Plan 365 March 2016 by Farmlands

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.

Your vitamin B12 solution for treatment and control of cobalt deficiency

New Zealand research shows that around half of mixed sward pastures contain inadequate cobalt for sheep. Cobalt deficiency causes vitamin B12 deficiency, the underlying cause of ‘bush sickness’ and ‘wasting disease’. Cobalt is an integral part of vitamin B12, which has a key role to play in ruminants for cellular function and growth. If adequate cobalt is available, microbes in the rumen manufacture vitamin B12, which is then digested by the animal and stored in the liver.

It is important to realise that sheep have a higher cobalt requirement than cattle and that growing stock have a higher requirement than adult stock. Making sure ewes have adequate levels of vitamin B12 prior to lambing is important, to ensure that lambs have sufficient liver stores at birth.

Clinical signs of cobalt deficiency in sheep include reduced appetite, impaired growth rate and wool growth and sometimes crusty ears and a watery discharge from the eyes. Affected ewes can be infertile, have increased perinatal mortality and produce less milk. Cobalt deficient lambs may have higher worm burdens and faecal egg counts, possibly due to a reduced immune response. It has also been reported that cobalt deficient sheep may suffer from depressed immunity and are more susceptible to infectious diseases. There are a number of other trace minerals that may be deficient in New Zealand pastures. One of the most important of these is selenium, which is a component of a number of enzymes in livestock. Inadequate supply of selenium can have serious impact on growth and also on the animal’s immunity to infection.

Elevate is a vitamin B12 injectable solution for the treatment and control of cobalt deficiency in livestock. Available as 500ml flexi-packs, there are two strengths with the added convenience of being able to manage dose volumes ranging from lambs at tailing (Elevate B12 1000) through to adult cattle (Elevate B12 2000). Elevate is easy to administer under the skin in the neck, using the supplied draw-off apparatus and an injection gun. There are also two Elevate products containing both vitamin B12 and selenium for the treatment and control of both cobalt and selenium deficiency. Ewes and cows should be dosed pre-lambing and precalving respectively, to ensure adequate stores of vitamin B12 in the new-born and thereafter lambs and calves should receive regular doses of Elevate (refer to product labels for full details). Elevate will be shortly appearing on the shelves in a bright new silver coloured carton with a red slash, which is more eye catching and easier to read than the current packaging. The carton has also been strengthened to protect the contents from crushing. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Bayer.

Setting targets to optimise farm performance

Leading into autumn, it’s important to focus on factors you can control, to drive the long-term sustainability of your business. Therefore stay focused on maximising production next season by achieving optimum feed cover and optimum cow condition at calving. To do anything else will compromise one year’s production for the next.

Targeting condition scores of 5 for all your mixed age cows and 5.5 for your first and second calvers at calving will help you make the decision of when to dry off cows based on their condition score. On autumn pasture at 100 days out from calving, all mixed age cows below BCS 4 and first calvers below 4.5 should be dried off (Dairy NZ Facts and Figures page 38). Failing to do this and having cows 1 BCS lower at calving will cost you approximately $110.50 per cow (@$4.70 pay-out). To achieve the increase in body condition once these cows are dried off still requires high levels of feeding. Therefore drying off thin cows is not a technique for creating feed, when feed is short.

Pasture growth rates decline as autumn progresses. It is important to ensure that you are getting maximum utilisation

from the feed you are giving to these lighter cows. Challenge from infective parasite larvae found on pasture means that energy and protein, which would otherwise be used to improve body condition, is used to prevent establishment of parasite infections within the body. This effectively decreases feed utilisation. Drenching cows at drying off eliminates the effect of the pastural challenge, therefore maximising feed utilisation and Body Condition Scores.

Cydectin Pour-On for Cattle and Deer is New Zealand’s premium pour-on, which delivers exceptional broad spectrum worm control for longer, against important roundworms in cattle, including:

• Ostertagia ostertagi for 35 days,

• Trichostrongylus axei and Haemonchus spp for 28 days and

• Lungworm for 42 days.

New Zealand trial data1 demonstrated that cows treated with Cydectin Pour-On produced an average of 4 percent more milk, because parasites are controlled for longer. The trials showed that using Cydectin Pour-On resulted in, on average, an extra 4.3kg of milksolids (worth $20.21 @ $4.70 pay-out). One trial demonstrated an increase in liveweight of 14kg per cow, compared to untreated

cows. Using a long acting drench at dry off in light cows is another cost effective technique to get cows up to target body condition for calving.

When conditions conspire against you, make a stand with Cydectin. The drench you can depend on for healthier, better producing cows. Cydectin is trusted by farmers to deliver exceptional worm control.

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Zoetis.

Refence: AW Murphy. The effect of treatment with moxidectin, a long acting endectocide, on milk production in lactating dairy cows. World buiatrics congress proceedings 1998, vol 1, 463-469.

Young Grower of the Year — essential to an industry vision

Horticulture needs young leaders. Leaders to drive the industry into a future where $10 billion by 2020 is possible. Hamish Gates, Horticulture New Zealand’s 2015 Young Grower of the Year, along with the 33 others who competed last year, will help make that vision a reality.

Young Grower of the Year is a series of competitions run by HortNZ and its partners to find the best young fruit or vegetable grower in the country. Competitions start in the regions and are run by local co-ordinators. Four fruit grower events are held in Central Otago, Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Hawke’s Bay and one vegetable grower event is held in Canterbury. Regional events are constantly evolving, with co-ordinators

thinking creatively about how to foster best practice and leadership in our young growers.

Competitions are held from April to July and welcome spectators to support contestants while they battle it out for the title of best fruit or vegetable grower in their region. The five finalists from regional competitions move on to the Young Grower of the Year final.

• NZ Young Vegetable Grower –28 April, Riccarton Park Racecourse and Rydges Hotel, Christchurch.

• Central Otago Young Fruit Grower – 27 May, Otago Polytechnic, Horticulture Training Facility, Cromwell.

• Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower –22 June, Mills Reef Winery, Tauranga.

• Nelson Young Fruit Grower –1 July, Hoddy’s Orchard and the Headingly Centre, Nelson.

• Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower – 8 and 9 July, A&P Showgrounds, Hastings.

Now in its 10th year, the national final will be held for the first time in Pukekohe at the Pukekohe Indian Association on 20 July. Eight different modules are designed to test the five regional finalists’ practical abilities, business acumen, innovation and imagination. A panel discussion on leadership and a speech at the evening awards dinner will put into practice the communication and presentation skills they develop at the Media and Presentation course included in their regional prize pack.

HortNZ is committed to reaching its vision of $10 billion by 2020 and recognises the development of young leaders as integral to its success. The competition series relies on a strong family of sponsors and is a way for the horticulture industry to invest in the people that are vital to its competitive edge. Young Grower of the Year opens doors through industry connection, media exposure and the opportunity for participants to see the true extent of their capabilities. It is this confidence that encourages young growers to take the next step. What that step is varies from year to year and competitor to competitor. Some have successfully established the Young Leader groups that are now operating in the different regions and several have commercialised the innovation proposal they submitted for their national final. For Hamish, Young Grower of the Year 2015 was a reminder that “the sky is not the limit” and that he can “go so much further and so can anyone else”. This is the attitude the competition ignites and one that is fundamental to the continued success of New Zealand’s horticultural industry. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Kirsty de Jong, Business Manager Hort NZ, Young Grower of the Year Manager.

Post–harvest ‘clean up’ in grapes

The main driver of grape vine powdery mildew Erysiphe necator is the quantity of inoculum carried over from the past season.

The aim of a post-harvest “clean up” is to stop the production of cleistothecia, so that the infection can’t overwinter. Good disease control can prevent cleistothecia production. However, it is generally produced in the late summer to early autumn period, post-veraison, when powdery mildew preventative practices historically have ceased.

