Farmlands Plan 365 May 2015 by Farmlands

MAY 2015

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

Which treatment is best for my ewes pre-lamb? There are a lot of different products on the market for pre-lamb treatment, so how do you go about choosing the right product for your operation? Not one particular product is going to suit all your needs. By scanning your ewes, you can divide them up into groups with different needs. Normally you would have two groups, singles or multiple bearing ewes. These can be divided further based on condition score, into good condition ewes and poor condition ewes. So you will have single bearing ewes that are in good condition. These

treating pre-lamb. These ewes have

Cydectin® Long Acting Injection for

ewes don’t need any treatment at all

twins in them so by using a long acting

Sheep rather than a capsule.

really. They can get away with a 5in1

product like Cydectin® Long Acting

In summary, one particular product is

vaccine only. It is good not to treat

Injection for Sheep, to give maximum

not ideal for all your ewes. We need to

some ewes on your farm, as this

parasite protection, you’ll get also the

break the ewes down into groups —

will give the opportunity to slow

most cost effective return.

ideally if you’re scanning into singles

down the development of resistance

The final group of ewes is your twin

and twins — and then break them down

to anthelmintics.

ewes that are in good condition.

again by condition score into poor and

The second group of ewes will be

They are a difficult mob to decide what

good conditioned ewes. From there,

your single ewes that are in poor

to treat with and that decision will

use the most effective treatment that

condition, which could be set stocked

probably depend on other factors, for

will meet the requirements for those

heavier. These ewes will need some

example withholding time. If you have

particular groups.

help to get them over that feed pinch,

a terminal mob of ewes, which you’re

Medium acting drenches include:

so you could either use a very short

going to have to wean and get straight

Cydectin® Oral Drench for Sheep,

acting treatment at docking or give

to the works, you don’t want a long

Eweguard®, or Cydectin® Injection

them a persistent acting product such

withholding time on those ewes, so you

for Cattle and Sheep.

as Eweguard , a 6in1 vaccine and

may choose a shorter acting product.

Long acting drenches include:

persistent acting wormer, to help get

The other factors to consider would

Cydectin® Long Acting Injection

them through the lambing period.

be how much time you’ve got, how

for Sheep.

With the multiple ewes, you will have

much labour you’ve got and what your facilities are like. If time and labour

For further information, talk to one

poor conditioned twin ewes. They are going to be the group on the farm that

are limited then you’re probably better

will get the maximum benefit from

going with an injectable product like

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of the friendly staff at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Zoetis.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

NAIT and EID — what’s in it for me? NAIT compliance for cattle and deer can be achieved extremely easily. Many farmers are now taking the next step and using Electronic Identification (EID) tags for improved farm management and bottom line. NAIT basics All cattle and deer are required to be tagged with NAIT approved EID

yard. Farmers can record sex, breed, treatment events and mob details, as well as animal notes and observations

• Managing culling decisions for breeding herds. • Managing dairy and beef

that reappear automatically the next

replacement heifer growth rates

time the animal is scanned. The

for breeding performance.

recorded information can also be easily shared with the farmer’s weigh scale, so the same information is available during weighing sessions.

The Gallagher TSi 2 Livestock Manager is the world’s leading weigh scale for data collection and analysis. The only full colour touchscreen scale on the market, it enables animals to

ear tags before 6 months of age and

be drafted by EID number or weight.

before leaving the property where they

It also shows on the fly weight gain

were born. Animals are required to be

history as well as immediate access to

registered with NAIT within 1 week of

all individual animal records, whether

tagging. Any movements off-farm also

it be in the yard or in the office using

need to be recorded.

Gallagher’s market leading Animal

Simple transfer of animal movement records

Performance Software.

