Plan 365 November 2016 by Farmlands

NOVEMBER 2016

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.

NUTRITION

Deer velvet – an extraordinary natural creation In nature, a stag’s antlers exist for specific functions including for defence, maintaining social order and attracting hinds. When cut at the velvet stage however, deer velvet does have some applications outside of its natural use and is thought to have extraordinary medicinal properties and is in high demand for use in products such as supplements that promote human health and vitality. Deer velvet is an impressive product and therefore requires special attention to the nutritional intake of stags, particularly before and during the velvet growth period. Research has shown that body growth takes precedence over antler growth. This means that a stag that comes out of the winter in poor condition will put more of the energy and protein from the consumed diet into repairing body tissues rather than antler growth, which

is likely to mean that genetic antler growth potential is lost. This highlights the importance of maintaining condition in stags over winter, so that they are in the best position to grow as much antler as genetically possible.

or using a deer nut such as Reliance

Nutrition during the velveting period is also very important and the balance of the diet needs to be correct in order to support velvet growth. A diet too low in energy, protein or vitamins and minerals can have an impact on velvet yield and quality. This isn’t surprising, as deer velvet itself is high in nutrients at about 34 percent protein and 34 percent ash1,2.

the deer industry in New Zealand and

It is therefore worth minimising the risk of a limiting factor in a system causing a reduction in velvet yield by feeding a diet to stags that is balanced and using supplements can help. Whether strategically using a forage replacer such as palm kernel or silage to manage pasture supply,

Deer Elite to supplement stags with vitamins, minerals and high quality protein, Farmlands has a wide range of solutions available. Farmlands Nutrition is proud to support is proud to be a Gold sponsor of the Top of the South Velvet and Hard Antler competition, run by the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association. The 2016 Top of the South Velvet and Hard Antler competition will be held at the Darfield RFC on Tuesday 6th December. There will be informative velvet processing and nutrition seminars from 4.00pm and competition velvet viewing from 5.30pm, followed by the awards presentation and dinner. Winners from all velvet classes in the Top of the South competition will win the right to free entry into the National Velvet Competition, which will be held on Tuesday 13th December. The competition calendar, including dates, times and entry forms is available at www.deernz.org. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Assistant Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition. 1. Batchelder, H. J. (2003). Velvet Antler: A literature review. 2. Laboratory determined ash level is a reflection of the mineralisation of the product.

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NUTRITION

Fibre in the ruminant diet Fibre in the ruminant diet Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for rumen microorganisms and consequently are also indirectly the main source of energy for the host ruminant animal. Rumen microorganisms utilise carbohydrates as an energy source for themselves and produce volatile fatty acids as a by-product, which are then absorbed by the ruminant animal as a form of energy. Fibre is one of the three types of carbohydrates – along with sugar and starch. Fibre is classed as a ‘structural’ carbohydrate and is fermented in the rumen by microorganisms more slowly than sugar or starch. Fibre is found in abundance in forages in the form of hemicellulose and cellulose as a component of plant cell walls – and exists to give plants rigidity and structure. Not all fibre is created equal and some fibre fractions are more slowly fermentable in the rumen than others, with hemicellulose being the more rapidly fermentable fibre fraction compared to cellulose. Lignin is often referred to as a fibre fraction of plant matter but technically it is not a carbohydrate and it is indigestible even to ruminant animals. Lignin content increases significantly as plants mature, which is why more mature forage has a lower energy value. Crude fibre is one way to measure the fibre content of a feed,

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however there is a much better way to measure it – by looking at the different fractions of the fibre – i.e. the ‘Neutral Detergent Fibre’ and the ‘Acid Detergent Fibre’, which can give you a much better idea of how a feed will behave in the rumen when consumed.

is longer than approximately 2-4cm for

Feeding adequate amounts of fibre in a ruminant diet is important for meeting nutritional requirements as well as maintaining overall rumen health. Adequate ‘physically effective’ fibre in the diet is important for stimulating the act of rumination (chewing the cud). Rumination promotes the flow of saliva, which contains bicarbonate. Bicarbonate helps to buffer the rumen and lift the pH. When there is not enough physically effective fibre in the diet, the need to chew the feed to break down the particle size decreases as does the amount of saliva flowing into the rumen. This reduces the buffering capacity of the rumen and can cause a drop in pH and subclinical/clinical acidosis.

could be insufficient physically effective

Some feeds may be high in total fibre but low in physically effective fibre due to the processing of the feed. Palm kernel expeller is a good example of this – it is high in fibre but has been ground up to a fine particle size, so it does not stimulate rumination. As a rough rule of thumb, fibre can be deemed physically effective if the chop length

its digestion, as it takes longer for the

cattle. One quick way to check fibre levels in the diet is by assessing the number of cows actively ruminating in a herd. If less than 50 percent of cows are chewing their cud at any time (if not drinking, sleeping or grazing) then there fibre in the ration. Fibre is an essential dietary component for ruminants, however balance is important. Too much fibre can be a problem for high producing animals as fibre is lower in energy than the other carbohydrates (starch and sugar), particularly if the lignin content is high. This highlights the need for good pasture management to ensure that pasture is not too mature when consumed, as if it is, every bite of pasture a cow takes will be lower in energy. Mature forages when consumed in large quantities can limit dry matter intake due to the increased rumen retention time associated with rumen microorganisms to process it. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Assistant Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.

