Plan 365 October 2016 by Farmlands

OCTOBER 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.

HORTICULTURE

Weed control to maximise orchard and vine establishment When establishing your valuable orchard or vineyard, it is important to remove weed competition during establishment to allow for maximum development of tree and vine structure. Not only are weeds unsightly but they compete for nutrients and water. While cultural methods such as mulches and cultivation are useful, herbicides are usually required to control problematic weeds. It is important the herbicide used is effective while not being harmful to vulnerable young vines and trees.

| White clover.

Buster® is a well proven and reliable herbicide option for use in these situations. Buster is a non-selective and non-residual herbicide that is effective on most annual grass and broadleaf weeds. Buster has very limited systemic movement and only kills what it hits. This provides Buster with a high level of crop safety as a small amount of drift onto a young crop plant will only affect the plant area directly contacted. It is important that non-lignified plant trunks are shielded from contact from Buster. Buster is also effective against some problematic orchard weeds like clover, tall willow herb and mallows. The key to getting the best performance from using Buster is achieving good coverage of target weeds, using the correct rate and applying the product in favorable growing conditions.

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| Mallow.

| Willow herb.

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Bayer. Buster ® is a registered trademark of Bayer.

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HORTICULTURE

Application rates for Psa-V control New trial data supports up to three applications of Actigard in the spring for Psa-V control, starting from when sufficient leaves reach 25mm leaf diameter. Syngenta contracted four independent replicated trials in spring 2015 (two on Hayward and two on Gold3), to evaluate if there was a relationship between Actigard timing and the number of foliar applications on vine vigour, flowering, yield and fruit quality. The results showed it was safe to apply Actigard to actively growing kiwifruit vines three times at 21 day intervals, between 25mm leaf diameter and prior to flowering. This is good news for growers, as Actigard is an important tool to have in the toolbox for Psa-V control, particularly with tighter restrictions on the use of bactericides this season. Actigard is systemic and works from within the plant, by stimulating the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural self-defence mechanism via a process known as Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR). Once inside the leaf, Actigard cannot be washed off by rainfall. It can take up to 7 days for Actigard to fully activate the plant, so the addition of copper is recommended for immediate protection, prior to prolonged wet periods. Actigard can also be mixed with streptomycin or kasugamycin to provide multiple modes of action against Psa-V. The presence of enough healthy, actively growing leaves is necessary for the uptake of Actigard. The first application of Actigard (plus copper) should

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| 25mm kiwifruit leaves.

therefore be timed after leaves have reached 25mm in diameter, with repeat applications at 21 day intervals until the first female flowers have opened. Actigard use should be delayed if vines are under stress. In this situation, wait until vines have recovered and delay the first application of Actigard until approximately 21-28 days prior to flowering. Actigard applied 1 to 7 days prior to flowering can provide systemic

(harvest to harvest). In practice this allows the use of two or three applications in the spring, followed by one or two in the autumn post-harvest prior to leaf fall. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Syngenta.

protection over the flowering period, where other options for Psa-V control are limited. A maximum of four applications of Actigard can be made in a season

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HORTICULTURE

A good beginning makes a good ending As flowering is one of the most important stages of crop production, it is essential that products supply specific nutrition to ensure success during this important and critical stage of plant development. Italian-based company Biolchim has designed two products, Folicist™ and Kriss™, specifically to assist these stages of flowering, fruit set and the stresses that come at those stages of crop development. Folicist can assist during the flowering stage when there can be an internal physiological competition for hormones and nutritional reserves. Folicist was designed specifically to help optimise flowering and fruit set and can be used for crops like apples, kiwifruit and avocados. During flowering and fruit set, high amounts of energy, proteins, sugars, nucleic acids and phytohormones are required to sustain cell division. Folicist works both as a growth promoting and an anti-stress agent. It can also be mixed with most

agrichemicals, thereby creating less time on the orchard sprayer. The key ingredients in Folicist have individual functions:

• ACTA – osmoprotectant and critical to production of plant energy

Graham Philp (Field Operations Manager) — Aongatete Coolstores “When I used Folicist on our Kiwifruit crop this year I definitely observed a more compressed flowering and hence a very uniform and optimally sized crop with excellent packout results.“

• Folic acid – active in function of and synthesis of proteins • Glycine betaine – supplies nutrition to enable plants to recover from intense metabolic stresses Once your crop has set and has completed pollination, it is then time to apply Kriss to enhance fruit enlargement. Kriss specifically contains natural plant extracts with no synthetic hormones — this is important in the cell multiplication stage when fruit quality parameters can be defined. Kriss can also help increase fruit size, while reducing the number of fruit rejects in your packouts and essentially increase the profitability of your crop. These key products from Biolchim have been helping New Zealand horticulturists with their crops during the critical, yet temperamental early spring stages of crop production.

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Grower Testimonial Quotes:

Paul Currie (Kiwifruit Orchardist) — Whangarei “Last season I applied a fruit sizing product from Italian company Biolchim called “Kriss” and was extremely pleased with the results I achieved on my Hort 16A Gold kiwifruit.” Dennis Barker (Kiwifruit Manager) — Turners and Growers Kerikeri “Last season I performed trials on a fruit sizing product from Italian company Biolchim called “Kriss” and it certainly performed to our expectations as well as other industry standard products we have used in the past.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Biolchim.

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HORTICULTURE

Control of sucking pests in apple and kiwifruit crops is critical Sucking insect pests are problematic in several key export crops including kiwifruit and apples. Not only can insects reduce productivity and downgrade fruit but their presence on or in export fruit are quarantine pests in some key export markets. While not significantly affecting production, armoured scales are a significant problem for kiwifruit growers. Adult scale on fruit is a quarantine pest for several export markets. The adult scales are small and if present on fruit, necessitate the slowing down of packing lines to ensure infested fruit is rejected. In apples, armoured scales and the apple leafcurling midge are serious sucking pests for growers. Armoured scales are not permitted on fruit for export. Apple leafcurling midge causes typical leaf rolling symptoms and severe infestations can stunt developing tree growth. However it is the presence of apple leafcurling midge larvae inside fruit that is of major concern, as they are a quarantine pest for some key export markets. Movento® 100SC is an ideal and effective option for the control of key sucking pests in these crops. The twoway systemic properties of Movento, in that it moves both upwards and downwards in the plant’s vascular system, make it ideal for the control of sucking pests.

