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.
The sharpest pasture burndown solution
Farmers and growers across the country: are you chasing better and more consistent plant burndown spray out of your pasture this coming growing season? Have you tackled poor broadleaf weed control, unreasonable plant-back and grazing restrictions?
Sharpen® is BASF’s break through herbicide, delivering broader spectrum weed control and faster burndown. It’s a cost effective additive to enhance your glyphosate spray mix. Sharpen ensures a great kill of a wider range of broadleaf weeds that glyphosate alone cannot control.
With many pasture based farmers facing a challenging economic time this coming growing season, it is vital that every dollar spent maximises returns. Tough to kill weeds such as broadleaf docks, catsear, buttercups,
dandelions, fumitory, mallows, nightshades, plantains, shepherd's purse and spurrey (yar) are just some of the weeds hit hard when Sharpen is used with glyphosate. As Sharpen is compatible with all formulations of glyphosate, there is no need to change from your favourite brand. Just make sure you add the recommended rate of Hasten™, the preferred esterified canola oil and you're well on the way to a superior burndown spray result. Sharpen now has a new label registration of nil milk withholding, 2 day grazing and 14 day meat slaughter withholding periods. Bundle this with faster burndown and you are on to a winner.
The benefits don't stop there either, short plant back times for most crops, along with a simple flush out of the spray tank rather than a full decontamination
will keep you well onside with your spray contractor or operator.
Herbicide resistance is looming as a major issue facing farmers in New Zealand and there are already a number of reported instances having occurred. Sharpen helps you avoid this issue, which in turn ensures that you leave the land in better order for next season and for future generations. Sharpen is already a proven performer in maize and sweetcorn crops, offering strong residual control of weeds that in many instances, older chemistry can no long offer. Cleaner crops mean healthier crops and most importantly higher yields. Sharpen is a totally new herbicide with superior performance and weed spectrum compared to older generic chemistry currently being used by New Zealand growers. Sharpen enhances glyphosate when used at a lower rate, yet becomes a residual herbicide when used at higher rates. BASF is proud to bring Sharpen to New Zealand as it offers farmers here new proprietary chemistry, which provides sustainable solutions to numerous broadleaf weed issues while giving superior results at a very affordable price.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by BASF.
Boron at the beginning
With fodder beet and brassica crop planting on the horizon, it’s a good time to start thinking about boron. This essential trace element needs to be available to the plant right from the start, which is easy if you apply it with the starter fertiliser.
Plants use boron to build strong, healthy cell walls, which are important for the overall structure of the plant. The classic symptom of a boron deficiency is brown heart, which develops because the cell walls become leaky – enzymes inside the cells escape and cause damage, much in the same way that a bruise develops on an apple if it is dropped.
"Boron must be used as a preventative, rather than a cure," Ballance Science Manager Aaron Stafford says. "Trials conducted by Plant and Food Research showed that applying boron at sowing significantly reduced the incidence of brown heart and scaling in swedes. Spraying boron onto foliage late in the crop’s development increased the level of boron in the leaves but it didn’t have any preventive effect on the incidence of brown heart or skin cracking."
Boron needs to be incorporated into cell walls as they form, so it needs to be available to the plant right from the start. Applying boron as part of a starter fertiliser is an easy way to ensure plants get the boron when they need it.
The boron requirements of fodder beet and brassica crops can be met by an application of 1-3kg boron/ha, which is supplied by Cropzeal Boron Boost when used at typical rates of 150-300kg/ha.
"Using Cropzeal Boron Boost as a starter fertiliser is the easiest way to ensure your crop gets the boron it needs," Aaron says. "The boron is incorporated into every granule, so it ends up being evenly distributed through the crop, which greatly reduces the chance of localised deficiencies.
"Some people are concerned that putting on boron at sowing increases the chance of it being lost by leaching, because once it’s in the soil, boron is converted to boric acid and that’s quite mobile.
"However, we have to consider the conditions at the time we’re using it. In late spring through to autumn, there’s not a lot of drainage in soil – evapotranspiration is high and we don’t get the rainfall patterns that result in saturated soils – so there’s little risk of boron leaching.
"The crops are also growing quite quickly through this time, so if the boron is rapidly released – as in Cropzeal Boron Boost – then it’s available when the plants need it. The aim is to have the boron available in the root zone when there’s good soil moisture and rapid crop growth."
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.
Using a quality silage inoculant
Silage is a valuable supplement providing additional energy when your livestock need it most. Using a high quality Pioneer® brand inoculant on your silage can help you hit your production targets by decreasing fermentation losses and increasing the amount of milk or meat you get from every tonne of forage you ensile.
Why use an inoculant?
Silage making is a fermentation process that occurs under oxygen-free conditions. Bacteria convert crop sugars to silage acids, which drop the pH and preserve the pasture or crop. Silage is always slightly lower in quality than the fresh forage that was ensiled. The type and number of fermentation bacteria present determines how much dry matter, nutrients and feed energy is lost in the silage making process.
Pioneer brand silage inoculants are applied to the crop or pasture at harvest time. They provide the right strains of lactic acid-producing bacteria in ideal numbers to efficiently ferment your pasture or crop.
