200L and 1,000L pack sizes.

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Bell Booth.

(b) reduce the incidences of absorptions and (c) achieve an acceptable result after the first two rounds of mating.

Nutrimol 4n1, the latest development in the Nutrimol family of products including 'Colostrum Keeper' and Nutrimol 'Classic', from Bell Booth Ltd. contains the same compounds contained in 'Classic' for heat strength and submission rates, with the addition of more iodine, folic acid, vitamins A,

NUTRIMOL 4N1 20L • Contains iodine, folic acid, vitamins and prebiotics to assist with mating outcomes.

• Start dosing at least 30 days prior to the planned start of mating (PSM).

• Mating programme from $9.00 + GST/cow.

• Complements an existing IntenSE trace element programme.

D and E and a prebiotic, to provide food for the ‘rumen bugs’ to assist with feed conversion.

| THE FARMLANDER

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NUTRITION

Feeding dairy cows over mating Whatever your system of production, trying to keep cows on an evenkeel nutritionally over mating and eliminating any obvious deficiencies would seem prudent to enhance reproductive performance.

give the fertilised egg the best chance

is required in pasture based diets. Too

of implantation and to maintain bulling

much of anything can be a bad thing and

activity in those cows yet to conceive.

too much starch (perhaps more than

During the mating period, a positive

16 percent of the total diet dry matter),

correlation has been shown between

especially if it is quickly fermented, or too

high milk protein percentage and fertility.

much fat (perhaps more than 5 percent of the total diet dry matter), especially if

As mating approaches, a comprehensive

This is not surprising, as a decline in milk protein production typically indicates a

the supplementary fat is unsaturated and

decline in the cow’s energy status. If peak

not rumen bypass, may be detrimental

production has been achieved with the

to fertility. Similarly, high plasma urea

use of grain or grain based compound

levels may not have the adverse effect

feeds, which promote milk protein

on fertility that was originally thought but

production, it seems sensible to continue

nevertheless, milk urea levels are well

feeding starch based supplements over

worth monitoring. Where supplements

mating. If production is falling too quickly

are being fed, increasing milk urea levels

from peak of milk protein production,

can confirm falling sugar levels in pasture

it may indicate falling energy status.

during overcast days and decreasing

Increasing the amount of supplementary

milk urea levels can indicate a need for

feed fed should be considered.

additional protein as pasture becomes

Adding fat to the diet over mating can

reproductive. Additional protein can

review of the major minerals and trace element supplementation and status of the herd could be beneficial, as imbalances can have major effects on reproduction. Phosphorus is being increasingly requested for higher producing herds over mating and undoubtedly has a major role in animal performance and fertility. The presence of mycotoxins is difficult to confirm in practice but they can have a detrimental effect on fertility and should be considered, especially if a herd’s current underperformance cannot be explained.

There appears to be a consensus that excessive weight loss in early lactation will impact negatively on reproductive performance but there is less clarity

improve energy balance and may

be delivered as supplements or via the

improve conception rates. Some specific

pasture after increased urea application.

types of unsaturated fat have been linked

Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Farmlands Nutritionist

to the improved production of hormones linked to reproduction but more research

with regards to nutritional impacts on fertility over the mating period itself.

Even when herds have been transitioned well onto the post-calving diet and fed to maximise dry matter intakes and minimise negative energy balance and body condition loss post-calving, falling pasture quality as grass becomes reproductive, or falling sugar levels due to the weather, can work against mating success. Whilst some trials indicate no severe adverse effects on fertility from short term feed deficits over mating, logic and personal experience would suggest that such deprivation is best avoided, to

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NUTRITION

The importance of nutrition during pullet rearing to poor nutrition and management than

is normal, it is the abnormal variation that

their predecessors were. The key to

should be concerning. A desirable goal at

successful nutritional management of the

18 weeks of age is that 80 percent of the

modern pullet is through maximising of

pullets should fall within 10 percent of the

body weight for age, without producing

average (or the mean).

over-fat pullets. Pullets that are on target

Pullets require energy, protein,

or slightly above target weight at 18

minerals and vitamins for growth and

weeks of age will inevitably be the best

development. Pullets do not require

producing birds during the laying period.

protein but rather the amino acids

Over-fat birds will adversely affect egg

that make up protein for growth and

production in the long term.

development. Quality diets, like NRM

Although body weight at maturity (or

Pullet Grower, are formulated to provide

onset of lay) is important, the optimum

the right amount of digestible amino

body structure and composition is also

acids. A good well-balanced diet will

The importance of rearing layer pullets correctly cannot be over-emphasised.

A successful high producing layer flock owes much of its success to attention to detail shown during the rearing period – and both the management and feeding of pullets during the growing period can have dramatic effects on egg production and egg weight during the laying period. Errors made during rearing can lead to poor production during lay and these are often extremely difficult, if not impossible, to correct once the flock is in lay.

important. Most (90 percent) of frame

also include macro minerals such as

size develops early and by 12 to 16

calcium, phosphorus and sodium,

weeks of age, the “size” of the pullet

vitamins and trace minerals such as

is virtually fixed. Birds that have some

zinc, copper and manganese.

energy reserves as body fat at the

Article supplied by Farmlands Nutrition.

Modern breeds of laying hens are about

of starter feed should be used when

150g lower in body weight at 18 weeks

target weight for age has not been met.

and produce many more eggs than the

However, feeding a high density feed

breeds of 20 years ago. The modern

for too long could result in a reduction in

birds also reach maturity earlier, with the

the bird’s capacity for feed consumption

first eggs typically produced between 18

during egg production.

and 19 weeks of age. The result is that

Uniformity of pullet flocks is all important

modern pullet strains are more sensitive

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onset of lay and the approach to peak production are less prone to subsequent problems during lay. Typically, in New Zealand, a good quality starter crumble with a suitable anti-coccidial ionophore such as NRM Chick Starter is fed from day-old to 6 to 8 weeks of age and then a pullet grower to point of lay. However, the feeding programme should not be rigid, since individual flock variation should be considered and extended amounts

and whilst some variation in body weight

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NUTRITION

Free equine nutrition seminars PRESENTED BY DR. PETER HUNTINGTON, DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION FROM KER AUSTRALIA.

NRM invites you to attend a series of free seminars being held this month - an opportunity to have your questions answered by experts in the field of equine nutrition, to improve the health and behaviour of your performance horse.