Developing cleistothecia

The initiation of cleistothecia sees the asexual sporulation stop in powdery mildew colonies. Once initiated, cleistothecia start out white, turn yellow, brown then finally black and once there is necrosis of the anchoring hyphae they are considered mature. Erysiphe necator cleistothecia can contain up to 36 ascospores. Once detached, the fruiting bodies are dispersed by rain splash onto bark, trunk, leaf litter and soil. Ascospore survival is consistently higher in exfoliating bark.

Excel Oil, Lime Sulphur and HML32 + Nordox eradicate the mycelium network on the leaf surface and kill the developing cleistothecia. They will not kill the matured cleistothecia, so eradication before they mature is essential for the management of inoculum. This improves the long-term control of powdery mildew. An autumn eradicant fungicide followed by a pre-flowering eradicant can be critical in the effectiveness of a season long preventative fungicide programme. “Action taken to eradicate cleistothecia can reduce significantly the incidence

and severity of powdery mildew,” –Gadoury et al.

Article supplied by Bridget Wilton,Technical Advisor, Farmlands Horticulture.

References: Blaich, R.,Heintz, C. and Wind, R. 1989. Studies on conidial germination and initial growth of the grapevine powdery mildew Uncinula necator on artificial substrates. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 30:415-421. Gadoury, D.M. and Pearson, R.C. 1990. Ascocarp dehiscence and ascospores discharge in Uncinula necator. Phytopathology 80:393-401

Gadoury, D.M., Pearson, R.C., Riegel, D.G., Seem, R.C, Becker, C.M. and Pscheidt, J.W. 1994 Reduction of powdery mildew and other diseases by over the trellis applications of lime sulphur to dormant grapevine. Plant Disease 78:83-87.

Gadoury, D.M., Wakefield, L.M., Cadle-Davidson, L., Dry, I.B. and Seem, R.C. 2012. Effects of Prior Vegative Growth, Inoculum Density, Light, and Mating of Conidiation of Erysiphe necator. Phytopathology 102 65-72.

| Pre-spray.

| 7 days post 3.5% Lime Sulphur.

Psa-V management post-harvest

The period between harvest and leaf-fall is a high risk for Psa-V in kiwifruit, with cooler and wetter weather favouring Psa-V infection in the autumn.

Wounds created at harvest provide ideal entry points for Psa-V and late season growth (especially in male vines) is particularly vulnerable to Psa-V.

The application of approved protectant sprays is recommended immediately post-harvest to help protect fruit stalks, leaves and late season growth from Psa-V infection. This includes copper with the addition of ActigardTM where there is no risk of spray drift onto fruit.

The benefit of applying Actigard early post-harvest is that leaves are in better condition to absorb the systemic active ingredient (acibenzolar-S-methyl), to provide up to 21 days’ protection. It can take 4 to 7 days for Actigard to fully activate kiwifruit vines, so the addition of copper is recommended for immediate protection and also for multiple modes of action against Psa-V.

Actigard should be applied at a rate of 200g/ha as a dilute spray in conjunction with copper as soon as practical after harvest, with good coverage of leaves, fruit stalks and leaf scars required to optimise efficacy.

Actigard can be applied to kiwifruit up to four times per season. Depending on how many Actigard sprays have been applied

previously, up to two applications of Actigard can be applied at 21 day intervals post-harvest if canopy condition allows (i.e. leaves are still green). Actigard is likely to be less effective when applied to leaves at an advanced stage of deterioration or after a significant frost event.

Growers should avoid applying Actigard to vines already stressed due to frost, high winds or excessive moisture. This means applying Actigard prior to, rather than after, high risk weather events. To avoid the risk of residues when applying Actigard post-harvest, extreme care must be taken to avoid spray drift onto fruit in unharvested areas of the orchard or neighbouring orchards. Sprayer tanks must also be cleaned thoroughly before any other products are applied to unharvested vines.

The precise mode of action of Actigard on Psa-V is not fully understood. However, Actigard has consistently shown to reduce the symptoms of Psa-V by stimulating the natural self-defence system of kiwifruit via a response known as Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR). Trials in kiwifruit have shown that

reducing the level of Psa-V infection in the autumn can help to reduce the symptoms of Psa-V in the following spring.

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

Article supplied by Actigard.

Young Grower of the Year — essential to an industry vision

thinking creatively about how to foster best practice and leadership in our young growers.

• NZ Young Vegetable Grower –28 April, Riccarton Park Racecourse and Rydges Hotel, Christchurch.

• Central Otago Young Fruit Grower – 27 May, Otago Polytechnic, Horticulture Training Facility, Cromwell.

• Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower –22 June, Mills Reef Winery, Tauranga.

• Nelson Young Fruit Grower –1 July, Hoddy’s Orchard and the Headingly Centre, Nelson.

• Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower – 8 and 9 July, A&P Showgrounds, Hastings.

Article supplied by Kirsty de Jong, Business Manager Hort NZ, Young Grower of the Year Manager.

Post–harvest ‘clean up’ in grapes

The main driver of grape vine powdery mildew Erysiphe necator is the quantity of inoculum carried over from the past season.

Developing cleistothecia

and severity of powdery mildew,” –Gadoury et al.

Article supplied by Bridget Wilton,Technical Advisor, Farmlands Horticulture.

| Pre-spray.

| 7 days post 3.5% Lime Sulphur.

Psa-V management post-harvest

The period between harvest and leaf-fall is a high risk for Psa-V in kiwifruit, with cooler and wetter weather favouring Psa-V infection in the autumn.

Wounds created at harvest provide ideal entry points for Psa-V and late season growth (especially in male vines) is particularly vulnerable to Psa-V.

Actigard can be applied to kiwifruit up to four times per season. Depending on how many Actigard sprays have been applied

reducing the level of Psa-V infection in the autumn can help to reduce the symptoms of Psa-V in the following spring.

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

Article supplied by Actigard.

IPM management of diamondback moth

Warmer conditions mean an abundance of insect pests. Farmers wanting the best returns understand how important it is to have an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy to manage damaging pests such as diamondback moth, which can devastate brassica crop yields.

Diamondback moth is mostly active at night and can lay up to 100 eggs. The eggs transform into hundreds of larvae, which cause a huge amount of damage as they feed on the leaves. The problem isn’t generally noticed until the autumn when pest numbers peak and plant growth slows. Effective control needs to be achieved in the summer months whilst integrating pest management options. For an effective IPM programme, consideration should be given to all available pest control techniques. By using the appropriate control methods, pest populations can be managed and kept below economic thresholds, as well as reducing risks to human health and the environment. Fundamentally, production

output is still the primary consideration, therefore an IPM programme should always pose the least risk while maximising benefits and reducing costs. Be more selective – when choosing an insecticide for an IPM programme you need to consider the product's selectivity. It must offer high levels of pest control whilst minimalising the impact on beneficial insects. Highly selective insecticides such as Sparta™ insecticide have revolutionised IPM programmes around the world by offering cost effective, highly targeted control, without the risks associated with organophosphates and other toxic chemicals.

“Using a product soft on beneficial insects such as Sparta™ insecticide allows beneficial insects such as ladybirds and lacewings to work hand in hand with the chemistry in a balanced way,” Nick Koch, Marketing Manager for Dow AgroSciences New Zealand says. “Removing all the beneficial insects using older broad spectrum chemistries disrupts the natural balance, therefore allowing secondary insects such as aphids to flare up, creating yet another pest issue.

“Sparta insecticide has proven performance across a wide range of insect pests such as diamondback moth, white butterfly, leaf miner, springtails and nysius, making it a versatile choice for growers” Nick says. “Growers are demanding an alternative to old harmful chemistries such as synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) and organophosphates (OPs) –Sparta is proven to be the best product available for diamondback moth, whilst

being selective to beneficial predators such as ladybirds.

“Resistance to OPs and SPs across New Zealand is on the rise, resulting in increased numbers of control failures. Resistance is largely a result of overuse allowing insect pests to build up immunity – new chemistry is needed to break the resistance cycle. Sparta belongs to a unique chemical class known as the Spinosyns, which have no known insect resistance.