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NUTRITION

Reaching targets I believe the target should be to do it so well that it becomes an art. Most people put a strong mantra on low cost calf rearing systems. They then follow a 10 week weaning mark and automatically cut the calf off milk and onto grass, because this is what targets inform us or what we choose to hear. This is backwards thinking when the outcome should be ensuring that calves get the best start in life. Increasing your weaners’ growth through better and longer nutrition is what we need to be achieving, as cheap rearing is not the best solution by any standards. Well grown heifers/ beefies are more profitable than poorly grown heifers, so why cut costs now? The next 4-9 months of this calf’s life is still so important. Treating the calf as an individual is what I can’t emphasise more. We all get caught up in targets that have been set but set to a New Zealand average, instead of looking at each individual’s “genetic mature weight”. All genetics in

the calf will determine what that target should be. Spending time in yards weighing, monitoring and weaning from the 4 month mark should be taking in the frame/breed size (genetics) – then look at the standard of rearing that has happened and don’t assume that all calves reached the same weaning weights at the same time. Be prepared to pay extra on feeding those not at weight. It actually doesn’t matter what breed of calf it is, they aren’t all the same by any means, so why wean because we are told the average guide? Because of this wide variation we choose to wean our heifers as an individual, not by age, averages or cost. The better the growth rates in say, replacement heifers, achieves puberty earlier and increases the in-calf rate then increases the return in-calf rate in the right time frames. When low cost rules the decisions of targets and growth then this in turn bites you in the butt with other issues like health and returning in-calf rates for the next 2-3 years.

Well-fed and cared for animals have less health issues and less veterinary input will be needed. When animals aren’t fed properly then outbreaks for disease becomes common, I like to call illnesses in weaned animals the “empty gut disease”. The more frequently heifers go through the weighing platform the quicker problems will be detected, thus proactive action can take place to pull them back onto target quickly. Implement a health plan with your vet’s help, so that each weigh coincides with your health plan of monthly drenching, minerals needed and vaccines that help to keep your heifers or beefies humming over the months ahead. Missing a drench or weigh on time can have your costly young stock slip backwards and make reaching targets for some animals detrimental. This future herd are heading towards being grown out enough to calve and re-breed successfully and will keep the bank manager smiling too. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Karen Fraser, Young Stock Manager.

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NUTRITION

Feeding for optimum performance The significant nutritional requirements of a hard working horse mean that designing a balanced diet that provides these in the correct amounts is vital. From the all-important energy required to perform, to essential amino acids, trace minerals and key vitamins, simple changes to the diet can mean the difference between a winning and a mediocre performance.

fast paced work – racing, polo, eventing and show jumping, for example – will most likely require some amount of grain in their diet. The starch contained in grain is released rapidly into the bloodstream as glucose and fuels anaerobic work and fast paced muscle contractions. Horses performing slower paced work that is aerobic in nature – for example, endurance and dressage – require higher levels of structural

Energy for performance and weight maintenance during increasing work is arguably one of the most important factors of the diet and the energy sources selected can influence exercise type and recovery. Most working horse diets will require a blend of structural and non-structural carbohydrates for energy as well as some amount of fat, however the levels of each of these provided should depend on the work type being asked of the horse. While structural carbohydrates such as forages should be the largest part of all equine diets, horses performing

carbohydrates such as forage and slow release forms of energy such as fat and less energy from grains. While protein is not as crucial to the mature performance horse as it is for breeding and growth, providing the correct level and ratio of amino acids is highly important for muscle development and maintenance. A performance horse receiving a diet that is deficient in protein or uses poor quality sources will over time begin to show signs of muscle wastage and lack of top-line.

Each trace mineral and vitamin plays a different role in the horse’s body and contributes to overall health and performance in various ways. Achieving optimum health by meeting all nutrient requirements improves overall vitality, therefore increasing the chance of improved performance while also reducing time needed for recovery. Key nutrients for performance horses include chromium, antioxidants selenium and vitamin E, as well as electrolytes sodium, chloride and potassium. Hard working horses are often candidates for digestive problems such as gastric ulcers and hindgut acidosis, which can occur for various reasons including management practices and stress and can cause significant discomfort and therefore impact on performance. Ensuring at least 1.5 percent of the horse’s body weight in high quality forage is consumed daily at a consistent rate, keeping grain meals to less than 2.5kg and only feeding digestible energy sources such as steam flaked grains and high quality fat sources, are essential management practices to avoid these conditions and ensure the equine athlete is able to perform to the best of their ability. For assistance with feeding plans to enhance overall health and performance, consult with an experienced equine nutrition advisor. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Luisa Wood, Equine Nutrition Technical Advisor, Farmlands Nutrition.

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NUTRITION

Equidays partnering with top equine feed brands This year’s Equidays at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton was a celebration of the new partnership between Equidays and top New Zealand equine feed brands, NRM and McMillan. The 3 year partnership was announced in the lead up to Equidays in October. Established in 2010, Equidays has become New Zealand’s premier equine event and is now in its sixth year. Equidays CEO, Peter Nation, says that the 3 year partnership is good news for New Zealand equine enthusiasts. “Equidays is honoured to join forces with NRM and McMillan, two such credible and dependable brands. Their support will enhance Equidays and it is an exciting and positive step for the event’s future.”