Seminar details: Auckland

Monday 15th September

6.30pm - 8.30pm

Otaki

Tuesday 16 September

6.30pm - 8.30pm

Christchurch

Wednesday 17 September 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Dunedin

Thursday 18th September

th

th

6.30pm - 8.30pm

Kentucky Equine Research, the world’s leading equine nutrition and exercise physiology research organisation, will be presenting its latest findings on sport horse nutrition for optimal health and performance. Owners and riders of all knowledge levels are encouraged to attend - there will be something for everyone.

Topics covered will include: • Selenium - friend or foe?

• Managing spring grasses • Grass staggers - the effects and how to control • New research and development • De-mystifying supplementary feeds - steam flaked vs crushed, mineral pellets vs powdered and the benefits of grains and minerals Refreshments will be served after the presentation, giving you a chance to talk with Dr. Peter and the NRM team one-on-one.

RSVP is essential as spaces are strictly limited: Online www.nrm.co.nz Phone 0800 800 380 Email rsvp@nrm.co.nz

| THE FARMLANDER

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Soil fertility key to growing maize Maize needs high-fertility soils to achieve good yields. However, you don’t want to add nutrients above the levels that make good economic sense.

You may be surprised by what nutrients are required and in what quantities to grow a good crop.

Grant Gillard, Ballance Merchant Relationship Representative, has some useful tips to offer farmers who are about to sow crops. “Soil testing is an essential first step everyone should take,” says Grant. “Ideally it should be done well before the crop goes in the ground. You will need to take a sample to 15cm and if you do it at least 6 months before planting, you will have time to use lime to adjust the pH and to add nutrients to address any other deficiencies.”

Which nutrients are required?

Phosphorus is essential but the amounts you need to add may be minimal as maize, with its deep root system, is very good at tapping into

existing soil supplies. You won’t need a phosphate base fertiliser if your soil Olsen P is above 15. In many cases, your starter fertiliser will be able to supply enough phosphorus for your crop. It will also supply nitrogen to help get seedlings off to a good start.

Potassium levels can become depleted when maize is removed as silage. However, in many cases crop requirements can be met out of existing soil reserves and if Quick Test levels are above 4, you will not need to add potash. If soil levels do need boosting, potassium is best applied after harvest.

Sulphate-sulphur levels should be maintained in the 6-10 range, while magnesium Quick Test levels should lie between 8 and 10. As far as trace elements are concerned (e.g. zinc, copper and boron), it is usually not economic to apply them. If low boron levels are a problem, Cropzeal Boron Boost is a good starter fertiliser option.

If you do need to use a base fertiliser, Grant recommends you consider

using a product from the Superten or Serpentine Super range. These supply phosphorus and sulphur (and magnesium, for Serpentine Super) and can be blended with potassium as needed.

Getting a good start Grant’s second tip concerns starter fertiliser. “We recommend using a starter fertiliser to make sure your crop gets the essential nutrients it requires to establish strongly. Making nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen easily accessible to young plants will help them to get off to a great start. YaraMila 12-10-10 (at between 200 and 400kg/ ha) or DAP (typically at 250kg/ha) are a couple of good product options to meet your crop’s needs.”

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

Unlock the potential of your silage Silage is a valuable supplement, providing additional energy when your livestock need it most. Using a high quality Pioneer® brand inoculant can help you unlock the potential of your silage, decreasing fermentation losses and increasing the amount of milk or meat you get from every tonne of forage you ensile.

Why use an inoculant?

Independently reviewed New Zealand research1 shows Pioneer® brand inoculants improve fermentation speed and quality. Six pasture silages were inoculated with five commercially available silage inoculants. Pioneer® brand 1174 had a greater rate of pH decline1. There was no difference between other brands and the untreated control1.

Benefits of inoculating with Pioneer.

Silage making is a fermentation process that occurs under oxygenfree conditions. Bacteria convert crop sugars to silage acids, which drop the pH and preserve the pasture or crop.

Silage is always slightly lower in quality than the fresh forage that was ensiled.

The type and number of fermentation bacteria present determines how much dry matter, nutrients and feed energy is lost in the silage making process.

Pioneer® brand inoculants deliver the following benefits: Reduced losses, more feed™.

A more efficient fermentation, delivering less shrinkage and silage run-off and more feed.

More milk™ or more meat™. Quality silage delivering more milk or meat for every tonne of pasture you ensile.

Pioneer® brand silage inoculants are applied to the crop or pasture at harvest time. They provide the right strains of lactic acid-producing bacteria in ideal numbers to efficiently ferment your pasture or crop.

Take Pioneer’s tested and proven products, add extensive technical backup and exclusive Appli-Pro® inoculant applicator technology and you can be confident you are making the right inoculant choice with Pioneer.

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Pioneer.

Kleinmans et al., 2011. Using silage inoculants to improve the quality of pasture and maize silage in New Zealand. Proceedings of the NZ Grasslands Association 73:75-80.

2 Return on investment is calculated using a typical 1127 cost and a milksolids payout of $7.00. Dry matter recovery data used in this calculation is based on 16 pasture silage trials conducted at independent European research stations and submitted to the official German silage additive approval scheme. Milk production per tonne of pasture silage fed is based on three independent dairy cow feeding trials. Unless otherwise stated, inoculant performance is compared to an untreated control.

1

Greater returns. Invest a dollar in applying Pioneer® brand 1127 to your pasture and get nearly $5 back in return2.

Pioneer offers three tested and proven product options that can help you improve silage quality this spring:

Faster Fermentation1 Product

Description

Suitable for:

Pioneer® brand

Helps improve fermentation, retain nutrient content and enhance digestibility of pasture silage.

Pasture silage.

Improve dry matter recovery and silage quality of all forage crops.

Lower priced product for more cost-sensitive users.

All types of silage including pasture, maize, cereal and lucerne silage.

Helps improve fermentation, retain nutrient content and enhance digestibility for improved animal performance.

Produces top quality lucerne silage for all high producing livestock operations.

Lucerne silage.

1127 Pioneer® brand

1174 Pioneer® brand

11H50

Unless otherwise stated, inoculant performance is compared to an untreated control.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Maximise dry matter with hybrid ryegrass Renewing up to 10 percent of their land area per year has improved pasture dry matter production by at least 30 percent at key times of the season, for Murchison dairy farmers Dave and Jane Field.

Now they’ve introduced high performance hybrid ryegrass to their run-off, to help continue improving farm efficiency and production.