While movements through saleyards and abattoirs are being recorded for farmers by the companies concerned,

Add weighing for increased profitability

with the right reader and an Android

Add weighing to EID and farmers can

smartphone, compliance can also be very simply achieved for private sales, grazers and lease bulls. All Gallagher EID tag reader models are compatible with Gallagher’s free Animal Data Transfer Android smartphone app, enabling animal registration and movement recording from right there in the yard. Collect more than just numbers

evaluate farm management decisions right down to an individual animal level with significant profitability benefits. Some of the activities being managed using weighing and EID technology include: • Optimising target weights and timing for sale/slaughter for best

For more information on NAIT, please

financial return.

visit the NAIT website www.nait.co.nz

• Determining what animal breeds/

With its large colour screen and alpha

suppliers perform the best.

numeric keypad, Gallagher’s flagship

• Identifying what crops provide

HR5 Hand Held EID Tag Reader

the best weight gain and return

is an incredibly powerful, portable

on investment.

and speak with someone at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Gallagher.

data collection and editing platform, providing flexibility right there in the

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Winter lice treatment – do it once, do it right You may think lice look harmless but don’t be fooled. Clinical infestations of lice will significantly reduce wool yield and quality from rubbing, plus pelts can be damaged from cockle, a hypersensitivity reaction to lice. Insecticides have been front and centre in the effort to control lice infestations. However, many chemicals have come and gone as lice have become resistant to these actives or the method of application has become tedious and costly. This is especially true with many of the run through systems, which give good cover over the back where flies strike but limited

Today we still have a combination

Figure 1. Lice Lifecycle

pour-on product containing triflumuron

Treatment times need to factor in

and imidacloprid, two highly specific

many variables, including stock class,

lice actives with different modes of

length of wool, equipment and labour

activity. Imidacloprid has a rapid

required, weather and withholding

knockdown by killing on contact all

periods. Make sure you treat sheep as

stages of the lice lifecycle, except

per label instructions, always basing

the eggs (see figure 1). Triflumuron

your dose rate on the heaviest sheep

kills at the three moulting stages

in the mob. Frequently check your

plus has a residual action like all

applicator dose, to make sure you are

insect growth regulators (IGR), which

applying the correct quantity. It is also

prevents reinfection and the normal

good to use a product that contains a

winter population build-up. Together

scourable dye, allowing you to easily

this combination provides long-term

identify those treated in the mob, re-

protection, with excellent knockdown.

treating any you think you may have missed.

cover to the underside of sheep,

You should also employ key practices

where lice are quite happy to hide

to assist in controlling lice. Ensure you

until chemical levels subside. Pour-

have a clean muster, treating all stock

on formulations give more accurate

at the same time. If you are not then

dosing and are easy to apply with no

make sure treated and untreated mobs

costly equipment. More importantly,

are kept separate for at least 4 weeks

combination pour-on formulations

following treatment.

with accurate dosage and effective

Using these techniques and an

application will slow the development

effective combination product with

of lice resistance where other single

triflumuron and imidacloprid means

actives have become obsolete.

you can do the job once and know you have done it right. Article supplied by Bayer.

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NUTRITION

Options increasing for sheep farmers Innovations and technology are increasing the options for both lifestyle and commercial sheep farmers, to help counter the uncertainty of the seasons and maximise the profitability from the genetic potential of stock.

Pre-lambing feeding has a major impact

with triplets or twins, the Reliance Triplet

on lamb birth weights, lamb survival,

Nut has been developed in the past in

lamb growth rates, the ewe’s mothering

co-operation with the researchers at

ability and even immunity to parasites

Invermay. In addition to readily available

and resistance to diseases including

energy minerals and vitamins, Triplet

sleepy sickness and milk fever. The

Nuts contains a high level of quality

conceptus (embryo) takes up a lot of

protein, which supports the unborn lamb

If you have pursued other options –

abdominal space, which compresses the

and its mother and also results in more

including re-seeded and fertilising,

rumen and therefore reduces the feed

colostrum early on, which is crucial for

growing alternative forage crops and

intake. This is especially true for bulky,

the survival of triplet and twin lambs.