“For NRM and McMillan, forging a

taken the right steps and gives us

relationship with Equidays was a

confidence to further build on the

fantastic opportunity. Equidays is not

solid foundations of the event going

only an event, it is a showcase that gives horse and pony enthusiasts

forward. This partnership means that we can continue to invest in exciting

NRM and McMillan are iconic, New Zealand owned equine brands, with feed products manufactured solely in New Zealand.

access to innovation and education

Hardie, says that they have listened to

Equidays ambassadors, the Wilson

Phillip Bracefield from NRM and McMillan says both brands are proud to associate with Equidays over its next 3 years of development, innovation and change.

feedback from exhibitors and visitors

Sisters and NRM ambassador, Vanessa

to shape Equidays into the world-class

Way, are proudly supporting the new

equine event it is today.

partnership. The Wilson Sisters are well

“Our partnership with NRM and

known internationally for their work with

from around the world.” Equidays Event Manager, Ammie

McMillan reinforces that we have

developments in the near future, so watch this space.”

wild horses, including New Zealand kaimanawas. Vanessa Way is well known as a top New Zealand dressage rider and trainer. Since its inception, Equidays has grown into a world-class event – there were 211 exhibitors this year, up from 109 in the first year and more than 22,000 visitors attended this year’s event. For further information about Equidays, visit www.equidays.co.nz.

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HORTICULTURE

Codling moth control in apples Controlling codling moth in apples for export can be tricky – with some markets requiring residue-free fruit, some have zero tolerance for live codling moth, while some Asian markets require both.

codling moth Biofix date, which is usually at the end of October or start of November. This is used in combination with mating disruption pheromone ties,” Carl explains.

“

Last season was particularly challenging for codling moth control, with poor control outcomes on a number of orchards for reasons that have yet to be confirmed. Carl Fairey runs the family-owned Waimea Orchard in Napier, growing 70 hectares of apples including Envy, Jazz, Fuji Supreme, Galaxy, Pink Lady and the Pacific series, plus a small area of pears and plums. Carl says he had no issues with codling moth last season, thanks partly to the use of the combination insecticide Voliam Targo in his programme. “I like to apply Voliam Targo at the

end of December without any residue issues at harvest. And that’s very important. We have had no issues with fruit finish, even on russet sensitive Pacific Rose series and it mixes very

To earn top dollar for our fruit we need the flexibility to access all market destinations with pest free fruit.

“We do have some codling moth hotspots in the orchard, so having a very high level of control is important for us to achieve market access. To earn top dollar for our fruit we need the flexibility to access all market destinations with pest free fruit and Voliam Targo has certainly helped us to achieve this.” Carl says they haven’t seen any codling moth damage since using Voliam Targo and will probably use a second application this year. “I like that the product has built-in antiresistance with two active ingredients and I know I can apply two

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applications of Voliam Targo before the

well with other sprays in the tank.” Voliam Targo contains a mixture of abamectin and chlorantraniliprole in an easy-to-use suspension concentrate liquid formulation. Additional adjuvants are not required when using the product, as the formulation already has built-in surfactants. It can be applied twice per season and has a more favourable residue profile than some other options used for codling moth control, allowing later spray timing for certain export markets (refer to New Zealand pipfruit website for PHI/MRL data). Voliam Targo offers an alternative mode of action to moult accelerating compound (MAC) insecticides for resistance management and is also compatible with IPM programmes. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Syngenta.

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HORTICULTURE

Botrytis and powdery mildew – major challenges If not managed and adequately controlled, botrytis and powdery mildew can have devastating effects on grape crops and severely impact grower profitability.

development, from veraison through to

Under favourable conditions, botrytis develops in grape bunches causing rots that dramatically effect quality and yields. Apart from being unsightly, powdery mildew can cause significant economic losses. Bunch infections reduce yields through retarding berry growth, delaying maturity and causing splitting. Winemakers detest powdery mildew infected grapes, as they cause off-flavours in wine. Bunches with even minor infections (less than 5 percent) may be rejected or result in a severe financial penalty.

The late flowering or 80 percent capfall

Cultural techniques including canopy management, leaf plucking and flag shoot removal are useful practices to assist in controlling botrytis and powdery mildew. However, the use of fungicides in seasonal programmes is required to economically control these diseases. The key botrytis control timings are from late flowering through to bunch closure and then if weather conditions are favourable for disease

harvest. For powdery mildew control, it is critical to maintain early season control and continue this through to pre-bunch closure. growth stage is a critical period to control both botrytis and powdery mildew. The capfall scars are an ideal site for botrytis infection and any botrytis infections that occur at this stage will then remain dormant in the developing berries. Once these berries

after 1 hour. It forms a stable layer,

start maturing from veraison onwards,

providing long lasting protection

these infections develop from within

of the capfall scars and preventing

the bunch, making them very difficult

botrytis infections. Teldor is also an

to control. 80 percent capfall is equally

ideal fit in industry botrytis resistance

critical for powdery mildew control

management strategies as it has

as the young developing berries are

a different mode of action to other

very susceptible to infection for the

commonly used botryticides.

first 3 weeks after flowering. For the

Luna Sensation has properties that

best control of these two diseases it

make it the perfect candidate for

is important that robust and effective

using at 80 percent capfall in powdery

fungicides are used at the 80 percent

mildew spray programmes. These

capfall period.

include systemic, translaminar, vapour

Two fungicides from Bayer Crop

and protectant activities that give

Science, Teldor® and Luna®

Luna Sensation long lasting and very

Sensation, are excellent control options

effective control. Do not apply Luna

for botrytis and powdery mildew. They

Sensation after 80 percent capfall.

can be tank mixed together at the

Although the label allows two Luna

80 percent capfall timing to provide premium protection against these diseases at this crucial control timing. When used at 80 percent capfall, Teldor and Luna Sensation are suitable for use in nil-detectable residue programmes. Teldor is a specialist botrytis fungicide that provides long lasting