Fourteen hectares of Shogun tetraploid ryegrass, with red and white clover, were sown last spring and have so far impressed in terms of both yield and quality, Dave says.

The aim is to take two cuts of high quality baleage off these paddocks to supplement the milking platform, plus use them for grazing and wintering.

Milking 500 cows on 140ha effective, the Fields run a System 3 farm.

Production last season totalled

193,000kg milksolids - this year they’re aiming for 210,000kg from the same number of cows and land area.

Dave chose Shogun on the basis of its performance on Lincoln University Dairy Farm. He says while those paddocks won’t quite yield the total volume of dry matter he was getting previously from a continuous crop sequence of winter kale and cereal for green chop silage, Shogun will be more cost effective feed, while still maintaining good quality.

“We had good yields with that crop rotation for about five years but it was time to quit while we were ahead and give the land a spell for 3-5 years.

“We’re trying to cut back on nitrogen use on the run-off, so we have been keen to use more legumes. We have planted some lucerne paddocks but the area that needed to be sown was too wet for lucerne.

“I heard about Shogun from the Lincoln University Dairy Farm, where it was getting good feedback on winter yield and annual dry matter production, so we thought that would fit well for us.

We have added quite high rates of red clover as well as white clover.”

Supplied by the Fields’ Farmlands rep Denise Cochrane, Shogun was drilled after kale last spring. It established well and wintered the Fields’ yearlings.

Dave says based on the way it has gone so far, he’ll sow the same mix of Shogun with red and white clovers after this year’s winter crops as well.

He and Jane bought the farm 7 years ago and have since renewed 70 percent of the milking platform, using perennials like Trojan ryegrass. New pastures grow “easily 30 percent more” than old ones during autumn, winter and early spring - and are critical for maintaining farm productivity, he says.

Early spring is the most challenging time on the farm - irrigation carries them through summer and autumn and wintering is all done on the run off, so the platform gets a break from cows.

But their loam/clay sub soil mix can suffer some damage in wet conditions post calving.

This year, the Fields plan to add summer turnips and fodder beet to their rotation, to help achieve their targeted production.

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

| Dave Field.

| THE FARMLANDER

Article supplied by Agriseeds.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Aber High Sugar Grass leads D-value comparisons A three year trial has confirmed that Aber High Sugar Grass (AberHSG) varieties are more digestible than standard ryegrasses.

Each one percent increase in D-value equates to gains of 0.26L of extra milk per dairy cow per day, 40g per day of extra beef liveweight gain or 26g per day of extra lamb liveweight gain, according to the independent and not-for-profit National Institute of Agricultural Botany in Cambridge (UK).

The results scientifically validate in New Zealand conditions the experience

of farmers that cows produce more milk when grazing AberHSG pasture, while lambs and beef cattle gain weight more quickly.

Research conducted by Lincoln-based Plant Research NZ Ltd. at its planting site near Ashburton found the digestibility values (D-values) of AberHSG perennial varieties were averaging an extra 5 D-value units across multiple harvests – a gain calculated to produce an extra 1L of milk per cow per day.

Plant Research NZ found the perennials AberMagic and AberGreen averaged 70.4 percent and 70.9 percent dry organic matter digestibility (DOMD%) respectively in the trial’s third year while Alto, a standard diploid ryegrass, averaged 65.4 percent DOMD over five harvests from spring to autumn.

Total dry matter yields were within a 3 percent difference, with Alto offering slightly more dry matter yield in the first 2 years but behind AberMagic and AberGreen in the third year.

D-value is a measure of the digestible part of forage, comprising a combination of crude protein, carbohydrates (including digestible fibres and sugars) and lipids (oils) essential to the ruminant performance of cattle, sheep and deer.

It is quantified as DOMD% and is measured as a percentage of the plant’s total dry matter.

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Higher gains of 0.33L and 0.4L per cow per day for each D-value unit increase have been reported respectively by Teagasc, the Republic of Ireland’s equivalent of AgResearch and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.

In the Plant Research trial the three year pattern of perennial ryegrass D-values, independently analysed by Hill Laboratories’ near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of plant samples, showed a constant elevation in AberHSG D-values compared to Alto from early October to January.

But in March, the AberHSG perennials were further ahead by up to 12 D-value units. The autumn boost in D-value aligns with the results of a trial run by AgResearch that showed a statistically significant 10 percent increase in autumn milksolids from cows grazing AberDart, compared to cows on standard ryegrasses.

greater utilisation of the grass that’s eaten,” Dr. Wilkins, who visited New Zealand farms and trial sites three years ago, says.

D-value goes a step further than the use of metabolisable energy (ME) as a measure of feed quality. While the two are linked - the higher the D-value of a sward the higher its ME value – it is the crop’s digestibility that determines how much energy is available to the animal and in this process, the AberHSG’s higher portion of water soluble sugar plays a key role.

The Plant Research trial also found a consistent D-value advantage in Aber tetraploid and festulolium ryegrass varieties.

The festulolium AberNiche averaged 6 D-value units (6 percent DOMD) ahead of Tabu for spring and summer harvests over 2 years, while the Aber tetraploid was 3 D-value units ahead of Bealey across 3 years, with the biggest difference seen in January.

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Germinal Seeds.

Germinal Seeds Ltd (UK) Science Consultant Dr. Peter Wilkins, who initiated the breeding of high sugar ryegrasses in Wales 30 years ago, says the Plant Research results confirm the grazing behaviour and production results seen by farmers.

“Digestibility is the key measure. You have this twin benefit of greater intake and

| Grass breeder Dr. Peter Wilkins at NZ grass trial plots: “Digestibility is the key measure.”

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THE FARMLANDER |

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Ryegrass proves top prospect for dry areas too Deep in the heart of the Hakataramea Valley, sheep and cattle farmer Mark Giles, from Hunter Hills Station is proving Prospect perennial ryegrass is not just for down country dairy pastures.

Farmlands Kurow Technical Field Officer Rowan McKenzie has found Prospect with AR37 endophyte has been able to perform in tougher environments, which has been mirrored on the Hakataramea Valley property.

Starting at around 2,000ft above sea level, on land with plenty of snow tussock and no irrigation, growing conditions aren’t great. But Prospect has performed well, particularly with good growth in colder temperatures.

“We’ve got Prospect in with clover and Tonic plantain at the moment. The Tonic in the mix performed particularly well in the colder months, including early spring and times when the grass pasture alone normally stops growing.”