“Additionally, there is an increasing awareness of the health and safety concerns associated with the old chemistries – users are becoming more concerned for their wellbeing” Nick says. “Farmers want an insecticide that delivers the highest level of control of damaging insect pests, minimal impact on beneficial insects and ideally something that is safe to use. Sparta delivers on all three counts”. Sparta is derived from a naturally occurring active ingredient that poses minimal risk to people, animals and the environment. Sparta’s unique chemistry provides powerful control of diamondback moth and white butterfly that outperforms current market standards.

Article supplied by Dow AgroSciences.

New weed and pest control options at spray-out

Pasture renewal programmes are often initiated because older pastures have become overrun by deep rooted perennial weeds like Californian thistle, docks and in more recent years, oxeye daisy. These weeds are not well controlled by ‘clover safe’ pasture herbicides, so the only real opportunity to get on top of them is during the pasture renewal cycle. However, until recently there have been limited options to gain reliable control of these deep rooted perennial weeds.

T-MAXTM

While glyphosate is very effective against grasses, broadleaf weeds are not so well controlled by glyphosate alone. Various broadleaf herbicides and adjuvants are often added to glyphosate to improve broadleaf weed control but deep rooted perennial broadleaf weeds such as docks, Californian thistle and oxeye daisy often re-grow because their root systems are not totally killed. As a consequence, while control might look good for 2 or 3 weeks after a spray application, a short time later these weeds will re-emerge having regrown from live root remnants.

If these deep rooted perennial broadleaf weeds are not well controlled early in the pasture renewal cycle, they quickly become an issue when paddocks return to clover based pasture and very little is gained. Now there is a reliable solution! Due to its ability to readily move through the sap stream and completely kill the root system, ‘aminopyralid’, a unique active ingredient in T-MAX has proven to be highly effective in controlling deep rooted perennial broadleaf weeds. A new

registration for T-MAX allows tank mixing with glyphosate at spray-out, prior to sowing forage brassicas, cereals, maize and ryegrass. T-MAX is therefore a useful tool in the pasture renewal cycle where these crops are grown.

If sowing a straight annual ryegrass this autumn, T-MAX herbicide mixed with glyphosate at spray-out is the single most effective way to break the perennial broadleaf weed cycle and get high level control of these ‘hard to kill’ weeds prior to sowing. While forage brassicas, cereals, maize and ryegrass can be sown straight after T-MAX in a spray-out application, it is recommended to wait at least 6 months before re-establishing clover. Tank mixing T-MAX with glyphosate prior to sowing annual grass in autumn provides a perfect buffer to ensure good clover establishment the following season. Effective control of deep rooted perennial weeds at spray-out means no residual live root chips in the ground to regenerate when you return to permanent pasture the following season.

Sparta

Another major and often underrated problem that can affect autumn sown ryegrass/clover pasture is springtail damage which, often appears as poor pasture establishment. Until recently older organophosphate insecticides were the only option for springtail control at sprayout or shortly after drilling.

Sparta is a new and unique insecticide with major environmental and end user safety benefits compared to older

organophosphate insecticides. Sparta is safe and easy to apply and is virtually odourless. It’s excellent environmental profile includes safety to key beneficial insects, which helps reduce pressure of later pest outbreaks. Importantly, Sparta still provides robust and cost effective springtail control that matches older chemistry. Sparta can be tank-mixed with many other herbicides including glyphosate. Therefore because spray-out is the most effective timing for springtail control, Sparta can be added as part of a single spray-out application, to provide cheap and effective insurance for good pasture establishment.

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

Article supplied by Dow AgroSciences.

Friesian ‘mowers’ keep sugar grass fresh

Mowing paddocks to maintain grass quality is not considered a good option by Taranaki dairy farmer Paul O’Rorke despite having his rural contracting machinery readily available.

“It would be a false economy and a waste of diesel,” Paul says. He instead relies on 550 Friesian cross dairy cows to ‘mow’ grass across the farm to a targeted residual level for fresh regrowth.

Partly grazed paddocks tend to grow rank grass, which is a waste, so to keep his ‘mowers’ up to the task Paul has sown a third of his 180 hectare dairy farm into more palatable Aber® High Sugar Grass (HSG) pasture and intends to eventually have this grass across the whole farm.

“The cows like the sugar grass. They graze it hard. So they are eating more and seem happy and content.”

Each year Paul sows crop areas into ryegrass and for the past 8 years Aber HSG varieties have been the only perennial ryegrasses chosen for pasture renewal, because they are proven to be not only more tasty to cows but have also proven persistence through dry summers.

“The first Aber paddocks are still there,” Paul says. He currently has 60ha growing an Aber HSG ‘Dairy/Beef Mix’ of ryegrass and clover.

“It’s not a tall grass. You don’t think there’s a lot in the paddock but the cows come out very satisfied. It’s very thick and dense pasture and they get right into it and graze it down hard.”

He says the clean grazing of paddocks is a real benefit in the Te Kiri area south-west of Mount Taranaki, because the uneven terrain makes it more difficult to tow a mower behind the tractor.

“We don’t top (mow). So basically the cows keep that pasture quality and that’s a big plus for us. They eat it down every time.” Paul says there’s been no need to undersow, patch or fill those paddocks and there’s no worrying evidence of grass grub or other pest damage.

When developing the farm, Paul’s tractors towed rakes, a rock picker and other machinery across land strewn with volcanic rock and stones to transform it into today’s premium pasture, feeding a herd that last year produced 470kg milksolids per cow.

“In one paddock we removed 94 tonne of rock per hectare before cultivation and sowing into permanent grass. This is a hard area with thin top soil and it’s stony underneath, so this country provides a good trial for any grass.”

When it’s dry the cows can pull out clumps of less persistent grasses but there’s been no noticeable pulling of the perennial AberDart, the first Aber HSG sown and then AberMagic.

Dairy farming for 16 years, Paul relies on lower-order sharemilkers Geoff and Deanne Batchelor, in their fourth season with Paul, to run the farm while he’s focused on the rural contracting business.

Geoff also puts a high priority on pasture quality and is pleased with their pasture renewal so far and the plan to continue re-grassing poorer paddocks after supplementary crops.

As is the case for his farmer clients, any new grass has to prove its worth on the farm and this past spring Paul planted AberGreen, a new Aber HSG perennial and is looking forward to the results.

“We’ve been very happy with the grasses used here so far and there’s no reason to stop. We have a large proportion of the farm in Aber and we will just keep going until we have got the whole farm in it.”

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

Article supplied by Germinal.

| Rural contractor and dairy farmer Paul O’Rorke takes a look at the mid-summer condition of AberMagic and clover with his children (from right) Matthew, Toby and Amy.

Winter Crop Proves Impressive.

While annual ryegrasses share a number of similarities, one stands out from the rest when it comes to actual performance.

Winter crop proves impressive

Jivet is a tetraploid annual ryegrass developed by DLF Seeds that delivers rapid winter growth, extended spring production and high feed value for silage.

While annual ryegrasses share a number of similarities, one stands out from the rest when it comes to actual performance.

It establishes very quickly, grows back rapidly after each grazing throughout winter, and can be grazed for a much longer period in late spring and summer than traditional annual ryegrasses.

Jivet is also drilled into older pastures after spraying, for increased winter grazing (at a typical feed cost of 8 cents/kg/DM) and silage production, before planting to a summer crop in spring (e.g. chicory, turnips or maize).

Jivet is used widely for drilling into maize paddocks after harvest, providing a profitable crop before next maize planting and is the ideal grass for drilling into chicory stands in the autumn.

Jivet is used widely for drilling into maize paddocks after harvest, providing a profitable crop before the next maize planting, and is the ideal grass for drilling into chicory stands in the autumn.