intensive drenching for parasites – you

slower digesting feeds like baleage, silage

may wish to consider supplementary

Pellet feeding in troughs or as nuts on

and hay, or feeds with a low dry matter

feeding to close the apparently widening

the ground has always been easier for

content (e.g. below 15 percent). Pelleted

gap between scanning percentages and

lifestyle farmers or those with smaller

feed provides energy and protein, without

the number of lambs tailed. The greatest

commercial flocks, because mis-

being bulky and limiting intake. Grains

pre-weaning lamb weights come from

mothering has always been a problem

and straights can be considered but lack

ewes that start lactation in the greatest

when supplementary feeding large

some essential minerals, trace elements

body condition score and lose the most

flocks at lambing. The increasing use of

and vitamins, or in the case of palm

BCS. This suggests that good nutrition

controlled delivery, free access feeders

kernel expeller contain too much copper,

for ewes with a genetic predisposition

offers the potential to continue feeding

which limits how much can be fed and

to divert nutrients into milk production

post-lambing, even with large flocks, as

for how long. Products in the Reliance

can increase the weight and/or earliness

recently lambed ewes are not distracted

Sheep Range contain nutritional levels of

of finished lambs. Early finished lambs

by daily feeding.

a wide range of vitamins, minerals and

typically receive a price premium in

trace elements. For high performing ewes

Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.

November but more importantly reduce feed requirements if conditions turn dry, or may even allow the buying-in of additional lambs or provide dairy support if pasture growth is better than expected. With an increasing array of supplements, from free access mineralised feed blocks through to grain, straights and compound feeds available, the options have never been as good. The rewards are greatest if targeted at the animals that need it most – thin or triplet bearing ewes, whilst avoiding over-feeding ewes with single lambs, which can become overweight.

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NUTRITION

More dairy farmers than ever turning to phosphorus Once considered the forgotten mineral in New Zealand livestock nutrition, the increasing use of fodder beet (and to a lesser extent wholecrop silages) is encouraging dairy farmers to consider supplementing diets with phosphorus (P).

by the P and pH status of the soil,

are buying. Dicalcium phosphate

stage of maturity of the plant (P declines

(DCP) is the most common form of

as crops mature and is lower in cereal

supplementary P for ruminants. If

wholecrop, maize silage and hay than

applying to grazed forage crops, fine

young pasture) and crop management.

mesh material that sticks to dewy

Grains and oilseed by-products

leaves will be better retained on the

(such as soyabean meal) are generally

crop than coarser grade material,

a rich source of P, whilst fodder

which bounces off and is better

P makes up about 29 percent of the

beet (especially the bulb) is a poor

suited for use in mixer wagons.

total minerals in the body and whilst

source of P.

The National Research Council puts

Typical* P levels g/kg DM

lactating dairy cow P requirements at

being essential for the formation of bones, it is especially concentrated in red blood cells, muscle and nerve tissues. A P deficiency can cause poor appetite, reproductive failure and

Soyabean Meal

Barley Grain

Wheat Grain

Grass/ Clover

Clover Hay

6.8

4.1

3.8

3.5

2.5

older animals). Metabolic issues are increasingly being reported in early lactation, with alert downer cows that respond poorly to normal calcium and magnesium treatment – a condition called post parturient haemoglobinuria. It is thought that cows deficient in P develop a craving for it, which can appear as a depraved appetite (chewing of wood and rocks). The P content in forages is largely determined

Zealand is generally considered unlikely if cows are grazing well managed vegetative pasture, unless prolonged

severe deficiency can lead to rickets (in young animals) or osteomalacia (in

3.5-4.2g/kg DM. P deficiency in New

feeding of low quality forages or root Fodder Fodder Cereal Maize Cereal Beet Beet Wholecrop Silage Straw Leaf Bulb 2.0

1.25

1.8

0.7

*Actual levels may vary widely

P rich supplements are derived from rock phosphate, which is processed to give increasingly purified and more available forms of P. Low grade phosphates are relatively insoluble, so it is important to know what you

crops. Typically 25 percent of the dry matter of fodder beet is in the tops, so we can assume that cows grazing fodder beet will be getting only about 1.4g P/kg DM from the fodder beet. Supplementing dry cows eating a typical 7kg fodder beet per day with the DairyNZ recommended 50g DCP would lift the P content of the fodder beet/DCP combo to 2.75g/kg DM – seemingly enough when some pasture or grass silage is also being fed. Thin cows in the spring may also respond to additional P post-calving, especially if they have come through a drought with low pasture intakes the previous summer. Demand for DCP is rising each year, so giving an early forward commitment may be worthwhile to ensure supply. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Humes underpass ups productivity on Bay of Plenty farm Mark and Tania Gargan’s dream to buy their own dairy farm finally came to fruition in 2014 when they took possession of a farm at Ngakuru. After 12 years of sharemilking the Gargan’s had a number of plans for their farm, including a new cowshed and eventually, a stock underpass. Or so they thought.