Sensation applications per season, Bayer’s recommendation for best industry resistance practice is to only use Luna Sensation once per season. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

protective activity. Once applied, Teldor binds onto the waxy surfaces on plant surfaces and is rainfast

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Article supplied by Chris Miln, Bayer Crop Science. ®Teldor and Luna are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Insect pest control in forage crops Insect pest damage can reduce forage brassica yields by more than 3,000kg per hectare of dry matter, costing growers more than $500.00 per hectare in lost feed. Pest pressure can vary significantly from year to year, either because of cultural and environmental factors in the preceding season, or weather patterns in the current season. To maximise yields, it is important to monitor forage crops weekly and apply insecticides early before significant crop damage occurs. Nysius, leaf miner, cutworm and springtails are usually more of a problem in the spring, causing damage to young seedlings and impacting crop establishment. Aphids and the caterpillars of diamondback moth and white butterfly tend to occur later in the season as temperatures rise. Until recently, organophosphate insecticides were the main tool in the arsenal for controlling insect pests in forage brassicas. But now growers have access to more modern insecticides that are more pleasant to apply and kinder to the environment, such as Ampligo from Syngenta.

| David Kean.

handle. It was also recommended to

use in forage brassicas for the control

us by a number of people and we have

of white butterfly, diamondback moth,

seen the use of it grow threefold each

soybean looper, aphids, leaf miner,

season,” David explains.

nysius and cutworm.

“What we like most about Ampligo is

For resistance management, a

the low use rate, its low odour and the

maximum of three applications of

ability to mix it with the herbicides we use. It also controls a wide range of insect pests with good crop safety and it has a 14 day withholding period for grazing, which is handy. “We have found it to be very good on a wide range of pests, especially

David Kean, owner of spray contracting business Farmers Dipping in central Southland, runs nine spray units and a recently purchased self-propelled sprayer. David started using Ampligo about 3 years ago and has had great results with the product.

diamondback moth, cutworm and

“We started to use Ampligo for a number of reasons but the main reasons were the safety of the product and the low use rate, making it easy to

containing lambda-cyhalothrin plus

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Ampligo can be made per season. It should be applied when insects or damage first appear, then at 2 to 3 week intervals or as indicated by pest activity. Ampligo comes in 1L and 5L containers, enough to treat 10 and 50 hectares respectively.

nysius. I have never had any reports of

Receive a free pair of Merino socks

it doing a poor job. It’s an easy product

when you purchase Ampligo from

to use and my staff are happy to apply

Farmlands this season. While

it. It’s a big step forward compared to

socks last.

old organophosphate insecticides.” Ampligo is a combination insecticide chlorantraniliprole, in an easy to use liquid formulation. It has a low use rate of just 100ml/ha and is approved for

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Syngenta.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

New nozzles improve coverage and reduce spray drift Nozzle technology used to spray

sizes which, depending on pressure,

weeds and help cover both the front

cereal crops has moved on from

can include fine droplets.

and back sides of soil clods. The

standard flat fan nozzles, with the

Syngenta has developed two nozzles

Amistar Air Induction (AI) nozzle is

development of nozzles specifically

for use in cereals at different growth

angled at 10 degrees and fitted to

designed to improve spray

stages, designed to improve coverage

the spray boom facing backwards to

coverage at lower water rates and

and reduce spray drift. The Defy 3D

compensate for the forward speed of

reduce spray drift.

nozzle is designed for pre-emergence

the sprayer.

With modern sprayers now travelling

and early post-emergence, while the

Both nozzles can reduce spray drift

at speeds over 10kpm, vertical flat

Amistar AI nozzle is recommended

by up to 75 percent compared to a

fan nozzles are no longer suitable,

from stem extension onwards.

because they tend to cover only one

The Defy 3D nozzle is angled at 38

they improve spray coverage, water

side of the spray target due to the

degrees and fitted to the spray boom

rates can be reduced in most cases

forward momentum. Standard flat fan

with the spray angle alternating

from 200 to 100 litres of water per

nozzles also tend to be drifty, because

forwards and backwards. This can

they produce a range of spray droplet

double the coverage on small grass

standard flat fan nozzle. And because

hectare, without compromising product efficacy. Growers can purchase Defy 3D and Amistar AI nozzles from Farmlands. They can also claim free nozzles by purchasing Syngenta products such as Twinax, Seguris Flexi and Amistar. For further information on how to claim free nozzles, visit www.syngenta.co.nz or contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Syngenta.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Farmlands demonstration proves switching to new fungicides pays At this time of year, your cereal crops have started capturing the sunlight they will turn into yield and it is critical they are fully protected from disease infection.

Xpro and Prosaro® in comparison to

longer. In our 2015 Canterbury trials,

a fungicide programme incorporating

disease levels were low in both wheat

Opus® and Amistar®. In total nine

and barley and yet using a robust Bayer

wheat cultivars were tested, chosen

fungicide programme returned a profit

for their varying natural resistance to

of between $40.00-$200.00/hectare.”

the key wheat diseases septoria leaf

Applying a robust fungicide now pays

blotch, stripe rust and leaf rust.

dividends. It doesn’t matter whether

So how should crops be treated as we move into this critical time?

the crop is winter wheat, winter barley

“Averaged across all varieties we saw a

(the flag leaf on newer winter barleys is

yield increase of 1.54 tonnes/hectare,

now much larger) or spring barley (the

worth an additional $266.00/hectare*, even when the increased cost of the

Farmlands trials and demonstrations

open canopy means the lower leaves

Bayer programme was accounted

have clearly established that Aviator

for,” Phil says. “All cultivars, with the

Xpro should always be applied at

exception of Oakley, showed a positive

flag leaf emergence. “This promotes

increase to the Bayer programme.”