Jivet is a tetraploid annual ryegrass developed by DLF Seeds that delivers rapid winter growth, extended spring production and high feed value for silage. It establishes very quickly, grows back rapidly after each grazing throughout winter and can be grazed for a much longer period in late spring and summer than traditional annual ryegrasses.

In addition to its abundant winter grazing, farmers have also been impressed with the superior quality of silage from Jivet. Its late heading date means more leaf and less stem at harvest, and therefore more energy. The quality of silage is so high that contractors are commonly being asked by farmer clients to supply them with ‘Jivet silage’.

Jivet is also drilled into older pastures after spraying, for increased winter grazing (at a typical feed cost of 8 cents/kgDM) and silage production, before planting to a summer crop in spring (e.g. chicory, turnips or maize).

the superior quality of silage from Jivet. Its late heading date means more leaf and less stem at harvest and therefore more energy. The quality of silage is so high that contractors are commonly being asked by farmer clients to supply them with ‘Jivet silage’.

To find about more about Jivet Annual Ryegrass, talk with a Farmlands Technical Field Officer or visit dlfseeds.co.nz

For more information about Jivet Annual Ryegrass, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

In addition to its abundant winter grazing, farmers have also been impressed with

Article supplied by DLF Seeds.

Spring feed to fit

There is huge value in having sufficient spring feed at lambing or calving, extra growth leading in to and during set stocking, having feed coming for the second grazing round, or to speed up balance day.

Farmlands Fairlie clients Mark and Maja Adams of Rocklands Farm have been able to manipulate their early spring growth by trying Easton tall fescue with MaxP® endophyte on their 480ha sheep and beef farm located north east of the Fairlie township, in the Mackenzie District. Easton tall fescue is very early heading compared to a ryegrass, with its spring flush up to 10 days earlier than standard mid-heading ryegrasses. After advice from their Farmlands Technical Field Officer Luke Brice, from early spring Mark and Maja set stocked 80 twin bearing ewes on 6.7ha of 1 year old Easton tall fescue.

This increased in early October to 200 twin bearing ewes for 14 days, followed by 90 R2 steers for 7 days, cleaning up any leftover feed before the paddock was closed up for a short while prior to the next rotation onto the Easton tall fescue. Mark was impressed by what the paddock could stock, especially for that time of year.

It has been an extremely dry season around Fairlie but Easton has performed exceptionally well. “This is the answer I have been looking for as spring is such a critical pinch time on my farm,” Mark says. He “even struggled to keep on top of it in a dry year,” due to the amount of feed it was

producing through early spring. Having this bulk of feed arriving early in the spring allowed their other pastures to build covers. Mark’s lambs on the Easton continued to grow well because of excellent milk supply from the mothers and the lambs he weaned off the Easton have been a lot better than he has had off some of his ryegrass pastures.

Looking forward, Mark sees the potential to get up to a third of the drier areas of his farm in tall fescue, with the possibility that it could open up other opportunities such as an earlier lambing date.

Other strong spring feed producers are the mid-heading Request perennial ryegrass and Savvy cocksfoot. Request is a diploid, mid-heading ryegrass (+0 heading date relative to Nui) and while not as early as tall fescue, provides greater carrying capacity through September and early October compared to later flowering ryegrasses.

Savvy is a high yielding, soft-leaved cocksfoot that is typically finer in style compared to traditional cocksfoots. While Savvy is relatively late heading, it possesses significant October growth and can play a key role on free draining soils where persistence has become the primary focus. Recent trial work has showed great potential with cattle grazing Savvy pastures, providing strong carrying capacity and per-head performance through the spring and early summer. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Agricom.

| Mark Adams (left) with Farmlands Technical Field Officer Luke Brice (right).

Boosting milk production

Northern Southland dairy farmer, Wally Kalweit has been spring sowing ONE50 AR37 diploid perennial ryegrass for the past 6 years. The requirement for a persistent ryegrass that would get him through the summer dry and have excellent spring/summer production was essential to maximise his milksolid production. With advice from his Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Allister Gibson, ONE50 AR37 was an ideal fit for Wally’s high producing dairy system.

The un-irrigated 370ha farm, located just out of Mossburn runs 1,140 dairy cows and for the 2014/2015 season achieved an outstanding 434kg MS/cow, more than the average per cow production in Southland. Wally is now well on track for his 2015/2016 target of 450kg MS/cow, with the use of ONE50 perennial ryegrass being a key contributor to increasing his production. Since converting the farm in 2008, Wally re-grasses 10-12 percent of his property each year and now has two

thirds of his property in ONE50 AR37.

ONE50 perennial ryegrass is one of the highest performing cultivars available and has been extensively trialled throughout New Zealand as part of the National Forage Variety Trials. Data from these trials contribute to the DairyNZ Forage Value Index (FVI), giving cultivars an economic value between different ryegrass, regions and endophytes.

ONE50 AR37 has been given a five star rating (in the top 20 percent).

ONE50 is a late heading ryegrass (+20 days relative to Nui), so its flush of growth occurs towards mid to late spring, with excellent summer growth carrying into the autumn and winter. “The need for good spring growth is huge, because we get dry for 6 weeks in February/March and ONE50 AR37 gives us that,” Wally explains. Not only has Wally been impressed with ONE50’s spring production but also with how well it recovers after the dry period and how quickly it bounces back after pugging events in early spring after a wet

winter. The farm grows on average 12-14t DM/ha/yr with strategic applications of urea.

The paddocks are on a 30 day round from October to the end of March and then a 40 day round until the cows are taken off-farm for the winter. Grain is fed at 200g per day to the cows over the summer and silage/baleage is brought in from the support block, as is short-term grass and whole crop silage. Wally tops his paddocks when it starts to go to seed either pre or post-grazing to maintain good quality throughout the summer months. Wally also values how clover friendly ONE50 is, which also helps to maintain high pasture quality throughout the season.

AR37 novel endophyte was chosen to be used with ONE50, as Wally was having problems with porina and ryegrass staggers as prior to the conversion, high endophyte grasses were sown. AR37 has a higher level of resistance to more pasture insects than any other ryegrass endophyte commercially available. AR37 is effective against Argentine stem weevil, black beetle, porina, pasture mealy bug and root aphid. “We had bad porina issues prior to converting and were big Dimlin users but since using AR37 we haven’t had any major porina problems and there have been no stagger issues or animal health issues.” Wally says.

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

Article supplied by Agricom.

| Allister Gibson, Farmlands Technical Field Officer with Southland farmer Wally Kalweit.

Cereal options with Farmlands Grain and Seed

Once again this autumn Farmlands Grain and Seed can offer cereal growers a comprehensive range of cereal seed options, whether being grown for grain harvest, whole crop cereal silage, green-chop cereal silage, or grazed. These crops can be grown from the true winter varieties to utility types.

An example of the cereal cultivars suited to early autumn to winter sowing and available to order through Farmlands Grain and Seed are:

• Early autumn barley – Cassia, Padura (true winter barley suited to late March-April sowing), Retriever.

• Later autumn barley – Booma, Liberator.

• Milling wheat – Claire, Conquest, Discovery, Empress, Inferno (high yielding biscuit/feed, suits March/April sowing).

• Feed wheat – Cougar, Excede, Raffles, Starfire (wide planting

window, extremely high yield potential), Torch, Wakanui.

• Oats – Coronet, Hokonui, Milton.

• Triticale – Bolt, Crackerjack, Doubletake, Empero, Forerunner, WiNtermax.

All seed is subject to availability at the time.

Getting the season off to good start

Seed treatment is advised especially for the early sowings.

Systiva is a form of SDHI fungicide, which has very good protection on scald and net blotch in particular for early sown barley and also on wheat for early rust and mildew. As with all SDHI products a maximum of teo applications per crop is advised as a method to minimise disease resistance.