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Xylem transport

Phloem transport

(upwards only)

(throughout the entire plant)

| New 2-way systemicity distributes the active ingredient throughout the entire plant.

Movento is ideally suited for the control of armoured scales in kiwifruit. The Zespri Crop Protection Standard for export kiwifruit recommends one application of Movento close to flowering. An earlier second spray is allowed where scale was a problem last year. It is important that the correct rate of 960ml/ha of Movento 100SC is applied. Around the pre-flowering stage other crop protection products for leaf roller, sclerotinia and Psa are often also required to be applied. Movento 100SC is compatible with most of the commonly used products that can be tank mixed at the time. However, it is recommended not to mix copper products with Movento 100SC pre-flowering on kiwifruit. Do not mix foliar fertilisers with any Movento 100SC applications. Best practice is to minimise mixing partners with Movento 100SC if possible.

generation peak flight of adults, which depending on the season, is usually late November or early December. Apple leafcurling midge populations are monitored and Pipfruit New Zealand send out regular updates advising when the adult numbers are peaking, recommending best spray application timing. A second Movento application can be used in January to target the third apple leafcurling midge generation. Care must be taken here to observe the 35 day withholding on early maturing varieties.

For apple leafcurling midge in apples, Movento should be applied in late spring to coincide with the second

or the friendly team at your local

On crops destined for export, consult with your exporter before using Movento 100SC to understand their withholding period requirements. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor Farmlands store. Article supplied by Chris Miln, Bayer New Zealand.

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HORTICULTURE

What is the impact of plant stress? Abiotic stress can cause more damage than pests — up to 70 percent of the yield can be lost. Stressful conditions have a negative effect on the plant’s metabolism, which reduces production quality and quantity. Plant stress can be divided into abiotic and biotic stress. Abiotic stress is the negative impact of non-living factors on living organisms in a specific environment. The main abiotic stresses are cold, flooding, drought, wind, salt and heat. Biotic stress is the result of damage done to plants by pathogens such as fungi, virus, bacteria, insects and weeds. Drought Water stress begins when the water demand of a plant exceeds the availability of water in the soil. The plant’s water replacement is therefore limited, causing wilting of the leaves. Damage injury There is also stress sustained by the plant following pruning, caused by cutting, plant grafting and weather events (hail and wind). Heat Heat damage can occur in the leaves when transpiration is high and water replacement is insufficient, or when stoma is partially or completely closed because of high radiation. Cold Low temperatures cause stress due to blocking or reduction of the plant’s metabolism.

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Plant genes react in different ways to the different stressors presented. Understanding these genes and how they work and react is the path Valagro has taken with their process GeaPower. Megafol® is a result of this process and is extremely successful in both preparing plants to deal with a wide range of environmental stress and aiding their recovery. When Megafol is applied to plants, the plant genes responsible for preparing or reacting to environmental stress are activated.

“

Plant genes react in different ways to the different stressors presented. Significant climate anomalies and events around the world have cost billions in lost agricultural production and plant growth. With continued population growth and these climatic conditions, it makes sense to protect or recover as quickly as possible, so you are able to meet market demand and command a high dollar value from your business. Coming into summer, drought stress may be one of the factors growers need to take into account. Drought stress is mainly due to lack of water, which leads to cellular dehydration and disruption of the membrane integrity (this is the floppy leaf look). After that, stomata closure and growth inhibition can also be observed. To overcome this problem, the plant restructures the cell membrane and activates

the synthesis of different osmolytes. There are different genes involved with this process. After applying Megafol on stressed crops, trials show the particular gene involved in the early response to dehydration is six times over-expressed than the untreated, leading to a much quicker recovery. When applied before a stress event, evidence shows Megafol helps protect the plants from damage. Megafol can be successful as a growth activator, as it contains natural compounds that are able to increase the plants’ photosynthetic activity – this means more energy for plant growth and development. Also used as a carrier, it improves the absorption of fertilisers and other active ingredients that are applied to the plant. The efficiency of these products will increase and faster action can be expected when they are used in conjunction with Megafol. Valagro recommends Megafol as an effective, sustainable and responsible product to help increase plant growth and minimise the impact of stress on your production. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Valagro. ro.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Popular maize mix gives best of both worlds It may be relatively new but a powerful combination of maize herbicides is rapidly becoming the go-to mix for post emergence weed control in maize grain and silage crops. Growers who have switched to the tank mix of Latro® 750WG, Primiera® and Bonza® are ‘more than happy’ with their results, Nufarm Technical Specialist Paul Addison says. “It’s an outstanding mix that works very well. It gives growers control of one of the widest weed spectrums of any combination for broadleaf and grass weeds in the market, particularly on long-term maize ground where tough perennial weeds can be a challenge.” Combining the grass killing power of Latro 750WG with the broadleaf killing power of Primiera and the enhanced herbicide penetration of Bonza spraying oil, the tank mix quickly caught on after Nufarm launched Primiera in 2013. Paul says this is because Primiera complements Latro 750WG so well. “Latro is essentially a grass weed herbicide with some activity on broadleaf weeds – Primiera is essentially a broadleaf herbicide with some activity against grass weeds.

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“Together they give the best level of weed control we’ve seen in maize, including problem weeds like black nightshade, fathen and yellow bristle grass.”

Broadleaf weeds controlled by Primiera

The Latro 750WG, Primiera and Bonza mix also has the advantage of providing a wider application window than the traditional post-emergence herbicide mix of Latro 750WG and Kamba® 500.

activity against atrazine resistant fathen.

This gives growers more flexibility and convenience with spray timing without compromising their result, Paul says. A further benefit is that both Latro 750WG and Primiera perform best when applied with Bonza spraying oil, while Bonza should not be used with Kamba 500.

in 100–300L/ha water. The 1L/100L

Application timing is important – Paul advises growers to make sure they spray before maize plants reach 50cm in height to avoid crop injury. He also recommends trying to avoid spraying into the whorls of the maize plant if possible. The Latro 750WG, Primiera and Bonza mix should not be applied to sweetcorn crops or popping corn.