Prospect diploid perennial ryegrass is coming into its own and has created its own strong standing in the ryegrass market. The +12 heading date of Prospect is positioned between the mid heading ryegrasses Request (+0) and Samson (+3) and late heading ONE50 (+20). Prospect was selected for its dense fine leaves and aimed to fit into Agricom’s portfolio as a rugged ryegrass that could cope with winter grazing and spring set stocking.

Although a fine and dense grass, the early breeders’ trials showed that Prospect started to perform above

| THE FARMLANDER

| Hakataramea Valley farmer Mark Giles in his Prospect AR37 paddock.

expectation and that it competed very strongly with ONE50 for total production in trials and on-farm. Mark’s property was one of the original trialling sites for Prospect as a breeding line, in which it was identified as being very suited to the environment. As well as doing well under set stocking, Prospect also shows strength with the accumulation of feed in autumn after the dry.

Looking forward, Mark and Rowan have been considering the use of alternative crops such as straight stands of red clover, while still looking to continue the use of Tonic plantain within the pasture mixtures. The addition of Tonic had been beneficial to increase the pasture growing season, increasing pasture

production and adding to summer pasture quality.

With clover root weevil presence in the area, Mark has noticed the clover content in his perennial pastures is suffering. Mark has introduced mixed paddocks of Agricom’s Asset Italian ryegrass and Tonic plantain, which will continue to produce a large bulk of feed while they wait for the clover root weevil parasitoid to become fully established.

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

Fodder beet continues to prove its worth A second year of fodder beet trials have compared the performance and characteristics of fodder beet and mangel beet varieties - and found some consistent differences.

With data collected over two seasons from seven sites, combined analysis of the trials has increased the accuracy of findings. The data shows that there is a 95 percent confidence level that of the five commercial varieties of all seven sites, the leading two are more productive than two other varieties, while one variety was less productive than all the others.

Three sites were established to test beet varieties intended for grazing in mid-Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

All sites were located within crops grown by farmers and received exactly the same management inputs as the rest of the paddock. The trials were replicated to allow for fair comparison and scientific analysis.

As in the 2013 trials, there were differences between varieties of fodder beet and mangel beets for yield. With a difference in average yield between some commercial varieties of 5.8 tonnes dry matter per hectare, there is a potential for some farmers to increase profitability by $1,100 per hectare, simply by changing the variety of beet they use.

| Roger Chambers (right) with Grant Florance in his paddock of Kyros fodder beet near Culverden, which yielded 35 tonnes dry matter per hectare.

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The yield of varieties is the main determinant of their relative profitability, because the trials in 2013 also found there were no differences in feed quality, palatability or utilisation between varieties.

A trial was also conducted to compare beet varieties for the purpose of lifting.

Of the 10 varieties compared, only one was less productive than others and an average of 80 percent of the crop was harvested.

Another trial compared three row spacings. There were no significant differences, meaning that there are no advantages in using 30-40cm spacings, compared with the standard 50cm.

Roger Chambers, Farmlands Technical Field Officer in North Canterbury, has been providing shareholders advice on growing fodder beet for several years. After studying the 2013 fodder beet trials, Roger recommended the variety Kyros to several growers. “Kyros has been impressive this year,” Roger says. “It gave growers an improved and consistent establishment and very good yields. I weighed and estimated the yield on seven farms and all were above 30 tonnes dry matter per hectare

(with one more than 41) and an average of 36.”

The majority of fodder beet has been used for the feeding of grazing dairy cows over winter in the South Island, however it is a very flexible crop and farmers are adopting a wide range of new uses. Several dairy farms now grow fodder beet on the “dairy platform” for grazing in autumn and sheep and beef farmers find it a valuable tool for extended grazing during early spring, when pasture availability is low and brassica crops have been finished.

Several North Island farmers are also adopting fodder beet. The crop can grow well over the whole island and actually has higher yield potential than in the south, due to warmer summer temperatures. Whilst dairy farmers there don’t normally use winter crops, using fodder beet can free up more pasture for milk production. Beef farmers are also profiting from the ability to carry more cattle through winter and grow them quickly, giving them a greater number of heavier cattle in spring to sell during premium prices, or to better utilise spring pasture.

DLF Seeds has presented all the trial results to Farmlands Technical Field Officers, who will be able to provide further details and local experience on this valuable crop.

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by DLF Seeds.

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THE FARMLANDER |

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Choose the correct beet type for your system Farmers nationwide are utilising both fodder and sugar beet as a high energy, low cost feed option to help lift production and profitability.

Beet is being utilised in a range of systems - from the typical dairy wintering scenario through to beef finishing systems.

Harvested beets are being used to help fill potential feed deficits or to replace more expensive energy supplements in many systems. Farmers are also using harvested beet to feed out during autumn, which has the benefit of production benefits, as well as helping with winter transition onto grazed beet crops.

There are four distinctive categories within ‘fodder beet’. They are determined by plant type, dry matter percentage and the intended end use of the beet. Seed Force’s James White explains: “from our extensive testing and to ensure we offer a type that can suit any beet feeding requirement in the New Zealand market, we have a defined range of beet categories. At one end, there is the traditional grazing type, referred to as a mangel. This type has a

dry matter percentage of 13 percent or below, enabling it to be utilised easily by any age and class of stock. The mangel type SF Brigadier also produces the highest proportion of bulb above ground, ensuring easy utilisation by stock, which is especially important with the increased area of autumn grazed beet.

“Secondly, we have the low to medium dry matter types, which have a DM content of between 15-17 percent. They are versatile enough to be harvested but are more suited to grazing. They can have a lack of

The paddock they entered in the local

bulb uniformity, meaning they are not ideal

winter feed competition won the final.

for mechanically lifting.

“We grew the SF LIFTA specifically to be

“The third type are varieties that have

mechanically harvested and fed out during

a medium to high DM of between

the early spring, to complement our grass

17-19 percent. Often more uniform in

production. Harvested in early July, the

appearance, they are typically used for

crops performed very well, yielding more

harvesting, although some varieties are

than 30 tonne/DM per hectare, with a bit

versatile enough to be grazed in-situ.

over 25 tonne being bulb,” Chris says.

“Finally, there are sugar beets, with the

Of course thorough planning and

highest DM capability of up to 26 percent.

preparation are crucial for any beet crop,

Due to its growth habit and dry matter,

regardless of its end use. Ensure you

sugar beet is ideally used for mechanical

talk to your local Farmlands Technical

harvesting, helping ensure the longest

Field Officer to get thorough advice on

storage ability and potential for the highest

growing the beet type best suited to your

harvested bulb yields,” James says.

requirements.