For both wheat and barley, sowing seed treated with Raxil and Poncho ensures you will control smuts and bunts and aphids. By controlling aphids, you prevent infection and transmission of

barley yellow dwarf virus through to GS21. If you are growing wheat then adding Galmano brings the additional control of stripe rust, leaf rust and mildew through to GS30 in the early spring.

New for 2016, Farmlands is pleased to be applying Raxil, Galmano and Poncho in combination with Peridiam® Ferti 402. Peridiam Ferti 402 maintains the excellent dust control and visual appearance provided by previous Peridiam formulations but also brings the added benefit of the trace elements molybdenum, zinc and manganese.

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

Article supplied by BASF.

Pasture performance across the North

Resilient pastures that can handle a range of climatic conditions are key for farmers nationwide. Not all perennial ryegrasses are the same – they vary in their breeding and characteristics. SF Stellar from Seed Force is very densely tillered and robust, helping with pasture persistence while still being palatable and highly productive.

Farmlands shareholders from across the North are getting great results with their SF Stellar pastures.

Gilbert De Groot and his wife Carol milk 450 cows as well as running about 100 yearling and heifer replacements on their Paparoa dairy farm.

They first trialled Stellar about 3 years ago, planting it in four different paddocks along with a number of other products. “I have found Stellar has been the one that’s beaten everything hand over fist,” Gilbert says.

“To me, Stellar takes a bit longer to disappear in the summer, it hangs on a lot longer in the dry. Then when we get our first rain, it’s the first one to get up and start boogying again.

“The cows love it too and do well on it. They eat it well and don’t leave a lot.”

This year the De Groots have put in 30ha of Stellar and are not using any other grasses. They plan to convert half of the farm to Stellar because of the results they have had.

For Katikati dairy farmer Gabrielle Syminton, Seed Force Stellar has been a star performer in a challenging environment. The dairy farm, which milks 300 cows, is flat to hilly and windy, making it prone to drying out.

“It does depend on how the paddocks are grazed and managed but I just think that, for this farm and the environment, it has served us well,” Gabrielle says.

“We’ve found Stellar is a very good producer in that we seem to be getting into it around 17-19 days after grazing during spring to early summer and mid to late autumn. It would be pushed out a few more days during summer to early autumn, depending on rainfall. I have been very impressed with it and the cows seem to like it better (than other pastures).”

She says Stellar comes out quickly and, importantly, stays.

“Stellar seems to do better, is more palatable and produces better when it’s a bit shorter. We watch it quite carefully but it seems to grow a lot faster and is ready to be grazed in that shorter

timeframe…the quality is there and you can’t deny it really.

“We’ve just refurbished two paddocks, one in Italian ryegrass and one in Stellar and we put some calves on them to nip it down – they certainly like the Stellar better, it seems to be more palatable.”

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

Article supplied by Seed Force.

| Gilbert De Groot.

| Gabrielle Syminton.

Retail seed South Island seed returns

The 2016 harvest has been initially delayed by inclement weather, resulting in grass and clover seed crops being back in yield in some instances and concerns about quality. Moata and proprietary seed varieties that were available ex-harvest should be available for sale by mid-March. We have good stocks of all other seeds on hand for our autumn sowing requirements.

Please note that any seed that you would like to return and be credited for must be returned to the originating Farmlands Seed Store, not the Farmlands Retail Store and have prior approval before delivery. As seed is a perishable item, we do not want seed returned and will only approve the return and credit in extenuating circumstances and if we can immediately resell it. In this

Grain and seed report

Grain prices have fallen in-line with dairy returns. Pasture growth has been above expectations in most regions and has further reduced demand from the dairy sector. That being said, we continue to be active in the market trading wheat, barley and maize grain.

Dairy returns will rise again, it is just a matter of when. When will world dairy producers reduce their supply into the market? I can’t see a demand driven rally anytime soon, so it’s down to reduced supply and the only thing positive about low dairy prices is that it is sending a clear message to the EU and the US to reduce production. New Zealand production is falling but not as much as first predicted. My personal view is that the 2016/2017 pay-out (including dividend) will be above the current season and will be above the $5.00kg and at the time of writing the OTC trade was reflecting this – 2017/2018 higher again, north of $5.50kg. That being said, there are some wild cards in the pack that are game changers. Russia. When will Putin lift the ban on dairy imports? Oil. How long will Saudi’s maintain production? China. Will it get worse before it gets better?

day of precision drills, GPS on tractors and spray rigs, paddock areas are known with certainty and requiring extra just in case should not be required.

Article supplied by Mark Elliotte, General Manager, Farmlands Grain and Seed.

Corn/Wheat FOB Prices (USD/MT)

Source: Bloomberg

Drought. There’s always one somewhere in the world. What effect will a Super El Nino have on US production? If we see US corn yields below 130 bushels/acre, feed costs will be much higher in the northern hemisphere, which will have a big impact on dairy given that 90 percent of the world’s milk production is derived from grain. Dairy farmers in the northern hemisphere have had extremely low grain prices for three seasons (see graph). Back to New Zealand grain. My own view is that we are unlikely to see a recovery in grain prices until late in the second half of 2017 but I could be wrong – it could recover sooner or it may take longer. A lift in dairy returns will take time to flow into grain markets as cash flow will be an issue for dairy farmers. New Zealand plantings will be down for the 2016/2017 season in response to low

prices and lack of forward contracts. This will help to reduce the carryover stocks position of grain in silos from 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. Demand is unlikely to significantly improve until we see positive returns from dairy. Also, with the traditional non-dairy end-users, even with a rally in international prices, for many it will take time to turn back to domestic grain. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Dean Smith, Farmlands Grain Trader.

Helping shareholders meet compliance requirements

As part of your co-operative, Farmlands Nutrition is committed to providing the highest quality feed supplies and services to our shareholders. Last year saw us respond to industry initiatives to improve safety and traceability around the feeds we supply.

The volume and range of feeds used by dairy farmers has grown in recent years as farmers look to maximise their profitability. In late 2015 Fonterra responded to these changes by releasing guidelines for dairy feed industry suppliers, which shareholders are already seeing reflected in the information we supply. All feeds brought onto a farm and intended for lactating animals now require a feed declaration. Feeds grown by farmers on their own farm or support block do not need a declaration. When accepted onto the farm, purchased stock feed including compound feed, grain, straights or forages must only be accepted with documentation identifying what it contains, where it came from and confirmation that it is suitable for feeding to dairy animals. Bagged feed should be clearly labelled and bulk feed purchases should be accompanied by appropriate documentation or feed declarations. Feed purchasers should also ensure that records are retained for 4 years, that the feed is stored in a manner that avoids degradation or contamination

and that the feed is used appropriately. As has been required for some time, feed for lactating dairy animals must not contain ruminant protein and source crops must not have been grown on land to which human/ municipal or meat/industrial waste was applied.

New Zealand has a good reputation when it comes to locally manufactured feed. To ensure that standards are high the New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association (NZFMA) developed the FeedSafeNZ accreditation programme, so that farmers can be reassured that the feed they are purchasing is manufactured to the highest possible standard. To receive accreditation audits are carried out by AsureQuality, a company that provides food safety and biosecurity services to the food and primary production sectors worldwide. In 2015, Farmlands’ Winton and Rolleston mills received FeedSafeNZ accreditation. This came after passing extensive independent audits that involved a thorough on-site audit of our plant and storage facilities and operations, covering all aspects of feed production and traceability. The FeedSafeNZ accreditation has two main aims – to provide safe feed for animals and thereby to protect the safety of human food. Only FeedSafeNZ-accredited sites are permitted to use the FeedSafeNZ logo

on their packaging and other materials. Farmlands Nutrition has invested in a new computer programme and training, so that changes to raw materials are accurately reflected in the feed certificate that accompanies each consignment. Like our shareholders, we are devoting more time and effort to compliance and auditing to ensure the maximum safety of the feeds we supply. The FeedSafeNZ accreditation will help maintain the high quality of feed sold to farmers and eliminate product that can lead to poor animal growth and production, as well as reducing cross-contamination of ingredients from storage or processing. If shareholders have any questions about the information they receive or require, they are urged to contact Farmlands Nutrition.