Figure 1
Faster fermentation1
Independently reviewed New Zealand research1 shows Pioneer brand inoculants improve fermentation speed and quality. Six pasture silages were inoculated with five commercially available silage inoculants. Pioneer brand 1174 had a greater rate of pH decline1. There was no difference between other brands and the untreated control1
Benefits of inoculating with Pioneer Pioneer brand inoculants deliver the following benefits:
Reduced losses, more feed™ – a more efficient fermentation delivering
less shrinkage and silage run-off and more feed.
More milk™ or more meat™ – quality silage delivering more milk or meat for every tonne of pasture you ensile.
Tested and proven products –pioneer brand inoculants have been rigorously tested and have guaranteed bacterial levels, proven to get the results.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Pioneer.
Pioneer offers three tested and proven product options that can help you improve silage quality this spring:
Product Description Suitable for
Pioneer brand 1127
Pioneer brand 1174
Pioneer brand 11H50
Helps improve fermentation, retain nutrient content and enhance digestibility of pasture silage.
Improves the feed value and milk or meat production of pasture silage.
Improves dry matter recovery and silage quality of all forage crops. Lower priced product for more cost-sensitive users.
Helps improve fermentation, retain nutrient content and enhance digestibility for improved animal performance. Produces top quality lucerne silage for all high producing livestock operations.
All types of silage including pasture, maize, cereal and lucerne silage
Pasture silage
Lucerne silage
ONE50 AR 37 – proven in the toughest conditions
West Coast farmer Ross Thawley understands there is more to pasture production and persistence than just endophyte, with soil fertility, rainfall and management (including establishment and grazing) also an influence. However, the importance of endophyte for Ross cannot be understated. The availability of AR37 endophyte in a cultivar with the strong genetics of ONE50 perennial ryegrass has given him great results.
Located just out of Reefton on a 200ha dairy farm, Ross had struggled to find a pasture that would perform under high insect pressure and in soils that become very hot and dry over summer. After discussing this with Ross Walker, his Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Ross made the decision to use ONE50 AR37. Sown 5 years ago, Ross has been very impressed with how it has performed compared to other options. ONE50 diploid perennial ryegrass has been a solid performer, often exceeding farmers’ expectations since
its release. It is no surprise that it is a popular choice for sheep and beef or dairy systems, due to its excellent production, particularly in summer, autumn and winter months. 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 on into the autumn and winter.
The majority of Ross’ ONE50 AR37 has been autumn sown into tough paddocks high in coal fines, which can be relatively free draining but through summer the soil can get extremely hot and dry. Other endophytes and cultivars have struggled, which has limited his production over the summer months. Since using ONE50 AR37, Ross has been impressed with a dramatic lift in production due to excellent summer performance and high persistency through harsh weather events. “The bounce back after the dry is one of the reasons ONE50 AR37 has been great for us,” Ross says. AR37 endophyte 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 pasture root aphid. Porina has been one of Ross’ biggest problems as his farm is surrounded by native bush, attracting high numbers of porina moths. Ross has seen the benefit of increased pasture production and persistence from both the good genetics of ONE50, coupled with the insect pest protection (predominantly porina) provided by AR37 endophyte.
“It’s the one thing that stands out, in a tough area with a lot of insect pressure. ONE50 AR37 has outperformed anything else.”
It’s not just Ross Thawley who is seeing the results of ONE50 AR37. ONE50 has been extensively trialled with multiple endophytes throughout New Zealand as part of the National Forage Variety Trials. The data from these trials contributes to the DairyNZ Forage Value Index (FVI). In the upper South Island and lower North Island, ONE50 AR37 shows an advantage of around $200.00 per ha, per year over ONE50 AR1. In the upper North Island the economic advantage is around $350.00 per ha per year to AR37.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Agricom.
| Farmer Ross Thawley with Farmlands Technical Field Officer Ross Walker.
Ultra happy with high pasture production
Dairy farmer and Farmlands shareholder Bruce Eade and his parents Ken and Nancy Eade milk 550 Ayrshire and Holstein dairy cows on 260 hectares on their family farm ‘Fairleigh’ at Kelso, West Otago.
Bruce needs a grass that is able to yield well, particularly in winter and early spring, with good pasture quality to maximise milk production.
Five years ago, in consultation with Farmlands Tapanui Technical Field Officer Nick Aitken, Bruce opted for Ultra enhanced perennial ryegrass, bred by Cropmark Seeds.
Since then, Bruce has sown roughly 20 to 25 hectares of Ultra each year for the last 5 years and is very happy with it.
Bruce sows the Ultra either in the spring, or in March following harvesting of his winter wheat, at a sowing rate of 19kg per hectare along with plantain, chicory, Demand white clover and red clover.
The Demand white clover has been a valuable addition to the mix due to its yield and persistence – and having been bred in Southland, it is well suited to conditions in the region.
Bruce is very happy with the resultant pasture. It gives him a high producing and high quality sward that his cows like and milk well on. “I find the Ultra to be very fast establishing and high yielding,” he comments. “The Ultra pastures are consistently producing 12–16 tonnes of dry matter per hectare per year for me. A feature of the Ultra that I like is its strong winter and early spring growth. It is high quality feed too – and being late flowering I get consistently high quality into late spring.
“The cows seem to find the Ultra very palatable and graze the paddocks cleanly and evenly. The Ultra handles heavy grazing well and persists very well – better than other varieties that I have sown on the property,” Bruce adds.