and maintains greening and in barley

this was the case again in 2015, even

Dave says that what was also very

it ensures ramularia leaf spot is

though in many paddocks disease

interesting was that throughout the

controlled. For wheat crops a second

levels were low.

spring, disease levels were very low

application should be made at GS60,

for many cultivars. “This is something

either a second Aviator Xpro application

we often see in South Canterbury

or an application of Prosaro plus a

and while we know it pays to use

strobilurin fungicide. For spring barley

robust fungicides, it would be great to

crops, Delaro® applied at GS 31-32

and stem are very important for yield production) your crops are now entering their main yield producing phase and need to be kept free of disease. And

Working in conjunction with Bayer Crop Science, Phil Johnston and Farmlands Grain and Seed Agronomist Dave Schrader instigated a paddock scale demonstration designed to

understand why.”

Bayer Regional Sales Manager, David Parker, says that Bayer and

is an ideal solution providing excellent

evaluate the benefits of Bayer’s

Bayer has also been trying to

scald and net blotch control.”

innovative new fungicides Aviator®

understand what is happening and

Until 30th November 2016, purchase

they believe part of

Bayer arable fungicides and you qualify

the answer lies in the

for triple Choices Rewards Points**.

“greenness” of the crop. Bayer Product

For further information, contact your

Development Manager,

Farmlands Technical Field Officer

Roy Stieller, says they

or the friendly team at your local

have been measuring

Farmlands store.

the “greenness” of their

Article supplied by Bayer.

trials for a number of

*Calculated using a wheat price of $250.00/tonne.

years. “And we are seeing

**Standard Choices Rewards Programme Terms and Conditions apply, visit www.farmlands.co.nz/choices to find out more. Triple Choices Rewards Points equates to 30 Choices Rewards Points for every $150 (incl. GST) you spend on Aviator Xpro, Delaro, Proline and Prosaro. Valid 1st September – 30th November 2016.

how effective our new fungicides are at keeping the crop greener, for

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

The importance of crop nutrition Growing crops is not just a case of sowing seed, it requires a full understanding of the many factors involved in what is a very complex process – the most important of these factors is nutrition. Even a small deficiency, especially of a micronutrient, can lead to serious metabolic disorders and consequently reductions in yield and/or quality. It is therefore vital that the balance between all nutrients is maintained. There are many reasons why foliar fertilisers are an effective solution for crop nutrition. These include – slow mineralisation of elements applied as solid fertiliser, mineral imbalances, soil

| Boron deficiency in fodder beet causing brown heart.

type, soil pH, soil compaction, plant

growers in New Zealand for more

also optimises plant uptake, tank mix

stress, leaching and excess crop load.

than 25 years, the past 5 of those via

compatibility and crop safety. Zelam is

It is best to apply foliar fertilisers

New Zealand based crop protection

pleased to be partnering with Headland

using a preventative approach, prior

company, Zelam. Headland’s parent

as the New Zealand importer and

to a deficiency occurring. If a nutrient

company is the global agribusiness

distributor for this range, so that they

deficiency is visible in a crop, you have

company FMC. As FMC and Zelam

can deliver customers the benefit of

already suffered a yield penalty and

are involved in both crop protection

production has been compromised.

Headland’s technical expertise and

products and foliar nutrition, the

In saying this, correction for an

Headland range has been designed

existing deficiency is still a good idea.

with compatibility and maximum plant

Applications are best made in the early

benefit in mind. Whether it is a single

For further information, contact your

morning of a fine day, while there is

element product or a combination foliar

Farmlands Technical Field Officer

moisture in the plant.

fertiliser that is required for your fodder

or the friendly team at your local

Applying nutrients via the leaf can

beet, forage brassica, cereal or pasture,

Farmlands store.

alleviate the problem of element

Headland has an effective foliar solution

antagonism in the soil, e.g. boron

to match your requirements.

uptake from the soil is antagonised by

Quality is very important in the

high soil calcium levels.

production of Headland foliar fertilisers.

UK based company, Headland, has

High quality, soluble, raw materials

been developing and formulating foliar

are formulated together with an

nutrient products for more than 30

adjuvant package into an easy to

years. Headland products have been

use liquid product. This allows for

available and used by commercial

better measuring and handling and

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in-field experience to support these products in the market.

Article supplied by Zelam.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Stop insects eating a hole in crop returns Bumper dry matter yields are the secret to financial success with any crop and if you want to grow the most dry matter of fodder beet, forage brassica or maize for the least cost per kg this season, you need to start thinking about pest control.

be able to use a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide on their fodder beet crops with confidence. That’s thanks to a new label claim for control of greasy cutworm in fodder beet for Kaiso® 50WG. No other synthetic pyrethroid insecticide is currently registered for use in fodder

Greasy cutworm, aphids, springtails, caterpillars of diamondback moth and white butterfly, leaf miner, nysius and Argentine stem weevil can cause irreparable yield damage to crops in a very short time, so vigilance is your first line of defence. Check young crop seedlings carefully for signs of insect pests every 1 or 2 days in the first few weeks after emergence. It doesn’t take long and it could save you a nasty surprise later on. This spring, there’s an important new option available to stop insects eating a hole in your crop returns. For the first time, farmers and growers will

beet, making this a significant addition to the pest control arsenal. Cutworm is a known problem in beet and can be very damaging early in the life of the crop because beet has fewer plants/ha and takes so much