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

Nutritional factors affecting egg quality

We’ve all heard the old adage that “you are what you eat” and whilst one can argue the validity of this generalised statement, what the hen eats can have a dramatic effect on the quality of the egg produced.

Whilst protein and lipid content of the egg is relatively fixed, the type of lipid in the egg can be altered by the type of lipid that the hen consumes. For example, a niche market exists for eggs enriched with omega-3 (Ω-3) fatty acids in many countries around the world. As recently as last year, Dr. Browning from Sydney University demonstrated that a full recommended daily allowance for an adult human of vitamin D was able to be present in the egg through supplementation of this vitamin to the laying hen. More than 20 years ago, Naber (1993) demonstrated that a number of vitamins could be transferred from the hen’s diet to the egg with varying degrees of efficiency. Work by Jlang et al. (1994), Cheng (1991) and as early as 1950, Dju demonstrated the transfer of vitamin E from the hen’s diet to the yolk of the egg. Paton et al. (2000) and Surai et al. (1999) demonstrated the effect of supplementation of organic selenium yeast on the selenium content of egg yolk and the day-old chick. The literature is literally full of research on the subject of transfer of nutrients to the egg and this has been driven by

both the human nutrition angle and the nutritional status of the day-old broiler and laying hen.

Nutritionists at NRM have used a vast amount of research to set the specifications of their layer feeds over the years and continue to spend time reviewing the diet specifications to ensure that they meet the requirements of our customers. Obviously, the basic nutrient requirements of the hen including protein (amino acids), fat and macro minerals such as calcium, for good eggshells, need to be met to allow the hen to produce to its potential. But there are a number of other considerations, which aren’t always evident but which are just as important if egg quality is to be optimised. One of the most important considerations is the energy content of the diet, as birds fed a low energy diet will tend to eat more of the feed, lose weight and lay smaller eggs. Another important consideration is the level of natural pigments that should be included in the feed to help achieve the desired yolk colour. This is always challenging, since the amount of colour transferred to the yolk is dependent on both the carophyll content of the feed and the health status of the hen. A hen with internal parasites, for example, will be less efficient in transferring carophyll to the egg yolk, as will an old hen relative to a young one. The quality

of egg albumin is also important and there’s nothing worse than breaking open an egg and it spreads over the entire pan! Whilst the freshness of the egg is the single biggest factor in terms of albumin quality, this also tends to decline with the age of the laying hen. Good, supplemental vitamin E and selenium levels in the hen’s feed have a significant impact on the albumin quality of an egg. Albumin quality is measured as a ratio of the height of the albumin to the egg weight and is known as the “Haugh unit”.

NRM balanced layer feeds include all the nutrients required to produce a nutritious and wholesome egg as efficiently as possible.

Article supplied by NRM.

Nutritional considerations for weaning young horses

The later summer months of February and March are a common time for equine breeders to begin the process of separating foals from their dams and correct nutrition is essential for what can be a stressful time. Planning ahead is required and strategies for weaning will differ, according to facilities available and farm management procedures derived to minimise stress and make the process as smooth as possible. The herd nature of the horse means they are required to have constant company and while larger establishments will often wean foals so they are paddocked together, owners with single foals will require another equine companion for them.

In order to meet the increased energy and nutrient requirements of the lactating mare prior to weaning, in most cases a balanced broodmare feed along with adequate forage in the form of pasture, hay or other fibre products is required. It is essential that the foal becomes accustomed to eating the hard feed before weaning, as this minimises complications associated with introducing a new feed at the same time as the stress of separation. This often occurs naturally by sharing the mare’s feed.

In most cases, broodmares are less affected by weaning and some will be more than ready to be separated from their young, energetic offspring. This is often the time when mares will gain weight, as lactation gradually ceases and energy is no longer required for milk production. Mare dietary alterations should therefore occur according to body condition and most mares will require less hard feed than when they had a foal at foot. Mares who gain weight easily can be transitioned onto a balancer pellet, to ensure nutrients are still supplied in the diet without adding calories and contributing to weight gain.

Most foals are weaned from at least 5 to 6 months of age and by this stage they are independent and able to consume any forage or hard feed required. The time of growth

between 6 and 12 months is crucial for skeletal development, as the risk of developmental orthopaedic diseases is high. Research has shown that to minimise the risk of conditions such as osteochondritis, physitis and wobblers developing, the most important considerations are to achieve steady growth and to provide a low glycaemic diet that is balanced for all essential vitamins and trace minerals.

Steady growth in weanlings is achieved through monitoring condition carefully and avoiding any rapid changes through altering energy intake accordingly. While many stud managers have a highly experienced eye and can spot changes in body condition quickly enough, weighing and measuring weanlings gives much more accurate readings, as well as the ability to compare values as they grow and look for any significant changes.

Providing the best diet for the growing horse requires adequate forage and the selection of a breeding feed that has a low glycaemic index (to avoid peaks in blood glucose) and is balanced for all nutrients essential for optimum growth and development. For assistance with feeding plans for growing horses and broodmares at any stage of pregnancy, consult with an experienced equine nutrition advisor.

Article supplied by Luisa Wood, Equine Nutrition Technical Advisor.

Feeding cows in late lactation

How best to feed cows in late lactation will be a hot topic of debate in the months ahead as milk pay-out predictions, profitability and cash flows are scrutinised.

Supplementary feeding in the autumn has become increasingly popular amongst System 3 type dairy farmers, who have seen economic and longterm animal health benefits from feeding cows supplements at a time when they are physiologically able to respond well. Along with higher input System 4 and 5 dairy farmers, those used to feeding supplements may have to tighten their feed budget in line with the lower pay-out. Fortunately, Farmlands has been able to take advantage of changes in the supply of feeds in the local and international markets and is able to offer a greater choice of options, to help balance the supply of feed within a constrained budget. Extending days in-milk, whilst being able to dry cows off in the best condition depending on what feed is available for the winter ahead, is generally regarded as a significant factor in both this season’s profitability and setting cows up for the season ahead.

If pasture supply is limited or higher covers are desired it may be appropriate to feed palm kernel or other pasture alternatives such as silage, to help manage residuals whilst maintaining cows in-milk. However, when aiming to maintain milk production and gain body condition whilst optimising pasture intake a lower fibre supplement may be more appropriate. One way to do this while keeping costs low is to consider the use of blends, which can be customised to your individual situation and are an increasingly popular way to introduce some lower fibre, more readily rumen fermentable feeds into the cow’s diet.

For those with in-shed feeding systems, compound feed pellets offer a convenient, reliable way to increase energy intake throughout autumn and often contain more grain. Compared to straights, they offer the option of added minerals and rumen modifiers. For cows used to getting 1kg/day in the milking shed, lifting to 2kg/cow/ day during April and May should be sufficient to put nearly an extra 0.5 BCS on cows in late lactation, as they tend to partition extra energy to weight

gain rather than milk production. When feed out losses are taken into account, it makes sense to use low-waste in-shed feeding systems to feed for production and weight gain whilst cows are milking, rather than to supplement dry cows with silage for weight gain. Options are increasing, so it is worth discussing with a local specialist who is familiar with the region and feeds available.

Protein requirements of milking cows decrease through mid and late lactation, so provided dry matter intakes are maximised, the protein percentage in the diet can drop.

Protein levels in pasture typically rise during autumn, so keeping an eye on milk urea values in conjunction with milk production and body condition changes should help to clarify if higher or lower protein supplements are most appropriate. While feeding something that is in deficit can be rewarding, feeding something that is already over supplied can be detrimental and not cost effective, even if it appears cheap.