“Summer grass is best controlled at

Grass weeds controlled by Latro 750WG include couch, ryegrass, kikuyu, Mercer grass and annual grass weeds such as barnyard grass, bristle grasses, smooth witchgrass and summer grass.

include chickweed, spurrey, mallow, clover, willow weed, wireweed and seedling docks. Primiera also has Recommended spray rates are 80–110g/ha Latro 750WG with 150– 200ml/ha Primiera, adding Bonza at 500ml to 1L/100L water and applying water rate of Bonza will improve control of annual grasses such as summer grasses, Paul says. “This mix should be applied before broadleaf weeds have developed past the eight true leaf stage,” he adds. a maximum of three tillers or 75mm in length. For perennial grass weeds, it’s important to ensure sufficient foliage is present for good coverage.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Nufarm Limited. ® Primiera is a registered trademark of Nufarm Limited. Latro, Bonza and Kamba are registered trademarks of Nufarm Australia Limited.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Swedes are a sound choice Swedes are an excellent option for winter feed, offering a number of benefits. Both crop establishment and animal management are less demanding than other winter feed options, with swedes being a proven and reliable choice. Agricom’s new generation swedes, Triumph and Domain, offer a range of characteristics to fit many farming systems. Domain is a dry rot tolerant, early maturing, traditional swede, with a soft bulb, whereas Triumph is a high yielding, slightly later maturing swede than Domain, with an improved degree of dry rot tolerance. South Otago farmer Andrew Jackson winters sheep and dairy cows on his 250ha property. Having had issues with dry rot in the past, Farmlands Technical Field Officer Morgan Lindsay recommended using Triumph swede. Andrew started using Triumph due to its high yield and improved dry rot tolerance compared to many other commercially available swedes. Triumph is one of the highest yielding swedes to go through Agricom’s breeding programme and the variety also offers good dry rot and mildew tolerance.

Andrew found that with the change to Triumph, swedes remain a viable option to keep within a kale and fodder beet rotation. Andrew has been very pleased with the outcome of Triumph, with it reaching a yield of 15.2 tonnes DM/ha and he will continue to use this variety in the years to come. Agricom recommends that when using swedes in a rotation, they should be used at the start of a cropping phase and never after another brassica. In areas where yield is the primary objective of the farming system, Triumph is a great option. Triumph has shown outstanding results in Plant and Food trials in Gore, Chertsey and Methven from 2009-2012. The use of Triumph is highly suitable to all farming systems including deer, sheep (ewes) and dairy support. In a situation where dry rot on-farm is a significant issue, Domain swede is the obvious choice. Domain has been specifically bred to combat dry rot and in trials run by Plant and Food in Gore (2009-2011), Domain presented a high tolerance in dry rot compared to many other commercially available swedes. Compared to many modern swedes available today Domain is a more traditional type, producing less leaf than many of the other high yielding varieties. Domain is also a highly palatable swede, with a slightly lower dry matter percentage than Triumph. This makes it ideal for any young stock, as well as being completely suitable to all stock classes.

Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Morgan Lindsay | (left) with farmer Andrew Jackson.

practices and crop management must be followed. It should also be remembered that favourable climatic conditions are essential to the growing of swedes and can have a significant effect on yields. Both Domain and Triumph swedes are able to suit nearly all farming types, providing high yield, excellent palatability, good utilisation and the opportunity to combat dry rot. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Agricom.

Like all brassicas, for swedes to reach full potential, good establishment | Triumph swede.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

High yielding crops benefit the bottom line There’s an old saying that it costs as much to grow a high yielding crop as it does to grow one that yields poorly. The key difference of course is that the high yielding crop provides much cheaper – and more profitable – feed than the low yielding one.

Director® CS, from Nufarm, contains

So if you want to keep productivity up

The CS formulation also improves crop

this season and feed costs down, weed

safety, because particles of active

control for newly sown crops has to be

ingredient are surrounded by a carrier

a top priority in the weeks ahead.

coating that remains dormant until it

Fodder brassica and fodder beet

is activated by moisture. As a result,

seedlings are slow to start growing

Director CS can remain effective

compared with weeds – they don’t

in the root zone and activate 4 to 6

compete well and they never recover

weeks after application depending on

properly from heavy weed pressure

moisture availability.

in early establishment, particularly

The result is a very effective herbicide,

from species like shepherd’s purse,

which is ideally suited for pre-

wireweed, chickweed and cleavers.

emergence control of a range of

Baby your crop seedlings along

broadleaf and grass weeds in forage

from day one, however and they will

brassica crops grown in a variety

reward you with high value and highly

of different sowing methods. It is

economic home grown feed.

also registered for post-plant, pre-

Fortunately, there’s now a new option

emergence use in fodder beet, as well

for getting rid of key weeds at the critical

as a range of vegetable crops at the

stage before the crop germinates.

same time.

Even better, with good paddock

Director CS works by being absorbed

preparation and correct herbicide

into the roots and emerging shoots

application and timing, using it can

of germinating weeds and stopping

mean you don’t need to come back

photosynthesis. Susceptible weeds may

with more weed control after the crop

still emerge from the soil but are bleached

has emerged, saving time, money and

white and die shortly afterwards.

360g/L clomazone as the active ingredient in a special capsule suspension (CS) formulation. This has been developed to significantly reduce clomazone’s natural volatility without affecting its ability to kill weeds.

Some off-target whitening of the crop can occur under certain conditions. The crop will rapidly recover with no effect on overall growth and crop yield. Director CS is a soil residual herbicide and is not suited to all soil types. Please refer to the label for both soil type directions and plant back restrictions. Director CS can be tank mixed with other pre-emergence herbicides to widen the spectrum of weeds controlled. It is suitable for a range of sowing techniques in forage brassicas, including direct drilling, drilling into cultivated ground, pre-plant incorporation into the soil, ridged seed beds and surface seeding/oversowing. Fodder beet rates are 150-200ml/ha — rates for forage brassicas are 250-400ml/ha depending on the sowing method used. Where brassica crops are direct drilled, Director CS can be applied with the final application of WeedMaster® TS540. Director CS is now available in both 1L and 5L packs. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Nufarm Limited.

effort later in spring.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

More firepower on resistant and hard to kill weeds in maize Weeds rob maize grain and silage crops of yield. The return on investment is excellent when weeds are well managed in a crop and a key factor in getting the best returns. A newly released post-emergence herbicide is available to New Zealand maize growers this spring, bringing some major strike power to the war on weeds. With the brand new active ingredient fluthiacet-methyl, Cadet® adds significant firepower when tank-mixed with other post-emergent herbicides. Cadet is highly effective on a range of broadleaf weeds, including amaranthus and herbicide resistant fathen and nightshade.In New Zealand trials, Cadet consistently delivered faster, more effective control of many broadleaf weeds than other tank-mix partners by themselves. It is highly effective on triazine and dicamba resistant broadleaf weed species. Cadet also provides no residual activity, meaning growers can be confident of having no rotation issues.