“But what we hadn’t planned on dealing

the cheapest and was a metre wider. So

with straight away was the herd having

we decided to go with Humes, who use

to cross Waikaukau Road daily to access

Corboy Earthmovers to install.”

about 40 hectares of the farm.

Although the Gargans are still months

“The cows were standing on the race for

away from finishing their upgrade,

at least 2 hours, waiting for me to finish

they are very happy with the progress

milking so I could cross them over the

and can’t wait to see their herd cross

road. This cuts into their grazing time and

through the new underpass. “Dave from

added to that was up to 30 minutes of my

Humes has been great assisting with the

“When we worked on the budget, we

time to man the crossing.”

organisation of the underpass installation

knew all along that the first thing we

After phoning suppliers of underpasses,

and supply of water troughs, water line

Mark got hold of Dave Casey from

and about 30 culvert pipes too.”

would do was build a cowshed, as the cow flow was terrible,” Mark explains.

Humes. “The Humes price was one of

H G U O TR E C N A R A E L C

e troughs t e r c n o c n Save o

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Quality, tough , stock-proof farm troughs you c an rely on. Full range of sizes availab le.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Keeping it tight TOUGH AND LATERAL CONNECTIONS An important component in a well designed and constructed stock water system is the connection from the system mainline to the trough. This article deals with the “do's and don’ts”, outlines the various ways these connections can be achieved and their relative benefits.

saddle and the pipe taken to the trough.

point restriction in the pipe and reduced

As most laterals are a smaller outside

flow or even blockage. The relatively

diameter (OD) pipe than the mainline,

minor expense of using elbows ensures

reduction in pipe OD occurs at this point.

long-term performance.

Another lateral connection method,

Typically troughs have 20mm or 25mm

almost as quick and with the benefit of

threaded BSP female connections.

not requiring a threaded joint, uses a slip

Reduction to this size from the lateral

tee and reducing set. A slip tee doesn’t

pipe diameter is always necessary

The most practical and cost effective

have a stop at the bottom of the socket,

in dairy stock water systems. This is

method of installing a stock water

so it can be fully pushed onto the pipe. A

successfully achieved using a variety

scheme is to trench or mole-plough in

small section of pipe is then cut out of the

of threaded fittings and the correct

the mainline first, cutting in the lateral

mainline, the fitting slipped onto one side

application of thread tape.

connections to the troughs afterwards.

of the line, the other side then brought

Most mainlines are flexible metric

back into alignment and the slip tee

diameter polyethylene (PE) pressure pipe.

pulled back over this pipe. A reducing set

Even given this pipe's flexibility, making

can then be used within the fitting’s off-

a lateral connection using a tee fitting is

take socket to reduce the pipe diameter

difficult, requiring a large hole to be dug

to the required size.

and enough pipe exposed, so it can be

Male threaded adapters are used to connect to bottom entry troughs. Side entry troughs require the use of threaded elbows. Male threaded elbows aren’t ideal, as when being screwed in, the fitting’s backing nut can scrape against the trough wall, causing potential leaks as

cut and bent into the fitting’s socket.

well as skinned knuckles. Using a female

Other methods for making lateral connections use equal tees and reducing couplings, female tees with male Using a saddle is a quicker, simpler and

threaded adapters or reducing tees.

more cost effective method, not requiring

These are all relatively time consuming,

excessive excavation. Saddles encircle

requiring moving lots of dirt and wrestling

the pipe, forming a water-tight seal by

the PE pipe into the final socket.

means of a large O-ring on the inside

System integrity also relies on the sound

of the fitting. Using a hole-saw, a round section of the pipe wall is cut out through the saddle's threaded outlet. A threaded adapter fitting is then screwed into the