Complementing Kaiso 50WG in the

longer to establish than other fodder

Nufarm pest control range for fodder

species like brassicas.

beet and brassicas crops this season

The risk posed by cutworm is not

is Attack®. In fodder beet, this leading

limited to fodder beet however – it

insecticide is registered for use against

can also completely defoliate forage

springtails, leaf miner, nysius, aphids

brassica seedlings and can wipe

and Argentine stem weevil.

out large areas of brassica crops if

In forage brassicas, Attack is

populations are large. Kaiso 50WG is

registered for all of the above, plus

also registered for cutworm control in

white butterfly and diamondback

forage brassicas.

moth caterpillars. For those seeking to control insect pests in newly established maize crops, Sherriff® 100 acts not only against greasy cutworm but also armyworm and corn earworm. This pyrethroid insecticide combines rapid pest knockdown with good residual activity on maize foliage and in the soil. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Nufarm. ® Kaiso and Sheriff are registered trademarks of Nufarm Limited. Attack is a registered trademark of Nufarm Technologies USA Limited.

| Wild oats.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Working to bring shareholders better beet Key to being the best rural service provider is having staff that are fully informed and can help our shareholders to make the right decisions. At Farmlands, we know that a successful fodder beet crop is grown by following best practice and not cutting any corners. To ensure our staff in the field are up to date with the latest technical advancements, Farmlands Agronomists ran a series of accreditation courses across the country. The workshops were a collaborative effort between the Farmlands Learning and Development, Grain and Seed, Sales and Retail teams, to ensure all staff that come into contact with a shareholder’s fodder beet crop have a thorough knowledge regarding best practice. One of those that hosted the fodder beet accreditation workshops was Farmlands Agronomist, Sam Lucas. Sam says that “growing fodder beet is an increasingly popular forage crop with very high yield potential when

managed appropriately, compared to traditional forage options”.

Feedback from Technical Field Officers

To ensure success when growing fodder beet, a comprehensive understanding of all of the facets involved is required. These range from the soil conditions and paddock fertility at sowing, through to the timing of chemical applications relative to weed size in the crop.

appreciated being able to collaborate in

The workshops were developed to create a forum to inform and remind relevant staff of best practice for successful fodder beet crops prior to the spring sowing season.

to pass to a high standard, to ensure

The nationwide forum that allowed Technical Field Officers to discuss and recap on their experiences with the Agronomists has been invaluable and a timely reminder of the wealth of technical knowledge, agronomic expertise and resources available internally within Farmlands.

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has been very positive and they a team environment on all the different aspects of establishing and managing this crop. To achieve consistency in approach across the country, the course finished with an exam that they were required that they all have a sound knowledge to utilise when growing this important fodder crop. Shareholders can be assured that Farmlands is actively striving to be recognised as the leading industry supplier of forage and arable agronomic expertise and technical information and support, through providing an ongoing, comprehensive training and learning † Terms and conditions apply. See dowagrosciences.co.nz for details.

environment for its field staff.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Hill country woody weed control made easy While controlling woody weeds is difficult, it is not impossible. Their persistant nature means that total control is not often achievable with a single herbicide application. With a well considered weed control programme producers can ensure long-term and cost effective woody weed control. Combining the use of herbicide and other weed control options such as slashing, cultivation, burning and improving pasture, a well considered plan can help producers gain long-term control over their woody weed problems while obtaining the maximum benefit from the money invested in herbicide. Herbicides applied at the right time, using the right rate and technique, are often the most economical, effective and practical method for long-term woody weed control. Before treating ensure that woody weeds are actively growing and not showing any signs of stress. As with most pests, prevention is better than cure. Treat the edges

of large areas to prevent weeds from spreading. Clean up small scattered areas first and improve your fencing so that your livestock can graze on treated areas. Woody weeds are vigorous and hardy. Their persistent nature means it is essential to use a programmed approach over three or more seasons to control them. The Dow AgroSciences 3 Cycle plan allows you to attack woody weeds in three cycles: Treat, Follow-up and Check. Cycle 1 – Treat. The aim is to reduce the weed infestation to more manageable levels. It is critical that you allow funds for a follow-up treatment in the next cycle or you may find regrowth will return and if not treated your initial work could be wasted. Make sure spraying conditions are right for treatment. Cycle 2 – This is vital. The aim is to follow-up what was treated in the previous cycle. After your initial knockdown of large infestations, areas that you could not reach need follow-up. Cycle 3 – Continue to check over time to ensure no seedlings get away. Ensure that pasture forms an effective competitor for regrowth or seedlings. Marlborough Contractor Ben Minehan knows just how hard it can be to control the myriad of different woody weeds that dominate the region. “The problem weeds we have on our hill country are

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broom, gorse, blackberry, hawthorn and common barberry. These brushweeds take over marginal hill country and if left uncontrolled, they form dense thickets which become impenetrable to grazing stock. Until now, common barberry could only be controlled using a glyphosate herbicide. Unfortunately, glyphosate is not selective to grass pastures and provides no residual control of emerging weed seedlings resulting in a flush of barberry seedlings and thistles, which colonise the bare ground.” Ben along with several other local spraying contractors have been trialling a new herbicide called Apache™ with outstanding results. “Apache has proved to be an excellent choice for brushweed control as it provides a wide weed control spectrum, doesn’t damage native pasture and provides good residual control, killing weed seedlings as they emerge,” Ben says. “Now all of our major pastoral brushweeds can be controlled using the one selective, residual product.” Dow AgroSciences is pleased to be able to bring a powerful new option to the New Zealand market. Apache is an effective, highly efficient tool to help farmers maintain and enhance the productivity of their land. Apache contains the powerful active ingredient ‘Aminopyralid’ and sets a new standard for brushweed control. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Dow AgroSciences.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Weed control doesn’t need to be hard this spring Make weed control easier this

and handy, weeds can be taken care of

spot spraying. Tordon 2G Gold is grass

spring – simply spot treat your

quickly and easily with no fuss. A small

friendly, allowing your pasture back into

weeds when you see them with a

handful of Tordon 2G Gold granules

full production sooner.

product containing both picloram and aminopyralid, two powerful

(1 teaspoon) is all that is needed in most cases to control problem weeds.