An optimal strategy for using Cadet is to apply a pre-emergence programme such as acetochlor or s-metolachlor then inspect what weeds have emerged, before deciding on a postemergence partner for Cadet. Cadet has a low use rate of 30ml/ha and requires the use of a non-ionic adjuvant. After Cadet application and before spraying crops other than maize or grasses, the use of a tank cleaner is recommended. Etec Crop Solutions Business Development Manager, Matt Strahan,

says that it's not every year a new active ingredient comes to farmers’ aid, especially one this cost effective. “To get the best out of Cadet, scout the crop early post-emergence and decide on the best tank-mix partner (atrazine, dicamba or nicosulfuron) based on the weeds present. Hit weeds when they are small (from emergence up to can height) and when the crop is open,” Matt says. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Etec Crop Solutions Ltd.

Cadet provides the following benefits to growers:

®Cadet is a registered trademark of FMC Corporation.

• More firepower for lower cost post-emergence herbicides • Targets herbicide resistant weeds • Increased silage yields • Faster weed burn-out • Improved broadleaf weed control

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

The specialist lamb finishing crop Farmer Dene Noonan of ‘Valehead’ in Darfield, Canterbury, has been impressed with Relish red clover for finishing his store lambs. Having built a farm system with Relish as a key component, Dene, like many other farmers, has been pleased with the persistence and the animal performance of Relish. Dene runs a lamb and cattle finishing system on 280ha, with the objective of finishing lambs through the spring and then bringing store lambs from the main hill block (Quartz Hill Station) for finishing at Valehead over the summer/autumn period. In the past, Sensation red clover had been used but after discussions with Farmlands Technical Field Officer Simon Bailey and the introduction of Relish to the market, Dene has been using Relish in all mixes over the last 2 years.

| Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Simon Bailey, with farmer Dene Noonan on his Relish, Timothy, Tribute mix.

In a replicated rotationally grazed plot trial1 where 18 red clover cultivars were mixed with ryegrass and compared, Relish showed significantly greater growth and persistence over all other varieties. After 3.5 years Relish

of 4-5cm. As Dene found, the spring growth of Relish is very rapid and being well prepared to utilise this growth is key. This growth will require an increased stocking rate to maintain the quality. “The Relish growth comes a lot earlier in the spring than we expected and the rotation was also quicker than we thought it would be,” Dene says.

On Dene’s finishing block he uses a mix of 8kg Relish, 3kg Tribute and 8kg of Timothy per hectare, acting as the perennial mix. The combination of the three species results in exceptional summer growth, with Timothy adding to the high quality feed value of Relish and Tribute. Dene’s plan is to run this mix for 4 years and then rotate into a brassica crop to utilise the nitrogen stores in the soil that have been built up by Relish and Tribute.

showed 60 percent plant survival,

“Relish takes off in summer, outdoing the traditional ryegrass for quality and production. The weed control has also been easier than expected,” Dene says.

2 years, improving soil nitrogen and

Providing major improvements in persistence within grazing systems, Relish has been a game changer for specialist lamb finishing farmers.

persistence of Relish red clover,

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

best management practices suggest

Article supplied by Agricom.

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significantly more than any other red clover cultivar. Animal performance is also maximised, with Relish systems showing high average lamb weaning weights, high summer liveweight gain and high dressing out percentages. Relish is also being used successfully as a pure stand. This has seen the growing use as an alternative to a summer brassica crop for finishing lambs, with the additional benefits of persisting for providing the option of conserving excess feed as hay or silage if required. To maximise the production and

rotational grazing with pre-grazing heights of 20-25cm leaving a residual

Coming into the autumn months, as growth slows it is important to graze any residual growth prior to winter months to minimise disease presence through the cooler and wetter seasons. Monitoring soil fertility is another key part in the long-term production of Relish, with phosphorus, potassium and sulphur needing to be applied as required to maximise growth potential.

Ford, J.L. and Barret, B.A. (2011). Improving red clover persistence under grazing. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Performance despite hot and dry conditions For Stefan O’Connor of South Canterbury, producing high yielding, high quality winter feed crops is a critical part of his farming operation.

This year Stefan decided to sow forage rape to help recover from the effects of the summer dry period and as a late autumn winter feed for the cattle.

fallowed, before a second spray of

In addition to his home block at Seadown, Stefan farms a 360 hectare dryland property in the Limestone Valley near Pleasant Point. Over recent years, winter grazing of dairy cows has been a significant part of his farming operation there. Fodder beet and kale crops have been an integral part of their diet over the winter.

After consultation with Farmlands Technical Field Officer Anna Harrison, two giant type forage rapes were chosen, one of which was a newly commercialised variety ‘Pillar’.

“Conditions leading up to and

During the last 12 months however, as a result of the dairy downturn there has been less demand for off-farm wintering of dairy cows, so Stefan is farming more of his own animals on the property, including beef cross and dairy cross calves plus mixed aged cows.