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connection of the lateral pipe to the trough. Always use an elbow to take the lateral pipe up to the trough. Bending the

threaded elbow and threaded nipple overcomes these issues. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Iplex.

pipe to do this may crease it, causing

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Introducing Quantum Clear, the new ‘no residue risk’ detergent As standards within the dairy industry tighten, residues in milk have come more to the fore. GEA / FIL have reacted positively to this, reformulating their acid detergent range and introducing new formulations with increased efficiency as well as reduced risk of residue, thereby helping farmers to improve milk quality. A specialised product Quantum Clear is a highly specialised low foam product, recommended for use in a high turbulence plant and can only be used in hot water that is compliant. If used correctly, Quantum Clear is guaranteed to present no residue risk. Water and wash time savings You will use up to 27 percent less water¹ in your cleaning programme with Quantum Clear. Due to the natural formulation of the product, the amount of water used to rinse the plant at the end of the wash cycle will be reduced to 2L per cluster (down from 5L). Using less water during the wash cycle also means you’ll save time waiting for the final rinse. These savings when monitored over a season can be considerable. Organic approval

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If you’re an organic farmer, the

on the right acid detergent and wash

good news is that Quantum Clear

programme for your dairy plant system,

has been approved by Biogro. It is

please call your local FIL Area Manager

more environmentally friendly than

on 0508 434 569.

traditional acids. Apart from reducing the amount of water used in the wash, it’s formulated from citric acid, making it a natural product that will leave no

Article supplied by GEA | FIL. Reference: 1. Figure is based on a calculation by a FIL Product Development Specialist based on 300 days in milk, 50 clusters and twice a day milking.

detectable cleaning residues in milk. Is Quantum Clear right for your dairy plant? Because Quantum Clear is a highly specialised product, it isn’t suitable for all dairy plants. It’s important to understand the product and how it differs to more traditional acid detergent. Therefore, you should have a plant assessment carried out by your local FIL Area Manager prior to using this product. Having this assessment done will only bring positive results – because having the cleanest possible dairy plant is critical to producing quality milk. The FIL team is well trained, know the products and is there to help. You will get a wash programme designed specifically to your plant, farm, water type and situation. Other acid detergents in the FIL range are Quantum Red, Quantum One and Impact Red Acid. For more information

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Parasite management during drying-off Drying-off is an important period in the management of a dairy herd. Decisions need to be made about body condition and feeding, disease prevention, animal movement and culling — but it’s equally important to control parasites. Control of parasites can have a significant benefit to overall cow health and condition through stress reduction and optimising feed conversion efficiency. This is important particularly at a time of year when pasture growth is slowing down, or negligible due to

During the lactation period, worm

pour-on’s (Proabamec and Abapor)

this year’s drought conditions affecting

burdens in the cows will have built

have a nil milk withhold but have the

some regions. Eliminating worms now

up. Worms impact the ability to utilise

added advantage of controlling lice

will help set cows up for winter and

nutrients from feed in two ways. Firstly,

too. Alternatively, if you have Cooperia

reduce the impact of an early worm

they have been shown to decrease

spp. resistant to eprinomectin or

burden come spring time.

appetite as well as affect grazing

doramectin, use an abamectin and

behaviours. Cows with worms tend

levamisole combination like Saturn®

to be more “fussy”, which could be

Pour-on (so long as cows are not

compounded as grass quality declines.

being milked).

Secondly, the presence of worms

In some cases, you may decide not to

causes inflammation in the gut, which

treat the whole herd, though it is very

has a negative impact on digestion and

likely they will all be carrying worms.

nutrient uptake from feed. As a result,

If this is the case, consider treating

feed is wasted through poor conversion

lower condition cows and those coming

and body condition suffers.

out of their first lactation. Also, if you

Worm treatment should be aimed

have enough feed to carry cull cows

at achieving the highest worm kill

for a while, a worm treatment has the

possible. The type of active selected

potential to increase body condition

depends on whether you are still milking

before sending them off to the works.

and the resistance status on your farm.