The Eade’s farming operation includes a cow wintering barn and grass silage is a key component of the winter feed. “We grow 35 hectares of winter wheat yielding more than 20 tonnes of dry matter per hectare and cut large amounts of grass silage for the cow
barn. Because of the strong winter and early spring growth of Ultra, we are able to shut up more than 100 hectares of Ultra for silage each year. That’s a significant proportion of the property.” Bruce is very happy with the milksolids production being obtained from his Ultra pastures.
“All in all, Ultra is a very important part of our business. It produces large quantities of quality feed for our cows at an economical price and at times of the year when we really need the production – and it persists very well too. We have increased production from the property every year thanks to the Ultra and will continue to sow Ultra again next season,” Bruce concludes.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Cropmark.
| Farmlands shareholder Bruce Eade, left, with Farmlands Technical Field Officer Nick Aitken.
Palatability creates an 'invisible fence'
A definite grazing preference for Aber High Sugar Grass (HSG) was clearly seen by veteran Southland farmer Jim Allison and his neighbours.
“People would ask about the ‘invisible fence’ in our front corner paddock,” says Jim – who has been farming sheep, cattle and grain crops for almost 60 years on his ‘Cross Flat’ farm near Otautau (40km northwest of Invercargill).
“We ran out of seed when planting Kingston and another standard ryegrass, so AberDart was planted in the middle as a trial and we found that the outside was grazed to a lesser extent and the sheep were usually in the middle on the AberDart.
“The second year I had cattle in there and the first time they just grazed everything but the second time they went straight into the middle and didn’t put their heads down until they got there.”
First sown in the autumn of 2005, the highly palatable AberDart was again sown in another crop area on Jim's farm the following year and after seeing the same grazing vigour, he has continued re-grassing each year with Aber HSG.
“It’s that (animal response) that convinced me that if they enjoy it so much then it must be good for them.”
In past years Jim was tailing 1,900 lambs, fattening beef weaners to 12 months and had a good half of the 185 hectare farm planted in grain crops. This spring, less than 200 Romney and Hampshire ewes will be lambed on a
‘downsized’ farm of 80ha as Jim and his wife Denise prepare for their retirement in town.
However the crops of barley, wheat and oats will still be planted and there’s still enough livestock grazing the AberDart and its successor AberMagic, covering a third of the farm.
“The Aber is the only perennial I’ve sown since that first paddock 10 years ago,” says Jim, whose grandfather began farming land in the Gladfield area in 1892 with his two brothers.
“For 40 years I thought I knew what I was doing but a lot has changed,” says Jim, who recalls the challenges presented by the sudden elimination of stock subsidies, those two droughts more severe than any in recent years and this winter pitching up their wettest June on record.
He likens Aber grasses to the New Zealand bred Ariki ryegrass, released in the 1950s and well-liked by stock, grazing it harder than any other paddock on his farm and yet lasting 22 years until ploughed in.
“I have tried other grasses suggested to me on the basis of given trial results but the bit about Aber that you can’t easily quantify is the stock’s preference for it.
I am completely sold on that.
“We had drafted lambs that were on AberDart and with the gates all open those lambs went all the way back through two other paddocks of good grass and clover to get to the grazed AberDart again, without stopping.”
Jim attributes the Aber HSG’s persistence to roots he’s seen “at full depth, down seven or eight inches” while ploughing it up for a rotation of grain crops.
While most farmers in the region will re-grass in the spring, Jim sows grass in the autumn, by the end of March, to avoid a problem with fathen and other weeds but still have grass emerge well ahead of frosts.
“We never have a problem. If the new grass has not come through (on time) then it’s either a seasonal effect or something I’ve done but the Aber pasture will eventually fill out.”
He grows AberDart and AberMagic with white and red clovers, cocksfoot and timothy and allows new grass time to establish through light grazings and won’t cut hay or baleage for the first 18 months.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Germinal.
| Farmlands representative Gary Mitchell with Southland farmer Jim Allison.
Understanding laboratory analyses
As the saying goes, “if you can measure it, you can manage it”. So the ability to understand the value of feeds is important, whether deciding on a fair price for traded feeds or trying to balance home grown forages to increase profitability or production.
If you send a feed or forage sample away to a laboratory, the reported analyses should include neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) –as a percentage of the dry matter. In the days before NIR analysis, samples were boiled in a detergent at pH7 (i.e. neutral) for 1 hour and the soluble cell contents’ material washed away through a glass container with a porous base. The non-soluble dry matter left behind gives an indication of the cell wall material in the sample and is reported as NDF. The retained cell wall material is then boiled in an acid detergent and the soluble material washed though a porous base – the material left behind represents the indigestible fibre, including hemicellulose and lignin and is reported as ADF. Straw has a high NDF and increased lignin levels (reflected by a typical ADF value of about 50 percent), which even rumen bacteria cannot digest and therefore delivers little energy and can be retained in the rumen for up to 7 days – occupying valuable space that at times may be better filled with higher quality feeds. Whilst the NDF content of palm kernel expeller and soy hulls may be very similar, the ADF level typically found
in palm kernel expeller is typically higher at 45 percent compared to about 30 percent ADF in soy hulls.
