SHEEP & BEEF
Making a plan for grazing winter forage crops Beef + Lamb New Zealand Director Nicky Hyslop is calling for all farmers who are grazing forage crops this winter to have a plan and to document their on-farm practices. WORDS AND IMAGES SUPPLIED BY BEEF + LAMB NEW ZEALAND
IMAGE: The Government will be keeping a close eye on winter grazing practices this year
Nicky says B+LNZ has been working with other organisations to advocate on behalf of farmers to find sensible and practical solutions to aspects of the Essential Freshwater Regulations. These include pugging regulations, re-sowing dates and stock exclusion areas relating to the inaccurate lowslope map. She says while all of these rules have been paused, B+LNZ wants them deleted and replaced with sensible advice on on-farm practices. “Continued good practice by farmers this year will provide us with a strong case for the permanent removal of these us rules.”
Winter grazing tips
She says while advocacy from primary sector organisations and recommendations from the industry-led Southland Advisory Group has resulted in a 12-month delay in the implementation of winter grazing regulations, the Government and NGO’s have made it very clear they will be keeping a very close eye on winter practices this year. “We have got this winter to prove to the Government and animal welfare groups that we do not need regulations to ensure we are doing our best for the environment, our livestock and our consumers.” Nicky, who winters a number of cattle on forage crops on her South Canterbury farm, says while even the best operator can have a bad day, it is important farmers have fenced off the critical source areas within their paddocks, are grazing down the slope and have contingency plans in case of extended periods of bad weather. Stock should also be provided with shelter and a dry loafing area which allows them to lie down in comfort. “These simple measures will not only protect our soil and water resources, they will also
demonstrate to the Government that farmers are the best people to manage and protect their natural resources and their livestock.” But she stresses the need for farmers grazing forage crops this winter to have a clear plan of how they will manage their crops and livestock this winter—and to document their actions. B+LNZ is running Forage Cropping Workshops this winter, which are a component of the organisation’s recently released Farm Plan. “The templates provided in the workshop will help farmers identify and minimise their environmental and animal welfare risks, while providing proof of good practice.” Nicky says B+LNZ will be working closely with DairyNZ and Federated Farmers this winter to ensure all farmers understand what good management practices look like and the importance of keeping records of their wintering activities. To help ensure all farmers are following good management practices around winter grazing, an industry-run hotline will operate throughout winter to deal with concerns relating to the grazing of winter forage crops.
• Make a plan; • Critical Source Areas: These are gullies, drains, swales, spring heads, waterway crossings, stock camps and vehicle access routes which feed into waterways. Leave an ungrazed and uncropped buffer around critical source areas; • Look after your stock: Provide loafing areas, adequate feed, shelter and clean, fresh drinking water; • Graze paddocks strategically: On a sloping paddock, fence across the slope and start grazing at the top of the slope. This way, the standing crops acts as a filter. If there is a waterway in the paddock, start at the opposite end of the paddock; • Exclude stock from waterways: Create a recommended 5 metre, ungrazed buffer zone between the livestock and the waterway. This buffer should increase with slope and soil instability. • Plant a catch crop: Where soil conditions and farm management factors allow, consider plant a fast-growing catch-crop such as greenfeed oats. It can make a huge difference to reduce nitrogen losses.
NICKY HYSLOP, BEEF + LAMB NEW ZEALAND DIRECTOR
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