For more information, talk to the

If you’re still milking, use eprinomectin

friendly team at your local Farmlands

(Eon) or moxidectin (Cydectin), as these

store today.

are both powerful ML that will give excellent results and have a nil milk withhold. Similarly, abamectin based

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HORTICULTURE

The quirks of composting For years, this has been nature’s perfect recycling system. By taking waste materials from your home and garden and combining them in the correct quantities, under the right conditions, you can turn your waste into a valuable source of nutrients and goodness for your garden.

Compost is a valuable input into any

Using similar composting concepts as

compost manufacturers follow a tried

those used by home gardeners, there

and true formulation to produce a

are now a wide range of commercial

consistent result, waiting only until they

composting businesses throughout

have the correct ingredients in the

New Zealand, supplying bulk compost

correct proportions to reproduce their

into a number of horticultural and

quality product.

agricultural businesses.

The recipe definitely includes such

system as it provides slow release nutrients and in the long-term it can aid in such functions as better soil structure, water retention, increased soil biological activity and increased soil carbon. Like creating the perfect meal, your compost is only as good as your ingredients and your recipe. Many

components as moisture, temperature and aeration. Compost simply doesn’t sit in a heap and invent itself, it needs to be turned and aerated as the biology goes to work to produce the final product. Unfortunately, there are some products in the marketplace that may not be suitable for your needs, due to the very different raw materials, recipes, production method and final product Farmlands will assist you with collecting your yearly soil sample

analysis. It’s crucial to discuss your commercial compost requirements with

your Farmlands representative so that we can connect you with what is needed specifically for your property based on the soil test analysis. You may already have an abundance of organic matter present but it may not be as available as it should be. This may indicate the need for a soil biology activator. Please talk to your local Farmlands

and its interpretation. The resulting

Technical Advisor, Technical Field

recommendation may include an

Officer or retail team at your local

application of compost in conjunction

store to see if the addition of

with some specific nutrients.

compost is right for your operation.

Farmlands is currently supplying

Article supplied by Gaz Ingram, Organic and Biological Manager, Farmlands Horticulture.

compost to market gardens, broad acre cropping, kiwifruit, viticulture, avocados, pipfruit, pastoral farming and many more sectors.

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HORTICULTURE

Post-harvest nitrogen application in perennial crops In spring, when soil temperatures are low, perennial horticultural crops only take up small amounts of nutrients from the soil. The trees are mostly relying on nutrients and carbohydrates that were laid down in late summer/autumn of the previous year. Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for life, being a building block for proteins that all organisms need. However, in agriculture it often has a bad image, because of leaching or excessive unwanted vigour that may occur. Both of these negatives can be avoided if simple guidelines are followed and it is also important to understand what is being achieved from your application. Leaching: This is all about understanding the amounts being applied (kilograms of N per hectare) and what and where it is being applied. The amount applied in a soil application should vary depending on the crop and the soil type involved and this is where Farmlands Technical Advisors are trained to assist you in this decision making. With foliar applications, often much lower kg/ ha are being applied and it is a much more direct path to the crop. Vigour: If you believe that nitrogen is causing excessive vigour, this can be verified through a leaf test. You can then discuss the results and your options with your Farmlands Technical Advisor. The time of year that N is applied also impacts on the vigour response. Trials have shown

summer period, there is a direct plant growth response. Applications in the post-harvest/autumn period promoted stronger, more fertile blossoms, fruit set, fruit growth and quality in the following season, without causing a direct growth response. From these trials it is now accepted that the post-harvest/autumn period is the optimal time to apply N for perennial horticultural crops. This N is stored during the winter, predominantly as protein in the bark and remobilised in the spring when the buds break. Soil or foliar: N moves easily through the plant, from roots to leaves and back the other way. The overriding consideration is the amount of N per hectare being applied and whether it is an effective method of getting N into the plant. Growers are often applying other foliar applications such as boron in this postharvest period and usually it is easy just to add N into this application.

question when purchasing urea for foliar applications is to find out the biuret content. Biuret is a contaminant in urea that forms during the final stages of the manufacturing process. All urea contains biuret and each manufacturer will have a different biuret level. Technical grade urea

What to apply post-harvest: A whole

has a lower biuret level than field grade

range of different forms of N are used.