Knowing the NDF content of feed is useful, because it consists mainly of structural tissue that reduces the availability of the cell contents to microbial digestion and provides one of the best indicators we have to predict dry matter intake. As grass matures, it becomes more fibrous and less digestible. Structural tissue also fills up the rumen, so combined with lower energy levels, animals grazing older grass have a double whammy that what they are eating delivers less energy and they can consume less of it. Selecting supplements with lower NDF levels may be appropriate if pasture NDF levels are increasing, whereas high NDF supplements can be helpful in managing residuals during a feed pinch.
Sometimes it is useful to consider the effective fibre in the diet, which requires physical examination rather than a laboratory test. Effective fibre is structural fibre that can be regurgitated and re-chewed during rumination. When very low NDF levels are reached, cows may not be consuming enough structural fibre to support rumination. Rumination helps cows to deal with the acids produced from highly fermentable forages. Opinions differ as to whether cows on lush, high protein pasture even need a floating mat of long fibre in the rumen, which can be regurgitated and ruminated – but if the total diet NDF level drops below 35 percent, it could be worth offering some effective fibre to see if production lifts from its presence. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.
When and how to wean
Weaning is the process of transferring a calf from a liquid milk diet to a solid based diet. When a calf is weaned it becomes dependent on rumen fermentation of fibre and starch to meet nutritional requirements, rather than milk (which when consumed, bypasses the rumen and is delivered straight to the abomasum for digestion via the oesophageal groove). Successful weaning is dependent on ensuring that a calf’s digestive system is well set up for processing pasture when the decision to wean is made.
The aim of the calf rearing process is to maintain good growth rates while developing a calf’s rumen so that they can eventually be weaned off milk, which although is an essential feed 6-8 weeks after birth, is an expensive form of energy. The rumen is a small compartment of a calf’s digestive system at birth (about 30 percent), however it must develop to be the biggest stomach compartment (about 70 percent) by weaning time to
ensure a smooth weaning period. That’s a huge change in size in a short period of time. Rumen development during the calf rearing process can be achieved by
offering high quality hard feed to calves, which encourages papillae development in the rumen and the establishment of a microflora population essential for the fermentation of high fibre feeds. The digestive system proportion change that occurs during the calf rearing process:
Weaning can be a stressful time for calves, particularly if the decision to wean is made prematurely. If the rumen is not properly prepared for digesting pasture, calves can go backwards very quickly and lose condition fast, as they simply don’t have the ability to get the level of energy and protein out of the grass that they need to continue growing.
Making the decision to wean can be made easier by setting targets that must be met before a calf can be weaned. Age/weight of calves are not the best parameters to use, as they do not assess rumen development. A better parameter to assess is hard feed intake. The rule of thumb is when a calf is eating 1-1.5kg of hard feed for 3 consecutive days it is ready to be weaned, as we can be sure that the rumen is sufficiently developed.
Top tips for weaning:
• Do not wean calves during periods of additional stress, e.g. illness, dehorning or extreme weather.
• Gradually wean calves rather than abruptly removing them off milk (gradually reduce volume per feed and/or number of feeds a day).
• Be prepared to hold calves back from weaning if they are not eating enough hard feed.
• Assess the level of milk in your system, if intake of hard feed is low (over feeding of milk can reduce intake of hard feed).
• Continue to feed hard feed after weaning has occurred. This helps to support growth rates in the newly weaned calf. Some farmers find it beneficial to continue feeding hard feed for several weeks/months post weaning, particularly if pasture quality is poor. Post weaning calves at pasture have been found to grow faster on 16 percent pellets rather than barley but continuing to feed 20 percent crude protein pellets may be advantageous.
• Coccidia challenge is most likely to be highest in the 8 weeks following weaning. Calves take time to build resistance to coccidiosis and may benefit from being fed a coccidiostat for some weeks post weaning off milk.
Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Technical Product Manager, Farmlands Nutrition.
Rearing chicks to grow productive hens
Healthy, well reared chicks, given proper nutrition, grow in to productive laying hens. Time spent ensuring that chicks are well cared for in the first few weeks of their life will pay dividends when birds reach maturity and start producing eggs.
Hygiene is particularly important for all young animals – and the area housing the chicks and any equipment that will be used with the chick should be thoroughly cleaned using a high pressure hose and suitable cleaning agent, particularly if they have been used previously. Disinfecting the equipment and housing after cleaning using a sanitiser such as Virkon S is recommended. Allow the area to dry before placing shaving or other litter material into the shed.
Young chicks do not have the ability to regulate their own body temperature, so it is important that they are kept warm for the first few weeks of life. It is important to ensure that the chicks are placed in a warm area on arrival, so the brooding area should be preheated for 24-48 hours before the chicks arrive, depending on the area being heated and the environmental temperature. Typical recommendations are to maintain a temperature at the chick level of 35-36oC for the first 3 to 4 days, gradually decreasing this to 33-35oC until the birds are 7 days old. From 7 days of age, gradually reduce the temperature by 1oC every third day
until the temperature is around 21-23oC at 6 weeks of age.
Chick behaviour can be used to assess the effectiveness of the heating provided, as shown in the diagram below.
There are various ways that you can heat the shed, including the use of infrared lamps, which can be suspended above the chicks. Adjusting the height of these lamps helps adjust the temperature at the bird level. For small numbers of chicks kept in a small area, using a 60 watt light bulb should be sufficient to keep them warm. Placing a cardboard fence around the brooding area for the first few weeks helps to confine the chicks to the heated area.
