7 minute read
Industry good - DairyNZ
from Dairy Farmer November 2021
by AgriHQ
Good clover cover over summer is one factor which could allow farmers to reduce N applications.
Can you save on N applications?
Virginia Serra
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Fertiliser is one of the biggest operating expenses on-farm and the response to nitrogen (N) fertiliser in summer can be low and unprofitable on some farms.
With the new cap on synthetic N fertiliser in place this season, reducing N applications over summer is a strategy many farmers are considering.
In summer, soil mineralisation rates are high and clover is growing. If soils already have enough N, applying more may not result in additional growth or be economic.
As part of DairyNZ’s work with partner farms in Selwyn and Hinds, some farmers have significantly reduced N applications over January and February, with little impact on pasture consumption. This has required careful planning but resulted in farmers saving money on fertiliser while maintaining production levels.
Not every farm is in a position to make these changes, but it’s worthwhile considering if it’s right for your farm.
Clover cover is one factor that will affect whether you can reduce N applications – clover fixes N in the soil, providing an alternative N source to fertiliser. Established pastures with good clover cover could receive less N, whereas new pastures or areas with less clover cover will benefit more from continuing N applications.
In addition, check if your soils have good pH levels and adequate levels of potassium, phosphorus and other key minerals. A deficiency in any key mineral can limit pasture growth. A clover health profile is also recommended to check if clover will flourish over summer.
Spreading effluent on paddocks is an alternative source of N to fertiliser and can allow you to reduce applications. You’ll also need to consider if you want to apply N to boost pasture growth for feed in future months. with DairyNZ
With some good forward planning, a number of partner farms in Canterbury have reduced N applications to 15-20kg a month in January and February. Many have applied other nutrients through fertilisers, so that they can apply N at low levels.
Some farmers skip N applications in January and February on areas which don’t benefit from it – like areas with high clover content or which receive effluent.
Deciding on reduced N applications is something best discussed with a trusted adviser. Some partner farms found the changes didn’t work for them, as it affected milk production, so plan your approach and talk through the issues with an adviser, to consider if it suits your farm. They can also help consider local issues, such as rainfall and weather conditions, which affect N response.
If changes this summer can’t be made, you may want to focus on improving your clover cover for next summer to give you the option to make future changes. n
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One last word …
With calving more or less done for most, farmers are now turning their attention to the busy mating season followed by supplementary feed harvesting.
So with everything that is going on down on-farm, it is little wonder that many are getting fed up and feeling frustrated at the ever-changing rules and regulations and proposals in front of them in recent months.
Several industry leaders have expressed their concerns over the number and speed of many of these. Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard in his guest column in Dairy Farmer recently called it the winter of discontent.
Not surprising when you look at all the submissions the Feds have worked on in recent months or are working on at present. At present, they are involved in eight at a national level and these range from supporting reform to e cient distribution pricing, the Electricity Land Transport (clean vehicles) Amendment Bill and digital strategies through to managing our wetlands and another on glyphosate.
Since May this year, and not including the current processes, they have submitted 29 times at a national level on a variety of topics. A spokesperson says the many submissions Feds makes to regional and district council processes – Long-Term Plans, District Plan Reviews and Plan Changes and the like – are not included and these would at least match, if not exceed, the national workload.
If the Feds and other industry bodies are working at pace to deal with so many pieces of legislation, how does the Government expect our farmers to keep up with all the changes and make written submissions?
And when some of these are slipped in during busy times such as calving and mating, it is clear to me, the Government, while following the process by calling for submissions, is not actually interested in hearing them.
It is no wonder farmers are feeling as if they are under siege and are fed up.
An old time farmer reckons “the Labour government will not stop with their ridiculous agenda to get rid of many of farmers and stock until we just give up”.
But this old farmer reckons while he has industry bodies such as the Feds, DairyNZ and others fi ghting in their corner, he will carry on.
Thanks to Otorohanga contract milker Vili Lomano for this month’s photo, which sums up farmer sentiment perfectly. Lomano and his wife saw this on their travels and thought it was too good not to share.
Sonita
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Dairy Diary
November 2021
November 2 – SMASH
Simplifying your system fi eld day, Horsham Downs. Our host, Jamie Haultain, is sharemilking 240 cows on a 75ha System 2 farm. He enjoys crunching numbers and uses DairyBase. We will look into how his business stacks up against others in the region, the key numbers to focus on and the factors that have infl uenced his results. Info at www.smallerherds.co.nz
November 4 – DairyNZ
DairyNZ progression groups, Tararua. Dairy career/business progression group in Pahiatua could be for you. It’s open to anyone looking to: plan to succeed, discover the steps to creating wealth and build the skills you need to get ahead. This group will have several sessions spread out over a 12-month period. Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz
November 10 – Owl Farm
Owl Farm Focus Day, Cambridge. Join us at Owl Farm using data to discuss management of the season-to-date from the team at Owl Farm. Relevant topics led by our team of technical experts. Info at www.owlfarm.nz/
November 10 – DairyNZ
Autumn calving discussion group. Join us on Michael and John’s property to discuss topics including growing maize on farm vs purchasing, proportion of autumn and spring calving cows, along with exploring some of the Fonterra Insights reports. This group will be slightly shorter to allow farmers to get back home in time for lunch to meet current Alert Level 2 requirements. Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz
November 16 & 23 – Dairy Women’s Network
The Challenge of Change, Canterbury and Far North. Resilience can have a huge impact on your personal and professional lives. Join Cynthia Johnson, a Psychology Master Trainer, to learn four proven steps for building resilience and managing yourself in stressful situations. Info at www.dwn.co.nz/events
November 16 – Dairy Women’s Network
Industry Experts and Insights Breakfast Panel, Central Plateau. Join us for Breakfast to hear from Dairy Industry Leaders. We want to ensure that all rural professionals understand the challenges that farmers are currently going through, the importance of people to the industry. Info at www.dwn.co.nz/events
November 16 – DairyNZ
E350 public fi eld day, McDermott’s & Gillespie’s. If you’re a farmer or rural professional, this is your chance to fi nd out about Northland’s Extension 350 Project at one of 10 public fi eld days being held across the region. The project is a long-term farmer-to-farmer extension programme designed to help Northland farmers succeed. Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz
November 23 and 24 – SMASH
Streamline your Business with Lean, Waikato East and Waikato West. Learn how Lean can help you to make continuous improvements in your business, regardless of whether you are a one-man band or have a team. It will free up your time, save you money, eliminate waste, reduce your workload and help you to build an excellent team culture. Info at www.smallerherds.co.nz
December 1 – SMASH
Let’s Celebrate Dairy Pohangina Details to be confi rmed. Info at www.smallerherds.co.nz
Dairy Women’s Network
Make time for your people, various dates and locations. People are at the epicentre of our farm businesses and ensuring employers and employees have strong relationships and a good work-life balance is key to the future of the industry. Moving the dial on the importance of attracting and retaining great people in the dairy industry is the focus of this workshop and webinar series. This is a free event funded by MPI. Info at www.dwn.co.nz/events