urea. If the biuret content of the urea

For soil applications CAN, urea, or

is below 0.25 percent it is considered

ammonium sulphate are used. For foliar

suitable as a foliar spray for horticultural

applications, there is the option to use

crops. The concentration of urea in a

liquid formulations based on amino acid

spray mix is also important. When urea

or UAN products. Due to the unit cost

is applied at a concentration greater than

of N per hectare, crystal forms of either

5 percent, it can cause phytotoxicity to

technical grade urea or standard field

leaves and soft wood tissue.

grade urea are predominantly used. The best form of crystal urea to use will depend on the crop grown and its sensitivity to biuret.

that when N is applied in the spring/

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Post-harvest urea: The important

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Chris Herries, Technical Manager, Farmlands Horticulture.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Bagged fertiliser makes it easy Whatever the size of your block or garden, keeping it well fed will make sure you get the best from it. Bagged fertiliser is ideal for gardens and small blocks, as it’s easy to transport and store. Farmlands stocks a range of bagged fertiliser from Ballance Agri-Nutrients, just for this purpose. The fertiliser that you need will depend on a variety of factors, including your soil type and what you are doing with your land. In their natural, undeveloped state, most New Zealand soils require phosphorus and sulphur to make them productive. How much they need depends in part on the soil type and in part on the use. For instance, if you are removing stock, say for the freezer, or if you cut supplements or grow crops that are taken off your block

then you are also removing nutrients and these will need replacing each year. The same goes for home gardens — growing your own vegetables or mowing lawns (without mulching the clippings back in) removes nutrients from the soil. Soil and herbage tests are the best way to find out what nutrients your soil needs. Farmlands supplies kits you can use to collect samples and staff can give you advice on how to carry out the tests. If you have a small block, you could consider Nutrigro or Nutrigro 13K. Both products contain nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur, which are typically needed on small blocks. Nutrigro 13K also contains potassium. Nutrigro products also supply the trace

elements cobalt and selenium, which are essential for animal health. If you just want to use nitrogen to promote pasture or crop growth, then SustaiN fits the bill. SustaiN is designed to decrease losses of nitrogen to the atmosphere, so that more of the nitrogen you apply stays in the soil, where your plants need it. We don’t recommend you use this on your lawn – unless you really like mowing! YaraMila Complex is a great product for gardens. It is a compound fertiliser that contains six major nutrients plus the trace elements boron, iron, manganese and zinc. It is multi-purpose, so you can use it for ornamentals, fruit trees or to grow vegetables. Lawn Mix is a good option for your lawn. As well as the major nutrients it also includes iron sulphate, which will help to control moss. When you apply fertiliser to gardens and lawns, ensure that the fertiliser is well watered in, so plant roots can access the nutrients. If you are running livestock, apply your fertiliser to sections of your land 1 or 2 days after the area has been grazed. For further information, talk to one of the friendly staff at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Farmlands Grain and Seed update As a result of the growing success of our vertically integrated model of growing seeds to sell and retail and growing grain to supply to our feed mills for processing and retail, Farmlands Grain and Seed is investing further in technical assistance in the field for our shareholders. Joining Forage and Arable Agronomist Rachael Robinson (currently on maternity leave) is Dave Schrader (Timaru) and Phil Johnston (Christchurch) in specialist forage and arable agronomy roles. They will be assisting TFOs in Canterbury and North Otago with technical grain and seed enquiries. They can offer independent advice on arable cropping options and management, pasture seed species and forage systems, agchem and fertiliser requirements. Sophie Lilley has recently been appointed as a Grain and Seed Rep based at Methven. This is a trainee TFO / Agronomist role and she will work closely with Dave and Phil to develop her agronomic knowledge, as she assists local shareholders with their grain and seed requirements. Sam Lucas (Rangiora) starts as a Forage and Arable Agronomist in July and will be working with staff in the Marlborough, Tasman and West Coast areas. Sophie Lilley — 027 801 7769 Phil Johnston — 027 801 1316 Dave Schrader — 027 454 0188