Bright lighting in the first weeks helps to ensure that chicks find feed and water and helps them adjust to the new environment. Lighting can be reduced after the first week, with the
number of hours provided reducing as birds get older.
Chicks should have access to a good quality feed and clean, fresh water from day 1. Sprinkling a little of the feed on tissue paper or newsprint placed in front of, or around the feeders for the first 7 days can help to encourage feed intake. This paper can be removed between days 7 and 14. Feeders should be filled to their highest level making it easy for chicks to access the feed. Once chicks are eating well, be careful not to overfill feeders as this results in waste.
To ensure good, early growth rates and frame development, choose a good quality chick feed in the form of a crumble – one which is high in good quality protein and energy and also balanced for macro (e.g. calcium and phosphorus) and trace minerals. A good chick starter feed should also contain a coccidiostat to protect against coccidiosis. From about 6 weeks of age, the feed can be changed from a chick starter to a pullet grower to ensure that birds do not get overweight.
Monitor the weights of your chicks and compare these to the recommended weights from the poultry breeder to ensure they are growing at the expected rate.
Article supplied by Natalie Chrystal, Nutritionist, NRM.
| From Hyline Technical Update, Growing Management of Commercial Pullets.
Plenty of choice with calf milk replacers
Milligans GoCalf Milk Replacer is an economy option that is a favourite with dairy farmers. It is great for extending colostrum feeding or fortifying with whole milk when supply is short. It can be used from day 4 but it is recommended to use Milligans Classic calf milk replacer as a starter for optimum results – and GoCalf as a finisher due to lower protein levels and exclusion of a coccidiostat.
GoCalf is made from dairy proteins and fats and contains a balanced vitamin and mineral pre-mix to maximise calf health. GoCalf does not contain Deccox as a prevention for coccidiosis and is lower in protein, aimed at the finishing market and keeping costs down. GoCalf is a quality economy powder, which can be fed on either the once a day or twice a day feeding system.
Even with a lower milksolid pay-out, GoCalf still stacks up per litre compared
to whole milk. Using a CMR will be an option for capitalising on extra profit and the benefits of using a quality CMR don’t stop with just a little extra in the back pocket. Using a quality CMR also helps produce a better animal, due to its consistent formulation and vitamins and minerals specifically for a calf – you know it’s getting the best start it can in life for better growth and longevity. With this year’s calf rearing season getting well underway, pop into your local Farmlands store to find out more about Milligans GoCalf.
Milligans Classic
This is Milligans’ most trusted calf milk replacer that has been used on New Zealand farms for more than 20 years. Milligans Classic can be fed to calves from day 4. Milligans Classic is made from dairy proteins and fats and contains a boosted vitamin and mineral pre-mix to maximise calf health. Milligans Classic is a premium quality, highly digestible milk powder that can be fed on either the once a day or twice a day feeding system.
Milligans Ultra-Premium
Milligans Ultra-Premium calf milk replacer contains the natural gut conditioning package ExcelPlus Milk Additive, designed for better health and faster growing calves. Milligans + ExcelPlus Milk Additive can be fed to calves from day 4. Milligans + ExcelPlus Milk Additive is made from dairy proteins and fats and contains a boosted vitamin and mineral pre-mix to maximise calf health. Milligans + ExcelPlus Milk Additive is a premium quality, highly digestible milk powder that can be fed on either the once a day or twice a day feeding system. ExcelPlus Milk Additive is exclusive to Milligans for the use in CMR and will give your calves the best start to life.
Milligans Multi Milk Replacer
Suitable for lambs, kids, fawns, foals, cria, piglets, pups and kittens and other infant animals. Milligans Multi Milk Replacer is a high quality blend of dairy proteins and is fortified with a vitamin and mineral pre-mix to support the functions of the growing infant animal. Multi Milk Replacer can be used from day 1 but it is recommended to feed a colostrum supplement such as ExcelPlus Colostrum for the first 1-2 days of life, to provide the much needed immunity the baby animal requires for growth and development. Article supplied by Milligans.
Easier way to control nitrogen when growing sweet corn and potatoes
Nitrogen is the most mobile soil nutrient and the one plants have the strongest response to. It’s also the nutrient the general public comes down on regarding the environmental effects of applied fertiliser. With the drive to both improve farming profits and sustainability, growers need to use nitrogen wisely, to generate greater marketable crop yields for the amount of nutrient applied. This can only be achieved by adopting new technologies and efficient management practices.
For optimum plant growth, adequate nitrogen must be available during the growing cycle to meet the plant’s demands. In a crop of potatoes and sweet corn, the plant’s demand for nitrogen ramps up from 40 days after planting, before dropping away at around 90 days as the crop matures. Smartfert-N is a 44 percent nitrogen control release fertiliser, which releases its nitrogen in line with the demands of these crops.
Smartfert-N has a special biopolymer coating, controlling the release of nitrogen over a 90-100 day period. Applying Smartfert-N at the time of
Smartfert-N technology encapsulates the fertiliser prill with a thin biopolymer membrane that allows moisture to be absorbed. The moisture dissolves the fertiliser and the nutrients release through the membrane over time.
Dr Doug Edmeades, an independent soil scientist, has been contracted to advise on the science aspects of Smartfert-N. Under his guidance, AgResearch undertook both laboratory and glasshouse tests to validate Smartfert’s mode of nutrient release. This work was followed up with a number of field trials on pasture – the results of this show significant increases in production can be achieved per kg of nitrogen applied using Smartfert-N over standard urea. This research also confirms Smartfert-N releases nitrogen at a similar rate to the
nitrogen demand of potatoes and sweet corn.