For further information, contact your

After application the granules dissolve,

Farmlands Technical Field Officer

releasing the chemical into the soil

or the friendly team at your local

Tordon™ 2G Gold is a new and

where it is readily absorbed by the

Farmlands store.

improved product that kills weeds

roots, killing hard to kill perennial weeds

Article supplied by Dow AgroSciences.

faster and is a reliable and robust

such as dock and Californian thistle

herbicide for intensive pastoral farmers.

from the ground up.

Tordon 2G Gold offers convenience

Save time and money by treating weeds

and ease of use – by keeping it close

when you see them and forget about

active ingredients that can provide superior weed control.

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT

One easy step to get more out of your milk Reducing costs and improving milk income this season could be as easy as making a simple change to your dairy plant. Even better, you’ll also end up milking more efficiently.

“Liners are hidden inside the cups, so you can’t see what happens to them when they wear out. The first thing you might see instead is a cow kicking the cluster off, damaged teat ends or a surprisingly high BSCC on the milk docket.”

One change in particular has so many benefits it sounds too good to be true, from shortening milk-out time and reducing cup slip to lowering somatic cell counts and increasing milksolids yield. But those who have tried it are well and truly convinced. They say changing milking liners after 2,500 milkings helps save power, labour and animal health costs and can increase yield while minimising the risk of costly grades. Another key benefit of replacing liners at their use-by date is minimising teat end damage as well as better SCC results. At a time when farmers have to capture every possible efficiency in their business, Skellerup National Manager, Perry Davis, says getting rid of worn out liners on schedule is a good investment in farm productivity.

properties are simply following best practice based on average liner changes. New Zealand dairy farmers expect their liners to last for about 4,900 milkings, or nearly twice their effective lifetime.

That’s because a worn, badly fitting liner can leave milk in the udder, slipoff the teat and/or leave noticeable rings at the top of the teat. Permanent teat damage is not only possible, but common. On top of that, any cracks in the rubber are likely to harbour bacteria.

Here’s an example of how to work out how many days until milking liners should be changed for maximum benefit:

A good liner, well-fitted, is just the opposite, Perry says. It will completely milk a cow out quickly and efficiently. It doesn’t slip and it leaves the teats looking very similar in size and colour to how they looked before milking.

2. Divide this number by the number of milking clusters in the milking plant.

1. Multiply the number of cows being milked by the number of milkings per day.

3. Divide 2,500 by the number in Step 2. This is the number of days between optimum liner changes.

On some large herd operations, liners reach 2,500 milkings and are changed as often as every 2 months as part of standard farm protocols to protect milk quality.

For example – for 750 cows, milked twice a day in a 60 bail rotary plant, each cluster is milking 25 cows per day. Divide 2,500 by 25 and the answer is 100 days. This farm should change liners every 100 days (see www.2500change.co.nz for

That may sound excessive but when you look at the statistics, those

the calculator).

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Skellerup.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Quarantine drenching Internal parasite resistance is thought to cost New Zealand sheep, cattle, deer and goat farmers at least $20 million in lost production every year. There are two main contributors to the development of drench resistance on New Zealand farms. The first is due to ineffective drenching and livestock management policies for animals bred on the property. The second contributor is animals that have been brought in from another property. This is especially common on properties where large numbers of stock, particularly lambs and calves, are brought in (often from multiple sources) and the drench history, worm genetics and resistance status of these animals is relatively unknown. Quarantine drenching, as the name suggests, is the practice of drenching brought in animals upon their entrance to the property with a product (e.g. Evolve® Sheep HiMin) that is likely to remove a high proportion of resistant parasites that might be residing in the gastrointestinal tract. Once the animals are drenched, they are held in a ‘quarantine’ area (e.g. yards) to allow the expulsion of these parasites before being moved on to ‘clean’ pasture. The primary reason for this quarantine period after drenching is to allow the adult worms and immature larvae to be killed and pass out in the faeces, which are subsequently deposited in an area where they can’t develop or be consumed by other animals. Having dealt with the adult and immature resistant worms, there will potentially still be the eggs of some resistant worms that will not be killed and will take longer to pass out of the animals’ digestive tract. Therefore, it is

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recommended that recently introduced animals are not grazed on the ‘cleanest’ paddocks of the property immediately. Ideally, they should instead be grazed on the most contaminated or ‘dirty’ paddocks of the farm after the initial 24 hour quarantine period. This will lower the proportion of (dilute) worms surviving treatment with worms already present on the property.

course, the whole quarantine drenching

Ideally, this quarantine paddock should then be grazed with animals with a higher immunity (e.g. adult ewes), a different species (e.g. cattle), closed up and conserved for supplementary feed (hay or baleage) or considered as part of the pasture renewal programme for the property.