“SF LIFTA is our recent release in the having great success in the field, winning

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

many of the winter feed competitions in

Article supplied by Seed Force.

medium to high dry matter range and its

2014. It’s quite a versatile variety, meaning it can be either grazed, self harvested, mechanically harvested or a mixture of the three, depending on the grower’s needs.”

Central Canterbury farmers, Chris and | Tim Green with his stack of harvested Seed Force fodder beet.

| THE FARMLANDER

Tim Green sowed two paddocks of SF LIFTA this last season with great results.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Company’s ‘leafy kales’ show their worth on-farm Strong forage yields, high crop utilisation and ease of management consistently feature in farmer feedback about two kale varieties being marketed by Canterbury based seeds breeding and marketing company, Cropmark Seeds Ltd. The varieties Coleor and Proteor kale are what the company terms ‘leafy kales’ – kales with very high leaf to stem ratios.

Analyses consistently show them to have leaf to stem ratios of around 60 percent (or more), compared to most other kale varieties, which generally have leaf to stem ratios of as low as 40–50 percent.

“That’s significant, as it impacts on forage quality and utilisation potential,” Cropmark agronomist John Pedofsky (pictured) says. “When it comes to the feed value of kales, it is the leaf that contributes the higher metabolisable energy that is necessary for livestock growth and performance, rather than stem. And it can lead to better crop utilisation too, as it can sometimes be difficult to get stock to clean up kale stems in a paddock.

“As plant breeders, we are looking for maximum clean leaf production of a kale but with a stem that will stand up to the rigours of winter. But it also needs to be palatable for maximum utilisation. These are features that impressed us about Coleor and Proteor,” John adds.

The very leafy nature and high metabolisable energy content of Coleor

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| John Pedofsky of Cropmark Seeds (left) with Sheffield farm owner, Simon Wright and Farmlands TFO, Scott McIlroy in Simon’s crop of Coleor kale.

kale was reinforced in a Farmlands kale demonstration site, located on the property of Stuart and Simon Wright near Sheffield, in Canterbury this winter.

The kale demonstration block was sown on 21st November last year and measured in late May of this year.

The Coleor had the highest equal leaf metabolisable energy content of the nine kale varieties in the demonstration, at 13.8MJ ME/kg DM. “That’s high by any standards for a forage crop,” John says.

The ease of management is a feature that farm owner Simon Wright likes about the Coleor. Simon uses it to winter his ewes on and finds its lower crop height makes it much easier to break feed than the giant type kales and has excellent feed utilisation. “The stock clean the Coleor up well and leave nothing behind,” he says.

High forage yields and ease of management is a feature Southland farmer Shane Walker likes about the company’s sister kale, Proteor. Shane and his wife Eileen have a large scale dairy operation on their Pinnacle Farm, just north of Gore. Shane wanted high forage quality from his Proteor kale crop but got both quality and quantity.

“I got both high yield and high quality from the Proteor. It was a very leafy, clean crop and yielded 15 tonnes per hectare for me,” Simon says.

“It was also easy to grow, very easy to break feed and with a relatively thin stem, it had excellent crop utilisation - the dairy cattle ate everything and left nothing behind.”

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Cropmark.

Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited | © September 2014. All rights reserved.

THE FARMLANDER |

HORTICULTURE

Bumble bees as pollinators in outdoor crops

The protected cropping industry has long known of the advantages of using bumble bees for pollination. Already more than 90 percent of NZ greenhouse growers are using bumble bees to pollinate crops such as tomatoes.

in lower light, breezier conditions,

the target crop). When finished with

light rain and drizzle, unlike the honey

the bumble bee boxes, they can be

bee.”

returned and parts of the boxes can be

The task of Zonda Beneficials’ bumble

recycled for use again, making this an

bees is not to seek out a nectar source

environmentally friendly option.

but more to search for pollen. This

If you have experienced difficulty with

is because the boxes that contain

full pollination or crop set, please talk

the bumble bees, which they are

to your local Farmlands Horticulture

transported and dwell in, contain their

Technical Advisor - they can further

own nectar source. This means they

assist with more details of how

are more likely to cross pollinate male

bumbles could work together with you

and female flowers. Couple this with the

in your growing operation. Bringing

sheer size of a bumble bee relative to a

years of experience with bumble bees,

honey bee and the resulting capacity to

Zonda delivers a high quality biological

hold more pollen - the bumble bee is a

option to aid in your pollination.

very efficient pollinator.

One question that is often raised is

It is more likely that the bumble bees

whether bumble bees are a good

will stay focused on the task at hand,

pollinator for outdoor crops. The short answer is yes - and often a combination of bumble bees and honey bees will

as they do not communicate amongst themselves the same way as honey bees do. For this reason, they do not

produce a superior result. Donna Hall

tell the rest of the hive about other

from Zonda Beneficials states some

flowering crops that may distract them,

facts about bumble bees. “A bumble

such as your neighbour’s paddock

bee will perform the work of 10-20

full of clover or willow trees along

honey bees on average. They are more

a riverbank. Bumble bees will only

efficient, because they are capable

travel in a 100 metre radius, so they

of functioning in different climatic conditions, including some that are less

will remain within the crop requiring

How do bumble bees manage to fly?

When you examine a bumble bee, you can’t help but wonder how they manage to fly. They appear aerodynamically unstable and incapable of flight.

Fortunately for us, the bumble bee manages to fly very well. Their small wings can move a very large volume of air relative to the size and this reduces the power required to sustain flight.

Another description of a bee’s wing function is that the wings work similarly to helicopter blades, “reverse-pitch

favourable to the honey bee. The honey

pollination.

bee is most active in long periods of

Zonda bumble bee hives are secure,

beat their wings approximately 200

hot, sunny weather. However, as the

so that the bees cannot escape during

times a second. Their thorax muscles

temperature starts to drop, the bumble

transit. The hives are completely

do not expand and contract on each

bee will continue working. In general,

self-contained, requiring no ongoing

nerve firing but rather vibrate like a

the bumble bee is more likely to be

maintenance or upkeep. It’s just a

tensioned rubber band.

working earlier in the morning and later

matter of finding the correct site to place the hive upon arrival (i.e., a well-

For more information, please talk

into the evening, choosing to stay home and fan the hive during the heat of the

protected site, safe from the elements

day. Additionally, bumble bees will work

and animals, with good access to

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semi-rotary helicopter blades”. Bees

to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Zonda.