A number of grower trials in sweet corn have been conducted in Hawke’s Bay, with all the nitrogen applied at planting. DAP or 12.10.10 was used as the starter fertiliser and with Smartfert-N as the side dress. Smartfert-N was applied to half the normal side dress rate of nitrogen of urea, resulting in up to 12 percent higher yield, with 30 percent less rejects of sweet corn.
A trial on winter planted potatoes with 200kg of nitrogen applied from Smartfert-N, compared with 200kg of nitrogen applied with urea, showed the Smartfert-N treatment produced a 17 percent increase in marketable yield over the urea.
In addition to the increased yield per kg of nitrogen applied, Smartfert-N provides operational efficiencies to farmers, allowing them to apply all nitrogen at planting with the advantage that Smartfert-N can be mixed with other fertilisers and applied at the time of crop planting. Smartfert-N’s control release technology also reduces the environmental effects of applied nitrogen fertilisers, with less nutrient losses from leaching, volatilisation and denitrification compared to traditional nitrogen fertilisers.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Smartfert-N.
sowing potatoes or sweet corn ensures nitrogen is released when the plant needs it the most.
Black spot and powdery mildew control in pipfruit
Black spot and powdery mildew are an increasingly prominent issue for pipfruit at this time of year. Seguris Flexi and Score are two options that can benefit your pipfruit programme. Not only do you benefit from reliable products, if you buy them from Farmlands during September, you could go in the draw to win a luxury mystery weekend trip for two.
See in-store for details.
SEGURIS FLEXI
Seguris Flexi is a new generation SDHI fungicide for the control of black spot and powdery mildew in apples and pears, with a new (Group 7) mode of action.
• Apply preventatively at 7 day intervals from tight cluster to 90 percent petal fall (all markets).
• Seguris Flexi has a shorter PHI for some export markets than other SDHI fungicides –refer to latest export PHI spray schedule.
• Highly rainfast once dried onto the leaf.
• Binds to the leaf and fungus to protect against and shut down disease.
• Translaminar and locally systemic with limited post-infection activity.
• Apply in mixture with a broad spectrum protectant fungicide.
• Apply no more than two consecutive applications and up to four applications per season.
• Apply 1.2L/ha of Seguris Flexi in sufficient water to achieve thorough coverage.
SCORE
Score WG is a proven DMI fungicide for the control of black spot and powdery mildew in apples and pears, with a Group 3 mode of action.
• Score WG is a systemic triazole (DMI) fungicide with preventative and curative activity.
• Apply as soon as possible, but within 96 hours of a black spot infection period.
• Always apply Score WG in mixture with a black spot protectant fungicide.
• Apply up to four applications per season.
• Score WG has a shorter PHI for some export markets than other DMI fungicides – refer to latest export PHI spray schedule.
• Apply 25 grams of Score WG per 100L of water to deliver 500g/ha.
BUY 4 X 5L SEGURIS FLEXI AND 20 X 500G SCORE AND GET A FREE CANTERBURY SPORTS BAG WHILE STOCKS LAST
Psa management pre-flower
ACTIGARD™ was one of the first products registered in New Zealand to help kiwifruit growers combat Psa. A limited label claim was approved in 2011, followed by a full label claim (foliar applied) in 2014.
With its unique mode of action, ACTIGARD™ activates the plant to stimulate its natural self-defence against Psa, via a response known as Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR).
The majority of kiwifruit growers in New Zealand are now using ACTIGARD™ at some stage in their Psa management programme, either pre-flower and/ or post-harvest. A maximum of four applications are allowed per season.
While many growers have applied ACTIGARD™ in the spring without any issues, some have noticed a reduction in canopy growth, particularly when applied in the early spring growth period. Elicitors such as ACTIGARD™ work by switching on the plant’s own defence mechanism against Psa, which may divert some resources away from canopy growth. Any negative effect on growth is likely to be exacerbated if vines are under stress from factors such as wind, frost, hail damage, poor root health, disease, poor drainage, drought, nutritional deficiency etc.
Syngenta is planning trial work this season to gain further understanding of the relationship between ACTIGARD™ use and canopy growth. Until this trial work is completed, Syngenta recommend
delaying the first ACTIGARD™ this season until approximately 21-28 days prior to flowering, with a second application 1-7 days pre-flower. This will allow time for the canopy to partially develop.
ACTIGARD™ should not be applied to vines that are stressed due to adverse environmental conditions such as high wind, frost or hail. In these circumstances, growers should wait until vines have recovered before applying ACTIGARD™. The use of foliar nutrient sprays may assist in helping leaf and vine recovery and maintaining vine health. Applied pre-flowering, ACTIGARD™ plus copper can provide systemic protection over the high risk flowering period, where other products cannot be applied for Psa control. ACTIGARD™ is compatible with Prodigy*, Movento* and Luna Privilage*, which is convenient in the pre-flower period when fungicides and insecticides also need to be applied.
Unlike antibiotics, ACTIGARD™ can be applied immediately prior to flowering
and should be applied 1-7 days prior to flowering to help protect against Psa during the high risk flowering period. It can take up to 7 days for ACTIGARD™ to fully activate the crop, so the addition of copper is recommended for immediate protection and for multiple modes of action against Psa.