Pillar is a palatable multi-graze forage rape, with very good winter hardiness and excellent re-growth ability resulting in as many as 4-5 grazings under good conditions according to satisfied farmers. Stefan has been impressed with the performance of the Pillar. It has handled some very trying conditions. Prior to drilling, Stefan sprayed the paddock in December and summer

glyphosate was applied. The Pillar seed was then direct drilled towards the end of February. following sowing were less than ideal,” Stefan says. “We had approximately 35mm rainfall in January but hot days and northwest winds dried out the soil in the following months. Temperatures in March reached 30°C and remained hot through April and May. “Consequently the seed was sown into a very dry seed bed and was therefore slow to germinate and emerge due to the hot and dry conditions.” Stefan has been impressed with the leaf and quality of the rape, given the tough growing conditions for the crop. “The amount of leaf and its quality are impressive,” he says. Pillar can be sown in spring as a summer feed, or in late summer as an autumn winter feed and is suitable for sheep, cattle or deer. Given this and its performance under such trying conditions, Stefan thinks there is an ongoing place for Pillar on the property. “Looking ahead, I will consider sowing it in late October for grazing in late January and February when conditions are usually dry in the district and feed is tight.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Cropmark Seeds.

| Stefan O’Connor with Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Anna Harrison, in a paddock of Pillar forage rape.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Managing herbicide resistance in cereals Wild oats and grass weeds have been reliably controlled for many years in New Zealand, by selective post-emergence herbicides from the Group A herbicide family (ACCase inhibitors), which includes the fops, dims and dens. Group B (ALS inhibitor, sulfonyl-urea) herbicides have also been used extensively for weed control in cereals for many years. Overuse of the same herbicide group is associated with the risk of herbicide resistance and consequently poor weed control. Fortunately, grass weed resistance is less of a problem in New Zealand than in some countries. However, there have been confirmed cases of both Group A and Group B herbicide resistance in New Zealand, including a recent case of Group B resistance in ryegrass detected in the Methven area.1 There are two main resistance mechanisms to Group A herbicides. Metabolic resistance – the more common form of resistance in wild oats, resulting in the plant detoxifying the herbicide. Metabolic resistance tends to increase slowly and more commonly confers a level of resistance to ‘fops’.

Target site resistance – less common than metabolic resistance, occurs where wild oat plants alter the enzyme to which the herbicide would normally bind, meaning it cannot engage and is therefore inactive. It can result in very poor control and can increase rapidly. Target site resistance in wild oats tends to be more specific to ‘fops’, with ‘dims’ and ‘dens’ often remaining effective. To reduce the risk of resistance to Group A herbicides, do not make more than one application of a Group A herbicide in the same season and treat weeds while small (preferably prior to first node) using full label rates. It is also important to rotate crops and alternate chemistry with different modes of action (such as Group B herbicides). Any surviving plants should be killed using cultural methods to avoid seed returning to the soil and samples should be kept for herbicide resistance screening. If wild oat or grass weed resistance to Group A herbicides is suspected, Syngenta has developed the RISQ (Resistance In Season Quick) test, to determine if wild oats, phalaris or ryegrass are susceptible to Twinax (pinoxaden). The Syngenta RISQ test requires a sample of 100 grass seedlings at the 1 to 3 leaf stage, which are sent for testing in Christchurch. The test takes only 14 to 21 days, which means growers can confirm if they have a resistance issue before applying the herbicide. It should be noted that poor grass weed control does not necessarily mean there is resistance to the herbicide.

| Grass weed at 1-3 leaf stage suitable for RISQ test.

Some of the more common causes of poor weed control include:

• Spraying weeds too late, when they are harder to control at label rates. • Crop canopy shielding weeds from herbicide contact. • Secondary strike of weeds after herbicide application. • Spraying in windy conditions, resulting in patchy weed control. • Spraying weeds while under stress from drought, frost or waterlogging. • Insufficient competition to weeds from an actively growing crop. If resistance is suspected after considering all these factors, consider conducting the Syngenta RISQ test. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Syngenta. 1. FAR Arable Extra Issue 114 – August 2016.

| Wild oats.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Eliminate the root cause Getting on top of problem weeds has been an ongoing battle spanning decades for Waikato dairy farmers, the Downing family.

weeds with large root systems such as

Dogged determination saw them rid their farm of their first target – ragwort – but until recently, Californian thistles have proved impossible to eliminate despite annual spraying.

same patches of callies year after year.

Justin Downing and his wife Liesl are equity partners, managing a farm near Morrinsville in conjunction with Justin’s parents Lloyd and Olwyn, as well as owning another farm that employs a contract milker. Lloyd is a well-known, outspoken Waikato dairy farmer who has held prominent roles in the farming community including Federated Farmers’ Waikato president. He also had more than 30 years’ involvement with the National Fieldays Society, including terms as both chairman and president. Milking 500 cows on 200 hectares, Justin says ragwort and Scotch thistles were the first priority. Once these were controlled, attention turned to Californian thistles. “Apart from cosmetically it looks terrible, the patches get bigger and thicker every year if you don’t do anything. Cows end up grazing amongst the thistles, reducing the area of productive pasture.” Frustrated with chemical spraying annually for about 10 years, only for Californian thistles to regrow, Justin decided to try Tordon PastureBoss. Although a more expensive option, it includes a new generation herbicide particularly effective at controlling

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Californian thistle. “We found in the past, using another chemical, 24-D, we were spraying the The thistles would die but because of their huge root system would just grow back again the next year. “With Tordon PastureBoss, we sprayed it once and 90 percent of callies are gone.” About 10ha was sprayed last summer with Tordon PastureBoss, boom spraying the big patches and spot spraying areas that can’t be accessed by tractor. While Tordon PastureBoss is more expensive, it is worth it as it works, Justin says. This compared with the previous chemical, which after annual applications at a cost of $40/ha still failed to provide control. “We now spray all weeds with PastureBoss. We go around with knapsacks, so if we see ragwort or a Scotch thistle, it gets spot sprayed,” Justin says. PastureBoss also controlled oxeye daisy, a problem weed on his other farm. “Like Californian thistles, it is now at the stage we can just spot spray.” For further information, contact your Farmlands

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Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Dow AgroSciences.