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

Managing body condition of cows and replacement heifers in drought

The first challenge of drought conditions is diminishing pasture covers and conserved forage stocks. The obvious ‘knock-on’ effect is a downturn in animal performance, i.e. milksolids output, daily growth etc. and potentially severe body condition losses. Drought is a less than ideal situation and will challenge your decision making ability to the core. However, drought is not the time for ‘non-decisions’ in the hope that things will improve quickly once it rains. You must make sound decisions early, most of which will run against your natural instincts.

In prolonged periods of drought, lactating cows of high genetic merit will continue to ‘give their all’ to the detriment of their own welfare unless we intervene with strategic management practices, such as purchasing additional feed or reducing nutrient requirements via 1 x milking. Cows can be dried off, however remember that if you are in a situation where homegrown forage stocks are depleted and feed must be purchased, dry cows give you no revenue to fund these purchases. If you are midlactation and find the average BCS of your herd moving towards 4.0 or below, move to 1 x milking. Your cows are telling you that the current situation is unsustainable. If you are already on 1 x milking and the cows are still losing BCS, increase the energy content of

the daily ration (most likely you need to add 1-3kg DM per cow) and review protein adequacy.

Remember that 1 BCS is equal to 6.58 percent of cow liveweight. If you allow your cows to ebb as low as 3.5, you have to offer substantially increased energy intake during late lactation to reach 4.5–5.0 by dry-off date. This can be attained when the cows are dry but again, there is no return from a dry cow and lactating cows are actually more efficient at gaining BCS than dry cows. The aim of drying cows off at the condition we want them to calve at still applies. However, you may choose to lower your target due to extreme circumstances, say 4.5 instead of 5.0. Historically, we would be concerned that calving at a lower BCS will mean a lower peak milksolids yield in the following lactation. This can be offset by strategic transition period nutrient intake practices. The key is to make sound decisions early and stick with them.

Replacement heifers will mobilise muscle mass and body condition/fat stores to give up nutrients for survival when intake delivers less than their requirements for maintenance, activity and thermoregulation (add pregnancy for rising 2 year old). It becomes even more important to weigh replacement heifers monthly (minimum) when feed

is tight, to ensure you are gauging their development on fact rather than speculation. Pre-pubescent heifers are still developing the mammary tissue responsible for lifetime milk production – nutrient intake is the key driver. Do everything within your power to ensure that they continue to reach daily growth rate targets for their age and breed. Use BCS with your mature cows and the actual weights of your replacement heifers to assess the adequacy of nutrient supply from your current rations. In drought, as in most other situations, increasing daily DMI is always going to be the starting point to resolve the immediate challenge. Don’t stress over technicalities, just work on delivering the next kilogram of intake. Article supplied by Inghams.

Understanding the components of a ruminant diet

It is important to have a balanced diet for optimum health, whether you are a human or a ruminant animal. When a diet is balanced, it is more likely to satisfy all nutrient requirements – animals will be healthier and will therefore be more efficient at growing and/or producing.

When a component of the diet is lacking, this becomes the limiting factor of the diet and holds back the performance of animals. When the limiting factor of a diet is correctly identified and remedied, it can often cause large increases in growth/ production, as this nutrient component was previously putting a cap on what an animal could produce. Energy and protein tend to be the most commonly limiting factors seen on farms in New Zealand (depending on climatic factors). However, other seemingly smaller components of the diet such as vitamins and minerals can also be extremely important, with deficiencies causing health and production issues. Under-supplying nutrients can be an issue but equally over-supplying nutrients can also cause sub-optimal performance as well. Even if an available feed is cheap to buy in, it could be false economy if the feed is not satisfying the limiting factor of a system and over-supplying other nutrients that are already adequate in the diet. When adding in supplements it is important to pick the correct feed that will help to balance out the existing

diet. This is not always based around the metabolisable energy (ME) of a feed, as this is too much of a simplistic view. When choosing a feed to balance a diet, it is important to consider other nutritional components of the feed, which can tell you a lot more about the feed than simply its ME. This does include considering the energy – but also where the energy is actually coming from (fat, sugar, starch, fibre) in order to understand how the feed will behave in the rumen. It’s also worth considering the protein content of a feed and whether the protein is rumen degradable or rumen bypass. Other factors to consider include the

dry matter of the feed, its micronutrient profile (and whether this improves or debilitates the micronutrient balance of the diet) and also the feed’s palatability and practicality of storing and feeding out.

The diagram below shows the important components of a ruminant diet. All of the components need to be balanced correctly, in order for the animal to be functioning optimally.

For more information about identifying your limit factor, talk to your local Technical Feed Specialist today.

Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Assistant Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.

Understanding the nutritional requirements of the ruminant

Herd health checks at dry off

Each autumn, the majority of dairy farms throughout the country complete their production season by working through the process of drying off their cows. This is an important phase for dairy herds, as farmers prepare their cows for wintering off before coming back for the next dairy season. Most farmers know the importance of maintaining their herd in peak condition, so that they can maximise the amount of milksolid production per cow. This is even more important in the current dairy economic climate. So the winter dry off is an ideal opportunity to ensure your herd’s health by administering an anthelmintic.

Clint Marshall, sharemilker at Rhodes Hill Farm, situated at Dorie in Mid-Canterbury, is preparing for autumn dry off. The MidCanterbury region has developed into a significant dairy producing area of the South Island, with farmers supplying a number of the local dairy factories. Rhodes Hill is a large dairy operation alongside an equally sized mixed cropping farm owned and operated by the Webster Family. The 280 hectare dairy property is home to 1,200 Friesian and Friesian cross cows.

“We administer an abamectin pour-on to our cows every autumn at dry off. Our choice of pour-on for the last 3 years has been ProAbamec. Obviously, effectiveness has been the priority in choosing a suitable pour-on. Donaghys

ProAbamec has met our animal health requirements fully. The product is consistent, easy to apply, packed in a convenient 5 litre back pack and has met all our expectations.

“The other major requirement has been cost – we are very conscious of our onfarm spending and without compromising the quality of product, we compare available products and in particular the price. For 3 years ProAbamec has been the most cost effective choice, which has been backed up with easy delivery, personal service and follow up interest.”

The team at Rhodes Hill Farm were early adopters of Donaghys ProAbamec when it was first launched and they have

maintained their support of this and a number of other Donaghys products.

“Using Donaghys ProAbamec ticks all our boxes and along with all the other Donaghys products we use, we are proud to support a New Zealand company that manufactures and supplies from their Dunedin factory.”

For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Donaghys.

Managing pressure

Even though the climate can be severe and the topography is challenging, Oporae Station, west of Weber in Southern Hawke’s Bay, is slowly but surely being transformed into a farming haven by owners Graham and Jean Jackson, with help from their son Peter.

In 2008, when Graham and Jean purchased the 1,050 hectare property, they were greeted with a typical hill country station – large paddocks, a reliance on natural or dam water for stock water and a rather inadequate trough system for some small holding paddocks near the house. On the positive side, the property had a very good stock race system along most of the 8km boundary, allowing for good stock transfer.

The property’s soil types range from limestone and papa to a light sandy loam with stony river base and has an average rainfall between 1,300 to 1,800ml per year. Graham, Jean and Peter currently farm 3,500 ewes, 900 hoggets, 240 breeding cows and support stock. Most progeny is now finished on the property, where previously conditions meant stock had to be sold on the store market.

Priorities following the farm purchase were based around subdivision and

developing a reticulated stock water scheme. Given the hilly terrain, the Jackson family sought expert advice on the water scheme and approached Ciaran Driscole, Business Manager of Farmlands Dannevirke. Ciaran arranged for Pete Carswell from Iplex Pipelines to visit Graham and Jean to discuss their plans, survey the property and offer design assistance.