ACTIGARD™ is rainfast in 2 hours and being systemic it enters the leaf, where it is protected against wash-off from rainfall, to provide up to 21 days’ protection.
The use of ACTIGARD™, copper and antibiotics, together with more tolerant varieties and new management techniques, has allowed growers to manage Psa and recover to pre-Psa outbreak productivity levels in the 2014/2015 season.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Actigard.
Effective Spray-out critical for crop establishment
Using a tank mix of T-MaxTM plus glyphosate this spring will benefit farmers wanting to control tough to kill weeds such as docks, californian thistle, buttercup, ragwort and many other weeds prior to sowing forage brassicas, ryegrass, maize or cereals.
Dow AgroSciences Marketing Manager
Nick Koch says the product is building a strong following of users who understand the benefits of achieving long term control of many of the hardest to control weeds at the critical spray-out timing.
“The initial benefit of using a tank mix of T-Max plus glyphosate at spray-out is fast knockdown with the flexibility of a three day plant back period. The real benefits are longer term, T-Max kills the weeds from roots to seed so weeds won’t come back.”
Dow AgroSciences Field R&D Manager Bernard Harris says the aminopyralid based herbicide provides extremely fast knock down of hard to kill broadleaf weeds, docks in particular have been a real standout.
“T-Max plus glyphosate is highly effective at controlling docks which is a good thing because they compete strongly with crops, and are prolific seeders. Without an effective spray-out, docks will continue to be a problem well into the pasture renewal cycle. The active ingredient in T-Max ‘aminopyralid’ is unique as it sterilises the weed seeds before they become viable, additionally T-Max moves deep into the root system
killing weeds from the roots upward thus preventing root chips from spreading during cultivation. Spray-out is critical for long term weed control, an effective spray-out prior to the cropping cycle is the ideal timing to clean out those hard to kill weeds creating a weed free foundation for pasture renewal. T-Max plus glyophosate offers long term control compared many other herbicides that merely burn weeds off at the surface only to re-grow and set seed”.
Control springtails with SpartaTM – a new insecticide
Insecticides are commonly tank mixed with glyphosate for the control of springtails at pasture spray out. These tiny pests can cause significant damage by chewing on forage brassicas and clovers as they germinate. The result of their feeding often looks like patchy
or poor seed germination which causes reduced yield in forage brassicas, poor clover establishment in new pasture and, in severe cases, pasture may require re-sowing.
Sparta is highly effective on springtails offering control equivalent to Lorsban™ without the odour. Sparta provides a low toxicity, environmentally friendly alternative which is safer to use and can be applied either at pasture spray out in a tank mix with glyphosate, or post emergence of forage brassicas and new pastures. Applied at only 20ml/ha Sparta is cost effective.
Additionally, Sparta is registered for use in forage brassicas for the control of caterpillar pests. independent trials* show that Sparta, applied at 150ml/ ha provides outstanding control of diamondback moth, white butterfly, leaf miner and loopers due to its unique mode of action that moves the chemical through the leaf, preventing wash off and controlling pests where they hide.
Best of all Sparta is safe to key beneficial insects and is ideal for integrated pest management programmes.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Dow AgroSciences.
*Paul Munro, Peracto 2008/2011
Weed and pest control key to productive, profitable spring sowing
High yielding, high quality forage crops such as maize silage, fodder beet and fodder brassicas start well before the seed goes into the ground. For a profitable result, appropriate control of weeds and insect pests at the correct times is essential.
So where should you start? First of all, a pre-plant herbicide to clean up cropping paddocks in spring saves time and helps get any crop off to a flying start, because it reduces competition from weeds from day 1.
Most weeds can easily outgrow crop seedlings and this can have a lasting and negative effect on final crop yield.
WeedMaster® TS540 glyphosate is a proven tool to control perennial weeds and also leads to quicker turf and root breakdown of old pasture. This in turn makes for easier tillage, saving time and fuel and helps provide a better seedbed. It also reduces the fallow time required before sowing your new crop. This spring, we’re making it even easier to prepare paddocks for cropping with WeedMaster TS540. From now until 16th October, or while stocks last, every time
you purchase 2 x 20L of WeedMaster TS540 in-store, you will receive a free 3L bonus pack.
Different weeds require different rates of WeedMaster TS540, so it’s a good idea to check what species are present (e.g. browntop, couch, perennial ryegrass etc.) before spraying.
Pulse® Penetrant is always essential. It improves the penetration and uptake of WeedMaster TS540 and reduces the rainfast period to 20 minutes.
In 2015, there’s a powerful new partner for WeedMaster and Pulse. Nail® EC boosts the control of several broadleaf weed species, for which glyphosate alone is not always adequate, including mallows, seedling storksbill and nettle.
If these are among weeds present in your cropping paddocks this spring, Nail EC can easily be tank mixed as part of your pre-plant spray out, broadening the weed spectrum without affecting your sowing schedule. That’s because Nail EC has a nil plantback period, so you don’t have to wait for soil residues to dissipate before the drill comes into the paddock.
For farmers sowing fodder beet crops, this is particularly important. Fodder beet seed is notoriously sensitive to any residual soil herbicides, with potential plantback delays of weeks or even months depending on that herbicide is used.