† Terms and conditions apply. See dowagrosciences.co.nz for details.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

First drenching of new season lambs “Short-changed” by deﬁnition is to give less than the correct change. This is normally not a problem — if you do not know about it! Ensuring lambs get the most appropriate first drench may be one of the most significant decisions to affect their future growth, production and the level of pasture contamination on your farm. It is well documented that lamb productivity for new season lambs is where a farmer can be short-changed without even realising. Once lambs hit the ground, the same debate starts as when to drench and should tapeworm products be included. The mainstream advice is that tailing drenches are of little benefit in most situations. The question then is should lambs be drenched pre-wean or wait until weaning? Lambs are undergoing one of their most significant internal parasite challenges. Pasture will have a high level of worm egg contamination, initially supplied from ewes as their immunity is weakened. From that point forward, lambs will be the most significant source of worm eggs infecting pasture and this is why it is so important to ensure lambs get the best possible anthelmintic treatment right from the start. Weaning places a lot of stress on lambs – the combination of separation from the ewe, removal of milk and changing to a pasture based diet weakens their immune systems, all happening at a time when they are already the most susceptible to parasites. This question has been answered in three trials conducted by Beef + Lamb

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in the spring of 2010 in the Manawatu.

praziquantel is the only active ingredient

Lambs were grouped into untreated

that will kill both the head and segments

(control), triple drench and triple drench

of the tapeworm.

plus praziquantel (specific tape drench)

As a good standard of practice, it is

treatment groups and monitored over 28

recommended that lamb drenching

days. Across all farms the triple drench

starts the first couple of drenches

group grew faster than control by 392g

with an effective combination with an

total, the triple plus praziquantel grew

additional specific tape active. To follow

by 672g and the triple plus praziquantel treated lambs grew 1.02kg heavier in 28 days than untreated controls.

on, it is recommended to continue with an effective combination – whether this is a double or triple will depend on your

A similar result was obtained by

management practice or the resistance

Southwell et al. in 1996 of 2kg liveweight

levels on your farm.

gain over 2 months. Southwell also demonstrated that praziquantel was the only tapeworm product to remove 100 percent of heads and segments. Not only did the triple plus praziquantel give liveweight gain but also reduced dag score, by increasing faecal consistency over both the other groups.

Do not get short-changed this spring. There is pretty good evidence that a prewean drench has production advantages in many situations and that tapeworms can also reduce liveweight gain and have potential to increase fly strike, through creating more dags on lambs.

There are several effective drenches

For further information, contact

that can control roundworms – the

your Farmlands Technical Field

level of worm resistance on your farm

Officer or the friendly team at your

will dictate either a double or triple

local Farmlands store.

combination. To control tapeworm,

Article supplied by Donaghys Animal Health.

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NUTRITION

Carbohydrates in the ruminant diet Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for rumen microorganisms and consequently are also the main source of energy for the host ruminant animal as well. Carbohydrates make up the largest proportion of a ruminant’s diet. Carbohydrates present in consumed feed (such as pasture for example) can be utilised as a food source by rumen microorganisms, which produce volatile fatty acids as a by-product. These volatile fatty acids are then absorbed by the host animals’ rumen wall and can then be utilised as a form of energy, which can be used for maintenance and production requirements. Carbohydrates include the dietary components fibre, starch and sugars. There are two broad classifications of carbohydrates – structural and non-structural.

Achieving a balance of structural and non-structural carbohydrates in the ruminant diet is important for achieving optimal rumen health along with optimal productivity.

Fibre (NDF), which is a measure of

The carbohydrate profile of feeds can be examined by looking at the chemical make-up of a feed. Laboratory tests can be done on feed to work out the fractions of structural vs non-structural carbohydrates and in textbooks/online you can find typical analyses of feeds that can be used as a reference if you do have lab tests available for a specific batch of feed. There are three main fractions of carbohydrates that can be tested for to get an idea of the balance of carbohydrates in a feed. Firstly there is the Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC), which is a measure of the starch and sugar, which is the most rapidly fermentable portion of the diet. Secondly there is the Neutral Detergent

(ADF), which is a measure of the more

the cell wall content of the feed/the total amount of fibre in the feed, i.e. the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Thirdly there is the Acid Detergent Fibre indigestible and slowly fermenting fraction of fibre in the feed – this fraction includes cellulose and lignin. Lignin is of no feed value whatsoever and passes through a ruminant animal undigested. NDF is a particularly important carbohydrate fraction to consider in a feed/total diet for ruminants, as this fraction depicts how much of a feed can actually physically be consumed by the animal – as there is a limit to how much fibrous material can be held and processed by the digestive system at any one time. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Assistant Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.

Structural carbohydrates consist of elements found inside the plant cell walls, i.e. they are actually a part of

PLANT CARBOHYDRATES

the cell wall of plants. The structural carbohydrates exist in the plant to give rigidity and structure to the plant and therefore increase as plant material matures. Structural carbohydrates include the fractions hemicellulose,

Non-structural Carbs ‘Cell contents’

Structural Carbs ‘Cell wall’

cellulose and lignin (lignin is not officially classed as a true carbohydrate as it is indigestible to ruminants). Non-structural carbohydrates are

Sugar

Starch

Hemicellulose

Cellulose

Lignin

located inside the plant cell (i.e. in the cell contents) and are more digestible than the structural carbohydrates.

NSC

ADF

Non-structural carbohydrates include the fractions sugar and starch.

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NDF

| This diagram displays the different carbohydrate fractions and how they are classified by laboratory tests.

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NUTRITION

Feeding for fertility Now could be a good time to review your milk production results over the last few seasons and consider what was happening through mating in terms of MS production, protein to fat rations and milk ureas and consider what effect, if any, nutrition may have had on subsequent fertility. I have seen herds with record high incalf rates when cows have had a terrible spring, peaked low and then received supplements pre-mating. Conversely, when a great start to spring is followed by a poor November, empty rates have risen as milk production falls. Cows with a genetic predisposition to produce milk will invariably put more in the vat if they are fed better and peak higher and if you are not careful, they can suddenly plunge into a negative energy balance through mating. Shareholders regularly report improvements in herd fertility after introducing supplementary feeding. Many factors affect herd fertility but with Body Condition Score at calving regarded as the most important nutritional factor associated with getting cows pregnant, feeding in mid to late lactation and being able to dry cows off to ensure target BCS are met is no doubt contributing to the improved fertility. A study of 74 spring calving, pasture based herds in Ireland showed

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that a higher 200 day milk protein content and higher protein to fat ratio at the start of breeding season were associated with increased likelihood of submission in the first 21 days of breeding and was suggested to be one of the important tools to identify cows at risk of poor reproduction.1 Whilst high milk protein percentage does not cause better reproductive performance, it is possible that factors that result in high milk protein percentage also result in high reproductive performance, so I

pasture can vary up to four-fold, so it seems unlikely that grazing cows would be able to consume more dry matter as pasture to make up for a fall in sugar level during overcast conditions. Sugar in pasture encourages milk protein production but starch from grain can be a useful alternative if milk protein levels are falling. Grain based feeds are looking better priced this season than last based on cents/MJ ME, so if a feed deficit does occur over mating, increasing feeding rates of grain based feeds is looking financially more rewarding.