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Retail seed update Rain has fallen in most areas in the past few weeks and the countryside has greened up, with some substance starting to appear in grass paddocks and winter feed crops. As a result of drier than usual conditions, there has been very strong retail demand for annual type seeds like Italian ryegrasses, greenfeed oats and triticale this autumn. This, combined with a large increase in the area sown in fodder beet, will result in a busy spring when these paddocks are resown. Market indications are that the availability of some seed varieties will be limited in the spring, so please contact your TFO or store soon to discuss your seed requirements. A real positive over the summer was the way that fodder beet crops have generally stood up to the dry conditions and insect pressure, with reasonable amounts of dry matter being recorded in March while the crops were still growing. Grain market report The South Island harvest has well and truly finished with overall yields being above average and quality generally being very good. The North Island maize harvest has started, with initial reports indicating good yields. Endusers continue to be very inactive in the market with consumption falling sharply, in-line with Fonterra’s low dairy pay-out estimates for both old and new season. After a short rally in the beginning of the year, GDT WMP/SMP (which together constitute about 85 percent of the

Fonterra dairy pay-out) auction results appear to be in a steady rate of decline. The NZX WMP/SMP futures market suggests that new season pricing is higher than spot levels but is at levels that are below where they need to be, to generate what our dairy farmers consider to be a good return. The WMP pricing curve also indicates that the market is well supplied. That being said, whilst the outlook remains decidedly pessimistic, markets have a way of surprising everyone. Low international grain prices have encouraged consumption but at the same time discouraged farmers from planting, particularly US corn farmers (biggest feed grain crop in the world 350mmt+) who struggled to make a positive return last season. This remains true also for dairy markets. Surely at these levels, consumption is being encouraged? There is little available storage space in the North Island for maize grain, with large carry over stock from the previous year. On a positive note, we have been able to instigate a number of maize grain deals in the North Island and offer attractive payment terms to our dairy farmers, whilst also being able to help our maize growers with storage issues at harvest. Please contact us to buy or sell your grain.

Mark Elliotte General Manager Grain and Seed

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

SF Brigadier fodder beet a success in south Lynnore Templeton was so thrilled with the performance of Seed Force’s Brigadier fodder beet last season that she planted more and will winter a further 200 dairy cows this year. Lynnore and her husband Andrew run a 3,100 hectare mixed sheep and beef operation at Middlemarch, with dairy grazing in winter. While the majority of the farm is dry land, there is about 160ha under irrigation with centre pivots and K-line. On the dairy grazing side of the operation Lynnore was originally a fodder beet sceptic but she has been converted after great success with the product. “We got such good utilisation and the Brigadier was so easily digestible, it seems to work really well for us,” Lynnore says. “Previously we have used kale or turnips and grass but we did 15ha of fodder beet last year and we’re just stoked with it.” With last year’s crop they put the beet in under a new irrigation scheme but the scheme was late coming online and the crop was essentially a dry land one to start with. Despite this, the Templetons still did 23.5 tonnes — costing 9 cents per kg of dry matter to grow — which Lynnore describes as a brilliant result. “We had 600 cows on that 15ha and there was still 1.5ha left to put our own 90 heifers on, which was handy. The cows that came had already been on fodder beet so it was an easy transition.

a dry winter and no mud but the cows really blossomed, they were happy and contented. The breaks were easy to shift and it made taking on the dairy cows much simpler than in previous years. “The farmer was exceptionally happy with the condition of the cows when they went back – they seemed to really thrive on the fodder beet.” The beet was such a success that the Templetons planted another 29ha of SF Brigadier and are taking on 800 cows, with the expectation there will be enough left over for their own yearling cattle as well. Lynnore says the most important thing for her is that Seed Force has been available if they have any questions or need to talk to someone. "We work very closely with our Farmlands rep, Richard Doherty, who has been brilliant at putting the plan in place and ensuring it happens – we just follow the recipe.

| Andrew Templeton with daughter Ellie in this year’s crop of SF Brigadier fodder beet.

“It’s an expensive crop to put in the ground, so it gives you a lot of confidence that you will have success if you have the right people to help monitor the progress of the crop. It takes risk out and helps ensure a good result in terms of low cents per kg of dry matter grown.” For further information, talk to one of the friendly staff at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Seed Force.

“We found it was so simple to move and the cows did really well on it. We did have

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