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THE FARMLANDER |

HORTICULTURE

Powdery mildew foiled by ‘super soap’ Some winegrowers last season discovered an innovative way to tackle the challenge of treatment-resistant powdery mildew infections.

Many winegrowers are aware that the sexual phase of powdery mildew - chasmothecia - has recently been discovered in New Zealand. The sexual phase allows the fungal disease to develop resistance to chemical treatment through natural selection.

It also allows powdery mildew to overwinter and produce both mycelium and spores earlier in the season.

The promiscuous fungus is now widespread in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay and has also been found in Marlborough. Sauvignon blanc’s vulnerability to powdery mildew under Marlborough’s growing regime needs little elaboration and although the prospect of a treatment-resistant strain in that region is particularly alarming, this is a problem for winegrowers everywhere.

For winegrowers who are aware of the chasmothecia development, this has forced a significant re-think about traditional control (and eradication methods in the event of infection) for the season coming.

Almost unbelievably, one of the answers lies with a type of soap Protectorhml. For more than a decade, Protectorhml has been widely used by winegrowers with sulphur for the control of powdery mildew. Last season after 3 years of intensive field research, HML32 was commercially released. It is

| THE FARMLANDER

a pre-formulation of Protectorhml and potassium bicarbonate.

While the severity of powdery mildew infection created havoc last season, particularly in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, it also presented a perfect opportunity to trial and experiment.

Manufacturer’s trials were conducted on an area of Hawke’s Bay Montepulciano with significant bunch infection. The day after the first application disclosed the ability of

were more difficult to control and

HML32 when combined with copper

required a second application.

to effectively eradicate powdery

Later work with Dr. David Manktelow

mildew infections.

on spray application supported what

Approximately 3 weeks after the first

was being reported from the field.

application, Plant and Food Research

His report, along with a best practice

scientist Peter Wood analysed initial

guide for eradication of powdery

infection and re-infection in each of

mildew has also been published on the

the treatments. His findings are

manufacturer’s website.

published within the full report on

The manufacturer’s recommendations

the trial, which is on the manufacturer’s

for the coming season depend on the

website: www.henrymanufacturing.

level of vineyard exposure to powdery

co.nz/latest news

mildew last season. The most robust

Farmlands Horticulture also conducted

programme recommends an early

their own trials on a disused Hawke’s

application of lime sulphur then use of

Bay vineyard, suffering from epidemic

HML32 with sulphur and copper. The

levels of powdery mildew infection.

programme has a strong preventative

They trialled a wide range of chemistry

focus with eradication elements. This

and combinations. The HML32

combination also allows growers to

combination was one of the highest

control the full spectrum of grape fungal

performing treatments, eradicating

diseases including botrytis, downy

infection on both bunches and canopy.

mildew, black spot and phomopsis.

In field trials and in grower applications,

For more information, please talk

reverse pattern spraying at the

to the friendly team at your local

bunchline maximised coverage and in

Farmlands store.

most cases, early intervention meant

Article supplied by Chris Henry, HML.

some growers only required a single application. Higher levels of infection

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HORTICULTURE

Broad acre crops moving to fertigation Fertigation is the practice of adding soluble fertilisers to irrigation water.

New Zealand is now starting to cotton on to the advantages – namely a less costly, more accurate, less wasteful and more sustainable way to fertilise crops for yield and quality improvement.

Fertigation programmes typically reduce the level of base fertiliser required. The subsequent fertigation applications enable nutrients to be delivered at accurate rates, precisely when required by the crop. This accurate and timely “spoon feeding” means that overall less fertiliser is actually required. In contrast, the practice of applying large base rates followed by side dressings lends itself

centre pivots, or any method where

through volatilisation. With all the

to potential wastage, leaching and

concentrated nutrition solutions can be

benefits and ease that fertigation

volatilisation.

“dosed” into the irrigation water.

can be included in your cropping

Greenhouse grade soluble fertilisers are

A fertigation unit to deliver soluble

programme, I encourage you to make

the prominent product used and quality

fertilisers will include a mixing tank,

the enquiry with either myself or one of

is key. The Campbells range stocked by

injector pump, power supply and may

the competent Technical Advisors in the

Farmlands has been chosen because

require the installation of a back flow

Farmlands Horticulture team.

of the total solubility of the product, the

prevention device, if water is being

purity of the product and its analysis

pumped directly from a ground water

For more information, please talk

can be trusted. Lesser brands can

bore. Such fertigation units can be

cause blocked irrigation equipment

permanently mounted on an irrigator,

and the possibility of heavy metal

or alternatively mobile units can be set

contamination.

up, so that more than one irrigator can

Since the nutrient is taken up by the

be used for fertigation. The soluble

plant with the irrigation water, fertigation

fertilisers are easily dissolved in a

becomes a very cost effective and

mixing tank and applied at rates of

accurate method to deliver the required

usually 50kg/ha.

nutrients to plants. Nutrition is supplied

Compared to side dressing, there are

via irrigation tape (Aqua Trax being

no application costs, fewer paddock

Farmlands’ preferred irrigation tape),

traffic movements and no wastage

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to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Mark Daniels, Field Manager, Canterbury.

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HORTICULTURE

Actigard™ now has full label claim for PSA Syngenta Actigard™ now has a full label claim for PSA in kiwifruit, as a foliar spray prior to flowering and post-harvest. By stimulating the natural self-defense system of plants via Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR), Actigard™ helps kiwifruit to protect itself from PSA infection.

Unlike coppers, Actigard™ is taken up by developing leaves to provide systemic protection of new growth.

Early spring is a period when vines are at high risk of PSA infection, particularly when rapid growth coincides with rainfall events. This is a good time to apply Actigard in a PSA management ™

there is enough growth to take up the

soil directed spray, which has a limited

product. As it can take up to 7 days for

claim for PSA.

Actigard to ‘switch-on’ the plant, the

Do not apply Actigard™ to plants that

first application should be applied 7 days

are stressed due to drought, excessive

prior to rainfall, or mixed with copper if

moisture, cold weather or disease, as

rainfall is forecasted.

growth may be compromised. It should

Providing up to 3 weeks protection,

also not be applied to potted plants in

Actigard™ offers the opportunity to

the nursery, as this can cause plant

reduce the number of copper sprays

damage.

applied, reducing leaf damage and

Contact your

copper loading in the orchard. A

Farmlands

maximum of four applications of

Horticulture

Actigard™ can be made per year in

Technical

total (harvest to harvest).