“With the water source at 510 metres Above Sea Level (ASL), the low point 134 metres ASL and then rising again to 225 metres ASL, the system pressure would definitely have to be managed,” Pete says. “Having a good amount of static head is great but delivering excess water pressure to the trough causes issues – water turbulence in the trough chamber, valve bounce, excessive trough valve wear and tear and water hammer events downline, putting stress on pipe and fittings. Fortunately excess pressure can be managed by way of break pressure tanks, which effectively reset the system head. These break pressure tanks can be troughs, small 1,000 litre tanks or 30,000 litre reservoirs. Apart from delivering the correct water pressure to the trough, pipeline savings are achieved through mainline and lateral lines not requiring to be a more expensive, higher pressure rated pipe.”

The troughs located on the other side of the system’s low point at 225 metres ASL required the strategic location of a break pressure tank above this height on the opposite side of the valley. This

supply line did require 9 and 12.5-bar pipe to cope with the higher static head needed to feed the troughs off this line. In summary, break pressure tanks were used to mitigate the stock water mainline fall of more than 350 metres. A Gallagher Smart Water system was installed to monitor tank levels in the system. The mainline and lateral pipelines were sized to meet peak water demand for either finishing bulls or an all lamb operation. Working with the Regional Council, the fully reticulated stock water system now allows the natural waterways on Oporae Station to be fenced off. There are no pumps on the property, even for the household water supply, a bonus for an area that is subject to periodic power outages. Graham and Jean appreciated the practical advice and design assistance provided by Pete and the hassle free delivery of product onto farm arranged by the team at Farmlands Dannevirke. “I can sleep easily at night knowing my stock have plentiful, good quality water whenever they want it,” Graham says. For more information, please talk to your friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Iplex.

Installing your water tank

HELPFUL HINTS AND TIPS

While some areas have received welcome rainfall you can never be too prepared. Installing a new or extra tank can help.

Here’s some handy hints and tips to ensure the installation of your new water tank goes smoothly.

Firstly – preparation is key:

• Ensure the tank site is flat and level, free from rocks or stones and any foreign matter that may damage the tank’s base.

• Ensure the tank site is well compacted if fill is used to prepare or level the site.

• Ensure that the tank site is at least 300mm larger in diameter than the tank.

• If a sand base is used, a retaining cover should be used to prevent sand from washing away after installation.

Remember, a full tank will weigh up to 30 tonnes – so it is important that the surface it sits on is stable and firm.

You may also need to ensure you secure the tank once it has been delivered – if it’s windy or stormy your tank can easily be blown away if not secured down. Adding 200mm of water to the bottom of the tank is usually enough to weigh it down.

An important part of the preparation is to think about the number and types of inlets, outlets and valves you require. Planning how you will install and plumb the tank is important – it is highly

recommended you run your project past a drainlayer or plumber to ensure your plans will work!

To take advantage of the maximum catchment of water, it is ideal to place tanks at the end of a building. This way, downpipes can be fed from both gutters into one tank. Please note the overflow capacity must match the downpipe capacity. For example, two 90mm inlet downpipes would require equal capacity overflows. Also note that tank overflows can go below the ground and come up again, to meet stormwater run-off.

Important considerations when plumbing the tank are:

• Ensure a flexible hose is installed after the gate or ball valve with a minimum 300mm length.

• The tank outlet must NOT be subjected to extra force,

Flexible Pipe

100mm Sand or Equivalent

When pipe work is exposed or over a longer distance, insert a length of flexible pipe 300mm to absorb shocks and movements.

Alternatively, lay pipe work into the ground just after the 300mm flexible pipe to avoid running over and damaging the fitting and/or tank.

e.g. over tightening of fittings.

• Overflow must be piped clear of base to avoid erosion.

• The number of inlet pipes, their sizes and capacities must equal the number of overflow pipes, their sizes and capacities.

• Do not allow the tank site to deteriorate after installation due to any form of erosion or site destruction caused by vermin such as rabbits.

Promax corrugated tanks can be buried and fully back-filled up to 1 metre in the

Avoid free hanging unsupported pipe work, it puts excessive strain on fittings and tank wall.

ground – and still retain their 20 year warranty. Burying your Promax tank is a great way to avoid height restriction issues – also a buried tank with shrubs planted around it is more attractive in your backyard!

When you are planning to bury a Promax corrugated tank, you should prepare the base with 100mm minimum of compacted sand, just as you would if installing the tank above ground.

Article supplied by Promax.

300mm

Fresh bait, fresh look but deadly effective

Pestoff has been providing an effective, highly palatable bait to help eradicate those pesty rats and mice from rural homes and sheds for many years –and 2016 sees a new look packaging for Pestoff products. All the new packs have a quick reference to the bait type, tamper-proof lids and robust packaging to keep the bait fresh.

Rats and mice prefer fresh foods and will reject spoiled or low palatability foods when given a choice, so bait selection is important. The Pestoff Rodent Block bait uses a cereal base with brodifacoum as the active ingredient, combined with an attractive lure. Pestoff is New Zealand made – it’s fresh!

For successful rodent control, best practice is to use the Dead Rat Café or Departure Lounge to secure the bait, as they will protect non-target species while keeping the bait dry and fresh. The Dead Rat Café can be used indoors or outdoors, it can be pegged/nailed or screwed down and the wire hoops will prevent rodents from stealing the bait.

The Departure Lounge is designed to be located along a wall or building to capture the typical hunting characteristics of rodents. Its larger size enables the rodent to feed inside without the fear of being discovered.

Tips for successful eradication:

• Do not handle bait with bare hands, as rodents are suspicious of human scent and may avoid baits that have been touched.

• Ensure rodents do not have access to alternative foods such as stockfeed, garbage or human food scraps.

• Maintain fresh baits by checking and replacing them every 2 to 3 days initially and later, every week or 2.

• Be particularly vigilant during autumn when the first cooler and wet weather arrives, as this usually drives rodents indoors seeking shelter and food.

• To protect non-target animals from secondary poisoning, collect any dead rodent bodies and burn or

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. P5099

bury them. Spoiled or unwanted bait should be disposed of in a similar manner.

• Where infestation is heavy and localised, use up to five bait stations per 100 square metres (10m x 10m). In light-infestation areas, place one Dead Rat Café per 100 square metres.

For more information, please talk to your friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Bell-Booth.

Long-term thinking on pest control

Rural people deal with pests and pest damage in different ways. Once the job of the farm cat, a range of effective tools are now widely used. Rodenticides have been convenient for many, while others find traditional traps gratifying, as you see the trophy catch and get to dispose of the dead. New technology has recently added automatic resetting traps to the toolbox for rural New Zealanders, lowering labour time for trapping programmes.

Budget, seasonality, effort and environmental impact all influence our choice – horses for courses. The one certainty though is that sooner or later, rats and other pests return. To get the best results take a long-term approach to your pest control, thinking not just of your problem now but

of the inevitable reinvasion in the not too distant future.

First assess your site and the sources of rat problems. Houses, dog kennels and sheds all provide warmth and shelter for rodents and will often become the focus of your problem.

Managing the abundance of food available to rodents at these sites is key. Compost bins, ad-lib feeders, unsecured dog-biscuit stores and rubbish holes all draw rodents in and provide the food for breeding and growth.

Think like a rat and then out-think them like a human.

You have a few options:

Choice of Control

Address food sources available to rodents as part of your pest control strategy and disrupt their routine. For instance, shift the food source temporarily, feed scraps to chooks only in the morning and purchase an elevated compost bin that’s away from the ground.

Once the food at a site is managed as much as possible, establish pest control that is always active to protect against rodents establishing populations on your property.

Rodenticides have been used in many environments for rat control and are a relatively low labour method. The handling instructions must be strictly followed and the risks of secondary poisoning to pets, working animals and native species must be considered. Based on century old technology, the effectiveness of trapping with traditional traps is determined by the trapper’s energy and time to keep the traps set and baited.

Unlike traditional traps, automatic-reset traps are never shut, meaning after that first rat is caught it is ready instantly for the next rats. They come including a scientifically developed lure and provide a constant control option.

Whatever your preference, make sure you’ve got your long-term solutions in place this autumn.

For more information, please talk to your friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Goodnature.