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Shareholders regularly report improvements in herd fertility after introducing supplementary feeding.

Milk urea levels often dip through November below levels that might be considered optimal for milk production and I suspect pasture protein levels are at times much lower than is expected. If grazing residuals drop below 1,5001,600kgDM/ha, energy supplements will very likely improve milk production

recommend keeping a close eye on milk protein to fat ratios through mating. One of the key advantages of supplementary feeding in the dairy shed is that you can increase feeding rates if residuals or pasture quality is declining. Annoyingly, clouds can reduce photosynthesis and hence sugar levels without depositing the often much needed rain through November and December. Sugar levels in spring

and reproduction. If cows are already being fed grain you can safely increase the amount fed per day by 1kg/DM/ day, as the microbes in the rumen that digest starch are already there, before gradually increasing to higher feeding rates if necessary. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition. 1. F. Buckley, K. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sullivan, J. F. Mee, R. D. Evans and P. Dillon. Relationship among milk yield, body condition, cow weight and reproduction in springcalved Holstein Friesians, Journal Dairy Science 86 2308-2319.

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NUTRITION

Paint by numbers Forming a team – why do you try to form a team? Because teamwork builds trust and trust builds speed!

and Friesian X or bigger framed heifers

Forming our team for the season to make a fine-tuned machine that moves effortlessly around the farms, paddock feeding and heading to the final stages of the calf season, is a great pleasure indeed.

performing a lot better.

Things are going along easily, your calves have been de-horned/ vaccinated and now is the time to wean your calves. Growing from a milk fed neonate to a functional ruminant has taken time and time is the key to all the pieces of the puzzle falling into place, or it could be a recipe for disaster if you are not doing the basics well.

on their growth. This also ensures that

Make sure target weights are met before weaning from milk. Measuring calf weights instead of age or guesswork is the first piece of that puzzle. Depending if you are on a high or low volume milk feeder, target weights will vary. For us, we are on a restricted volume and we aim to reach targets of 75-80kg for our smaller Jersey/Crossbred heifers

80-90kg. I find putting the extra week or 2 into them at this stage has them Like each other transition, this transition is huge on the calf. So again, take the time to transition your calf off milk by lowering gradually the amount fed over a 2 week period, this prevents a check the calf’s meal intake has increased and they are eating a kilo a day. Once our calves are on a weaning plan and have been weighed and put into weaning group weights, it all becomes

thriving. Look for the hollow calf,

a science from this day forward. A

dissatisfied and bellowing. These are

passport is given to each mob and on

the signs that this calf may not have

that passport it has:

been eating its kilo a day and is going

• Vaccine dates

backwards. They are the calves that

• Vaccine repeat dates

may need to go back and join another

• Drenching dates • Weaning weights/daily weight gains • Health issues These mobs now stay together while they are taken off milk and are monitored closely for signs of not

mob still on milk. I aim to weigh mobs fortnightly and flick out the bottoms or those that are showing a low daily weight gain. This allows for the calves that are shyer to be mobbed together and thrive without having the bullies eating all the meal. Once our heifers are in the weaning phase, pellet feeding gets changed to Reliance 20% nut size feed. This is then fed in a line along their fresh break of grass. There is then plenty of room for each calf to eat its kilo a day of pellets. Because of our large numbers of calves, they are trained right from weaning to graze behind a break just like cows do on the dairy farm. Keeping things simple and in a paint by numbers format sees young stock raised well and gives me the utmost pleasure that the farm’s future herd is looking fabulous! Article supplied by Karen Fraser, Young Stock Manager.

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NUTRITION

FeedSafeNZ accreditation ensures best quality feed Quality animal feed is key to maximising output and long-term farm viability and farmers who buy FeedSafeNZ quality-endorsed products are assured that the animal feed is manufactured to the best standards in the country. The FeedSafeNZ quality of production accreditation for New Zealand animal feed manufacturers was introduced by the New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association (NZFMA) just over 18 months ago and has been embraced by feed manufacturers nationwide. Michael Brooks, NZFMA Executive Director, says “Quality animal feed is key for farmers and the quality endorsement assures farmers that they are buying the best quality feed produced to required standards.” Feed suppliers who are FeedSafeNZ-endorsed have the accreditation logo displayed prominently on their packaging. FeedSafeNZ is available to NZFMA members who meet independently audited standards in relation to the quality of feed production. The FeedSafeNZ accreditation has two main aims: to provide safe feed for animals and thereby to protect the safety of human food. “High-quality feed is vital not only for the health and wellbeing of animals but also for humans, so it’s imperative that feed is manufactured to strict guidelines and is packed and stored correctly to ensure its quality is maintained,” Michael says. “New Zealand has an enviable reputation when it comes to locally manufactured feed and with the FeedSafeNZ accreditation farmers can

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be even more reassured that the feed they are purchasing is manufactured to the highest possible standard.” He says that with the growing emphasis and awareness of food safety among consumers, the FeedSafeNZ accreditation is valuable. “The FeedSafeNZ accreditation helps maintain the high quality of feed sold to farmers and eliminates product that can lead to poor animal growth and production, as well as reducing

testing regime that involves a thorough on-site audit of their plant and storage facilities and operations. Only FeedSafeNZ-accredited sites are permitted to use the FeedSafeNZ logo on their packaging and other materials. The NZFMA is encouraging its members to achieve the FeedSafeNZ accreditation and currently there are 21 sites that carry the FeedSafeNZ endorsement. For more information visit www.nzfma.org.nz

cross-contamination of ingredients from

For further information, contact your

storage or processing.”