Advisor, or your

Field trials last season highlighted the

local Farmlands

benefit of applying Actigard™ prior to

store.

™

programme.

flowering for PSA control.

Actigard™ can be applied preventatively

Trial work is ongoing to confirm the

to actively growing plants, as soon as

efficacy of Actigard when applied as a ™

Article supplied

by Syngenta.

Minimise your chances of liability!

Last season, we became aware of two incidences where chemicals were applied without the label being read.

In one instance, a spray went on at 40 times the recommended rate. The entire crop was lost as a result. In the other incident, the wrong product was used too close to harvest. The result here was high residues in the crop, which meant it had to be dumped. The common thread for both these examples was complacency by the operators in not reading the label. This seemingly simple task cost each of their employers a small fortune.

As the employer or manager of the

take the “she’ll be right attitude”. I can

orchard, the buck stops with you.

guarantee that someone in the industry

A quick check of the application

will fail to read a label that results in a

rate and withholding period should

significant cost to a business. Don’t let

be mandatory before each product

it be you!

is applied. This further extends to

If you or any of your team is in doubt

understanding what the label means.

about what PPE is required, please

Specifically, is it the right product for

don’t hesitate to ask your Farmlands

the job and what personal protection

Horticulture Technical Advisor. A

equipment (PPE) should staff be

proactive approach to safety will pay

wearing? Employers are required by

dividends for our industry.

law to provide the correct PPE and take all reasonable and practical steps to ensure the safety of their staff.

Take the opportunity to remind staff about reading the label and do not

| THE FARMLANDER

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Ken Paulin, Technical Advisor, Central Otago.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Farm culvert pipes - selection and installation Culvert pipes are an essential component of the infrastructure that contributes towards a well-run farming operation. Efficiency in the movement of vehicles and stock onto and around a farm is essential. Culvert pipes are an important element of farm track and raceway networks. Selecting the optimum type and diameter of culvert pipe, combined with correct installation and maintenance, improves the performance and longevity of this vital farm roading asset.

Nowadays, flexible pipes are the main

Using an undersized culvert is a common

culvert pipe of choice for culverts up to

mistake. It may appear to save money

500mm diameter. Installation is a simple

in the short-term but if the culvert fails,

operation, requiring no heavy machinery

replacement could cost many times

for lifting and placement of the culvert

more than the initial saving. As a rough

pipe. Their simple socket jointing system

guide, the larger the catchment area,

and large range of pipe lengths and

the steeper the catchment, or higher

diameters make them very adaptable.

the likelihood of a high intensity weather event – the larger diameter the culvert needs to be.

Pipe diameter (mm) Catchment area (ha) 150 0.05 300 0.2 450 0.6 500 1.0

In structural terms, there are two types of culvert pipe: rigid (concrete and

For reliable long term performance of

spirally wound metal) and flexible (PVC

culvert pipes, good installation and

and various Polyethylene (PE) options).

maintenance practices include:

Rigid culvert pipes rely on their “hoop strength” to carry imposed loads and

Flexible culvert pipe options include:

are ideal for installations where minimal

• PVC (e.g. FarmtuffTM) – smooth-bore,

cover or lateral support in the trench

outstanding flow characteristics,

is an issue. They are also available in

excellent longitudinal rigidity for ease

diameters above 1 metre, where design

of laying on grade and precision

and installation will require a degree of

sockets, to remove the possibility of

engineering expertise along with possible

undermining the pipe by scouring due

resource consent. The downside of

to leaking sockets.

rigid culvert pipes is that they are heavy, difficult to transport and generally more expensive to install.

Flexible pipes, as the name suggests, deflect with imposed loads. These pipes require a minimum cover, narrow trench and good side-compaction of the back-fill material. It is the lateral support provided by the compacted fill that carries the weight of traffic over the culvert pipe.

• Install and maintain a wingwall (headwall) either end of the culvert pipe to mitigate undermining and erosion.

• Reinforce the streambed (rocks/ geotextile) at the culvert outlet to prevent scouring.

• Extend culvert pipe 0.5m out from track cover, to lessen chance of

• Solid-wall PE – smooth-bore, tough, not socketed – difficult to join.

• Structured-wall PE (e.g. Nexus

blockage from erosion.

• Implement a strong weed spraying programme in the channel, to eliminate

CulvertTM) – smooth bore, very light-

weed and thistle buildup and possible

weight, easy to transport and install.

debris build up/ blockage in the

• Rotationally moulded PE – available in diameters above 1 metre, the corrugated-bore may be prone to accumulating debris.

culvert pipe.

For more information on farm culverts or other rural pipeline products, see the knowledgeable team at your local Farmlands store.

Article suplied by Iplex.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Quickly chill milk and save money Ag journalist Ken Strugnell visits a special cool dairy farm near Rotorua, with Keith Turner from Temprite.

double bank cooler has milk flow through each side of the cooler unit. On the left it is chilled from the cow at around 37 degrees, by ordinary spring or tank water

I’d been told it was possible to meet

at around 14-16 degrees, as in most farm

Fonterra’s new milk chilling regulations

dairy sheds. That brings the milk down to

and save money on power. So I was

around 16-18 degrees. The milk continues

keen to find out how this special farm

its journey round the plates this time on

achieved it.

the right hand side, which run to and

To find out more, I decided to talk to

from the Promax insulated tank, which

the installer of the heating and chilling

has the water at 6 degrees. This brings

equipment used on well known farmer

the milk into the collection vat at around

Lachlan McKenzie’s Kaharoa dairy farm.

8 degrees, sometimes less. So all the

The farm, on rolling country, uses a once

collection vat has to do is lower it by at

a day milking programme and as I was to

most 2 degrees.

find out, the Promax insulated 30,000 litre

This not only saves money but it also is

tank works well here.

incredibly quick. Andrew Grant, the farm

Arriving at Ngongotaha, I met Temprite’s

manager, joined us to show the latest

Managing Director Keith Turner. Temprite,

power bill, which had a $350 saving

well known in the Waikato and Bay

compared to the same month and

of Plenty, was the company that had

900 Friesian/Jersey cross cows as

installed the cooling system that I was

numbers last year.

there to look at.