product is that parasites which have a

A word of caution – lambs that have either been trucked long distances or held in yards without ready access to water for some time may be dehydrated and therefore more susceptible to levamisole toxicity. Therefore, water must be made available to all stock in the quarantine area and consideration should also be given to providing some feed as well. The choice of drench should be based upon the drench resistance status of the animals being brought in. Of

process is predicated on the fact that this is unlikely to be known. In most instances a triple-acting drench such as Evolve Sheep HiMin or Evolve Tape, which contains members of the macrocyclic lactone, benzimidazole and levamisole families will be appropriate. The advantage of using a triple-acting resistance to one or two of the actives will still be susceptible to at least one of the other actives, thus minimising the amount of worms surviving treatment. Therefore, for finishing, grazing or growing lambs, Evolve Sheep HiMin and Evolve Tape can be relied on to reduce the worm burden on your property without compromising your drench resistance status. Where the drench resistance status is known, a double-acting drench like Saturn® can also be used. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Donaghys Animal Health.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Tracking through weighing with EID a no-brainer For Omarama Station stock manager, John Mathias and farm owner, Richard Subtil, EID tagging their cattle before it became mandatory and then voluntarily investing in EID tags for their 18,000 Merino sheep made financial and future proofing sense. EID allows them to capture the weight (and other data) of individual animals to accurately identify their most productive animals. “EID gives you the opportunity to look at individual animals quickly and to analyse hard data,” John says. For the cattle – 300 plus 200-400 yearlings annually – a key Japanese supplier saw value in the traceability of individual animals. “We really put EID tags in to keep them happy and received a premium for our troubles, which we still get now it’s mandatory. We also saw value in using EID to track individual growth and fattening stock rates.” With the cattle, they use a Tru-Test XRP Panel Reader and XR3000 Weigh Scale to read the tags and capture the weights. The combination allows them to quickly and safely capture the tag

and weight data without slowing down to the cattle through the race. “For our sheep, we saw enormous added value to our breeding programme. Managing 7,500 breeding ewes annually, we also felt like we were weighing a lot but not getting the maximum value from it,” John says.

“

We know all the key data for each animal, we’re handling them less – good for us and them.

They had a three-way Prattley Drafter and a Tru-Test ID3000 Weigh Scale for the sheep. Their Tru-Test Rep recommended a five-way Prattley Drafter to better manage weight groups to move their high and low ends off to the works quicker. Even though EID capable, they upgraded to the XR5000 Weigh Scale model as its increased storage meant they didn’t have the headache of taking records on and off the weigh scale. “Some people ask why invest in EID tags for sheep when it’s not compulsory – but for us that extra cost for an EID tag levels out, as instead of up to three tags, we only need one,” John says. “But the real clincher – weighing and tracking the sheep through EID will see us add around

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$100k annually to our bottom line once we hit our target flock ratio. That’s great bang for buck on a $20k investment.” Their target is to have a flock comprising 90 percent of a Merino breed they call Royals. The Royal is a dual purpose meat and wool sheep that offers a more productive ewe for the conditions. Putting in EID tags has enabled them to class each animal and group them for selective breeding and lambing. They now have two thirds more Royal first lambing two-tooths as a result and are aiming for a herd comprising 90 percent Royals. “It’s just a really good management tool,” John says. “We know all the key data for each animal, we’re handling them less – good for us and them – and it takes no more time, in fact, I think it’s taking a bit less. Having the data to preferentially feed at key times such as lambing, is also important in our drought prone area.” Neither John nor Richard consider themselves to be tech savvy, so the system choice needed to be simple. John advises other farmers not to be afraid of the technology. “I wish I’d discovered this sooner. But choose a system that’s gives you what you need, is simple to use and is well supported. You need to know you can pick up the phone and there will be understanding and a fast response at the end of it. TruTest does this for us,” John says. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Tru-Test.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Combatting clostridial disease Pulpy kidney and tetanus are the two most important clostridial diseases of lambs. The period from birth until weaning encompasses the biggest risk period for both of these diseases.

because animals in a mob share the

Pulpy kidney most often occurs in

wounds – docking/tailing wounds

well-grown lambs 3-10 weeks old but

put lambs at high risk, particularly if

can be seen at any age. The causal

rubber rings are used. Deaths due to

bacterium of pulpy kidney (Clostridium

tetanus are generally seen within 6

perfringens Type D) is considered a

weeks of docking.

normal gut inhabitant. Disease occurs

The clostridial diseases are notoriously

after explosive multiplication of bacteria

deadly. Young stock are at most risk,

in response to a dietary factor. Sudden

as the immune system is ‘naive’ or

diet changes or high intakes of nutrient-

developing. Vaccination is the only

rich feed (such as excess milk intake

viable method of controlling clostridial

by lambs, feeding crops, grain or lush,

diseases. Most farmers use pre-lamb

high energy pasture) are common

vaccination of the ewe to provide

triggers. Brain damage and death occur

protection for lambs from birth until

rapidly, so that ‘symptoms’ or clinical

around the time of weaning. The

signs are rarely seen – it is much more

level and length of lamb protection

common to find dead animals and it’s

is variable and depends on many

often the best lambs.

factors including timing of pre-lamb

In New Zealand farming situations,

vaccination, health of the ewe, amount

periods of high risk for pulpy kidney

of colostrum suckled and the vaccine

occur whenever lambs are on good

used, so death from clostridial diseases

feed from before weaning. Although

prior to weaning can and does occur.

clostridial diseases are not contagious