Farmlands Technical Field Officer

FeedSafeNZ audits are carried out

or the friendly team at your local

annually by AsureQuality, a company

Farmlands store.

that provides food safety and biosecurity services to the food and primary

Article supplied by New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association.

production sectors worldwide. Manufacturers undergo a stringent

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NUTRITION

Feeding for competition Show and competition horses require a nutrient dense feed that supports fitness, harder working muscles, assists hoof integrity and promotes skin and coat health, all while maintaining horse focus and attention. Ensuring your horse receives a correctly balanced diet will support optimum performance during competition. Part of preparation for a successful competition season includes assessing your horse’s feed requirements. Being aware of your horse’s overall health, condition and workload allows you to map out a feed plan to achieve their ideal competition condition. When choosing feed, you want to ensure your horse receives the right balance of energy, quality proteins, fat, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Good quality roughage and a nutrient dense, well formulated compound feed like NutriRice Show and Competition is one way to support both the energy requirements and level headedness required for competition.

| Amanda (left), Vicki (centre) and Kelly Wilson (right).

When introducing your horse to a new feed, always remember to start things off right:

• All feeds are different densities, so weigh your feed to ensure you are delivering the required nutrition and to avoid overfeeding. • Always introduce a new feed slowly into the diet, giving your horse’s digestive system time to adjust. Competition generally means increased workloads leading up to and during the event. As well as an increase on energy requirements, competitions can bring increased nerves and anxiety for both horse and rider. Made by CopRice, NutriRice Show and Competition is scientifically developed as a cool feed for competition work. It is extruded for increased digestibility and nutrient absorption and formulated to be low in starch, high in fat and high in digestible fibre, resulting in a supply of cool, sustained

energy and performance with control. Vicki, Kelly and Amanda Wilson are a family of riders aware of how quality feed contributes to competition success. Passionate about horse welfare and jumping success at the highest level, Vicki, Kelly and Amanda say the results of using NutriRice Show and Competition speak for themselves. “CopRice has been fundamental in our horses’ preparation for more than a decade. People often comment on how healthy our show jumpers and wild horses look and how well they perform. We love the results we are getting.” NutriRice Show and Competition is a moderate protein, high 50* fat, nutrient dense $36. feed fortified with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins to support the demands of competition. Article supplied by CopRice. * Price valid until 31st October 2016.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Aeration important for stored grain Aeration of stored grain has four main purposes – preventing mould, inhibiting insect development, maintaining seed viability and reducing grain moisture. Without aeration, grain is an effective insulator and will maintain its warm harvest temperature for a long period of time. Like housing insulation, grain holds many tiny pockets of air within a stack. For example, 100 tonnes of barley requires a silo with a volume of about 130m3 – 80m3 is taken up by

the grain and the remaining 50m3 (38 percent) is air space around each grain. Without circulation, the air surrounding the grain will reach a moisture (relative humidity) and temperature equilibrium within a few days. These conditions provide an ideal environment for insects and mould to thrive and without aeration, the grain is likely to maintain that temperature and moisture for months. Therefore an effective storage solution that provides aeration is important.

Will your grain be STORED safely against disease and deterioration this season?

The Westeel 1204 Silo with Rocket and Centrifugal Fan aerates the stored grain to prevent mould and inhibit insect development, stopping grain deterioration. REL Group can match your needs to a number of different silo and aeration options. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by REL Group.

Shareholder Special Package Westeel 1204 Silo + Rocket and Centrifugal Fan From $20,815*

3.9FO9R% 24

Silo • Westeel 1204 wide core • 12 foot, 40 degree base • Ladder safety cage package (internal and external) • 100% galvanised steel

P.A. MONTHS**

Grain guard rocket and fan • Provides air delivery to the centre of the hopper • 3 legs provide increased stability • Three phase 480V hertz centrifugal fan

*Pricing ex store, delivery fee is additional, price includes GST. Rakaia: $20,815. Invercargill $23,345. Hamilton $23,345. **Farmlands Finance Terms and Conditions and standard credit criteria apply. Valid for Farmlands shareholders only, must be purchased using the Farmlands Card. Maximum term is 24 months. Minimum deposit of 15% applies. Application fee of $150 applies. Limited time only.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Training the next generation “Investing time in the next generation of young farmers is one of the best parts of my job,” Iplex Pipelines Rural Projects Manager, Pete Carswell says. An example of this is the 8 year relationship Iplex and Pete have had with the Waipaoa Farm Cadet Training Trust. The trust runs a 2 year training programme specialising in sheep and beef farming on Waipaoa Station, a hill country property located 70km inland from Gisborne. Carrying 16,000 stock units on 1,760 hectares of effective farm land, Waipaoa is an ideal environment for a residential course teaching practical farming, academic and life skills. Current Training Manager, Denver Palmer says that the course takes in five cadets a year. “I’m proud to say our graduates are considered to be a valuable asset to any commercial farming station.” Almost every year for the past 8 years, Pete has filled up his ute with pipe and fittings, plastic troughs and ball valves and headed to Waipaoa for a one day rural pipelines training session. “I first became involved through the manager of the local Farmlands store and it’s now become part of what I do each year.”

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“While the training covers our pipes used for land drainage, culverts and even farm dairy effluent, by far the main focus is on stock water. Rather than just listen to me spout on, the cadets are involved in practical exercises, like solvent welding PVC pressure pipe and making PE pipe connections using a metric compression fitting,” Pete says. “But calculators and maths aren’t forgotten, being necessary to assess daily and peak stock water requirements and in using flow charts to determine headloss, to select the correct diameter and pressure class of pipe.” The training day culminates in an exercise, where the cadets are split into groups, given a theoretical farming scenario and asked to design a stock water system and then construct the system in miniature – selecting, cutting and joining pipes and then connecting up a couple of troughs. Final marking of the exercise considers the correct volumes of water are being supplied, using the most cost effective pipe selections and the construction has been done to a professional level – joints will be water tight, thread tape has been used, etc.

“It’s competitive and it’s great fun,” Pete says. “The cadets are learning practical skills that they’ll use for years to come. These young people are motivated, attentive and eager to learn and it gives me a great deal of satisfaction being involved in the process.” Each year, 80 Farmlands staff members from around New Zealand attend a 2 day training session with Iplex Pipelines that covers the same topics as the Waipaoa cadets. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Iplex Pipelines.