“The system is quick because the Promax

I asked about Keith’s company, its

tank water is chilled overnight on low rate

relationship with Promax and just how the

power. It means that we are not spending

farm owner justified the claimed $350 a

time and energy on chilling liquid after

month on its cowshed electric bill, which

milking, other than the cow’s milk.”

was all down to the Promax tank.

Keith’s suggestion of partially burying the

Regulations are set to change for the

Promax tank by just more than a metre

2016 season for the cooling of milk from

(as shown in the photo), was used to

the cow to the collection tanker. In the vat

good advantage.

at collection time, it now has to be chilled to 6 degrees, within 2 hours of completion of milking.

When I undid the tank lid and felt the temperature of the water at around midday, in full sun it was shockingly cold.

On this farm, it was to be a retro fit to

The temperature gauge on the Promax

meet the new rules - one which will occur

tank read 7 degrees after milking and yet

on most existing dairy farms, to abide by

there was no condensation on the outside

the regulations as they are phased in.

of the tank.

I asked Keith how it worked. The ‘double

I asked - how then did they chill this water

bank plate cooler’, Keith explained, was

down again following milking?

“Simple really - we use the same 25kw chiller hooked up to the milk vat, through which we pump the insulated tank water, using off peak overnight power. Then, the 30,000 litre tank easily copes with the daily production from the 900 cows and will easily do more, as you felt from how cold the water was after milking.”

Keith says the tank is so efficient at keeping the milk cool that even absorbing 10 degrees off the cow’s milk does not really alter the water temperature much.

Keith explains that the retro fit to meet the new regulations is an easy one to do, both in terms of down time in the shed and space required.

This very ‘cool’ dairy farm now meets the new regulations, saves money on its power bills and the fully automatic operation of the new system means little or no retraining to make it work optimally.

For more information please contact our friendly staff at your nearest Farmlands store.

Article suplied by Promax.

really the heart of the simple system. This

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Keep an eye on water supplies Maintaining a reliable supply of stock drinking water is easy for farmers using Gallagher’s Wireless Water Monitoring System.

by problems like broken water pipes or overflowing troughs. If the level in one or more tanks begins to decrease quickly then farmers know they have a problem.”

This innovative product accurately

The system utilises a high quality

measures water levels in tanks or

sensor to measure water pressure in

ponds and wirelessly transmits this

the tank. Information from this sensor

information to a Touchscreen Display

is transmitted via a solar-powered

unit mounted in a convenient location,

wireless communication unit, mounted

such as at a house, farm dairy or

on top of the tank, to a wall-mounted

implement shed. Extremely easy to

or desktop touchscreen display unit

operate and install, the system helps farmers keep track of water storage and provides peace of mind by highlighting

System is a great tool for helping

become a major problem.

farmers catch water problems before

“It’s a crisis averter,” says Gallagher Group Marketing Manager, Mark Harris. levels in storage tanks and ponds around the farm, the Wireless Water Monitoring System can also alert farmers to abnormal water loss caused

“Water is a crucial resource on any farm and the Wireless Water Monitoring

potential water issues before they

“As well as constantly measuring water

located up to 4km away.

they seriously impact on the well being of livestock. It’s also a big time saver, because you don’t have to physically visit the tank or pond.”

store water level information, to give the user a clear picture of historical tank levels over a 30 day period. Optional equipment for the system includes a Wireless Pump Controller that allows the remote control of a pump to ensure

Up to nine tanks can be monitored by

water levels are maintained as required.

one display unit. The display features

A Directional Long Range Antenna is

a 2.8 inch colour touchscreen and can

also available, to increase the range of the signal up to 10km.

Mark Harris says the Wireless Water Monitoring System’s ability to monitor the level of any fluid means it can also be used for monitoring effluent ponds. Dairy farmers can keep track of effluent pond levels remotely and take action to prevent ponds running over. The Wireless Water Monitoring System is available through Farmlands stores nationwide.

For more information please contact our friendly staff at your nearest Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Gallagher.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Strainrite Sureflex irrigator fence crossing system ™

the fence wire outside the limits of the

must be able to slide independent

spring. This feature provides ultimate

of each other, even while being

protection to the higher value spring

traversed by irrigator. Therefore fence

component and therefore restricts any

wire sleeves are required and should

damage to the more easily repairable

be attached to the ground, allowing

fence wire.

unrestricted wire movement.

To avoid potential fence shorts, it is important that all attachments and limiting devices are contained within the spring.

Traveling pivot and lateral irrigators are widely utilised in modern farm management systems. Strainrite Fencing Systems manufactures a range of fence spring and drive through gate options, designed to enable irrigator wheels to cross through or over fences.

Recoil dampening: Another important requirement of spring elasticity is to dampen wire recoil as it releases off the irrigator rear wheel. Excessive tension

The Sureflex system utilises readily

on recoil can weaken fence wire.

available LD Polypipe, drilled to accept

Sureflex™ spring advantage

4mm diameter Bayco monofilament nylon wire to tie the ladder to steel “Y” posts, driven in the ground.

Essential functions - irrigator

Accessory equipment:

springs should provide:

Strainrite spring back wand gate,

Preload: To maintain tension in the

electrified drive-through gate system,

fence without excessive sagging.

allowing pivot wheel access through

Expansion: Allow traveling irrigator wheels to pass over the fence while

Sureflex springs incorporate a restrictor

maintaining controlled tension -

mechanism fitted inside the spring, to

essential for smooth passing of the wire

limit the spring from over-extension and

under the machine then to return the

to force the equalisation of expansion

fence to a static stock proof tension.

to other springs fitted in the wire.

Sureflex's restrictor mechanism is also

Stretch limiter: The limiter must be

existing permanent fences.

Strainrite bungee gate: Long-life, UV stabilised mono-core electrified bungee cord is ideal for allowing irrigator wheels to pass through a

designed to automatically retract back

fence gap or gateway.

inside itself even after full extension.

For more information

damage from over-stretching that

Sureflex crossing point system:

please contact

would prevent the spring returning to its

The Sureflex crossing point system

static tension. It is also paramount that

incorporates a ladder system designed

the restrictor has an effective means of

to anchor the fence, forcing it to lay

connection, both to the spring and to

over and then stand up as the irrigator

stronger than the fence wire and spring yield strength, to avoid subsequent

our friendly staff at your nearest Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Strainrite.

wheel moves off the fence. Fence wires

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