Insect pests like slugs are also a potentially major problem early in the life of any spring sown crop. The challenge
2PURCHASE X 20L AND RECEIVE A
with slugs is that by the time you can see signs of predation, the damage has already been done.
That’s why it’s a good idea to check for the presence of slugs before you sow, especially if there’s a history of slug problems. This is as simple as leaving a few sacks or boards out on the ground overnight and checking how many slugs are under them in the morning.
If 2-3 slugs are found, slug control should be a priority. SlugOut is a highly effective bait that can be applied pre-plant or at sowing time. SlugOut is a must for direct drilled crops too, because the trash left in direct drilled paddocks provides the perfect environment for slugs.
SlugOut provides excellent coverage with the highest concentration of active ingredient per pellet of bait and it’s easy and safe to apply with no dust. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Nufarm.
Giving grapes a super boost –the power of Acadian biostimulant
The 2014-15 Marlborough season saw many stresses on our vines – from the moment the buds broke right through to post-harvest, pressures in many guises were upon them.
They went into the season tired from the huge crop loads that they had carried, only to have nature throw their stride through powdery mildew, trunk diseases, frost, heat and extended drought.
It’s therefore timely to refresh our memory on the use of biostimulants in the management of vines, from shoot to root, 12 months of the year.
For centuries in coastal areas, seaweeds have been added to soils to provide a rich source of organic matter. In recent decades, Ascophyllum nodosum marineplant extracts have played a significant role within mainstream viticulture – a tool to help crop growth and development.
Acadian Sea Plants Limited, with its Acadian and Stimplex (liquid) brands, is the world leader in marine plant extracts. These extracts are derived from Ascophyllum nodosum that is sustainably
harvested from the cool, rich waters around Nova Scotia. Acadian, through extensive field and laboratory research, has demonstrated the significant plant benefits of their extract products.
Acadian research has identified unique chemical profiles of extracts
and how plants react to these, i.e. root development, flowering, fruit set and sizing. Molecular analysis and new bioassay rapid testing procedures have enabled the measurement of plant reactions to different biotic (e.g. disease or insects) or abiotic (e.g. drought, salinity, temperature) stresses.
The research suggests that these extracts encourage the plant to produce its own stimulatory hormones. Positive responses have been found in grapes in the face of a number of disease, insect and environmental challenges. For example, improvements in root mass development, crop uniformity,
plant health and stress tolerance are routine in both conventional and organic systems. The Acadian extract products contain a large profile of minerals but their key effect is related to their organic ingredients – polysaccharides, organic acids, amino acids and proteins. These play important roles in every aspect of plant growth, not just the responses to various biotic or abiotic stresses. Newly published research demonstrates the use of Ascophyllum extracts in boosting soil microbes and improving the ecology of the root zone or rhizosphere. The
Acadian products are earning their place in contemporary viticulture practices by providing winegrowers with a wide range of compatible supplements to enhance crop production. Their role in improving plant nutrition and plant stress tolerance is catalytic to the tool box of management measures needed by winegrowers. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Johnny McMillan, Technical Advisor, Farmlands Horticulture.
Helping your world grow healthier plants
100% natural
Seaweed extract
Greater productivity
Resistance to stress
A more productive and profitable season starts with good root anchorage. By stimulating the growth of a healthy root system, Stimplex® helps resist stresses above and below the ground to keep your fruit anchored and your trees strong.
Acadian is Ascophyllum nodosum:
• Acadian is derived from one of the most active seaweed species and is grown in cold, clean waters.
Acadian is good for your crop and the environment:
• Acadian hand harvests the seaweed to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem.
Acadian maximises product efficacy:
• Acadian liberates the active compounds in what is believed to be the most uncompromised and active state possible through our exclusive, proprietary process.
Acadian guarantees quality:
• All Acadian extracts follow a tightly controlled process to guarantee the highest standards of product quality and consistency.
Acadian is supported by global, scientific research:
• Acadian partners with the best scientists worldwide to provide you with credible research, proving Acadian is a consistent, top quality product.
Consistent use of Acadian Extract in your programme will deliver overall stronger, more productive plants even in times of stress:
• Acadian increases root growth and establishment of your crop.
• Improves plant vigor – greener plants, improved plant canopy, and better photosynthetic capacity.
• Maximises plant potential during stresses such as drought, salinity and temperature.
• Improves plant nutritional health.
• Increases desirable yield for higher profit through
» Increased production.
» Increased sizing.
» Improved quality.
» Delayed senescence.
» Increased shelf life of perishable crops.
Article supplied by Acadian.
Elevate the health of young stock
If you want young stock to grow, they need the right nutrition. High levels of parasitism can put animals under stress at a time when they should be growing rapidly. This can be addressed through using an effective drench and injecting stock with Elevate B12 to bolster cobalt levels, which will in turn help to improve their health and productivity.
Bayer Technical Veterinarian, Richard Porter says that docking and weaning are the ideal times to treat young stock for worms and B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency is characterised by general stock wasting, poor fertility rates, failure to thrive (particularly in young animals) and loss of appetite also seen in parasitism. In prolonged severe cases, anaemia and death may occur, usually from secondary immune suppression and associated diseases.
Richard says that Elevate B12 is a safe, simple and inexpensive option over other B12 treatment options. With 4 to 6 weeks of activity, Elevate B12 works well in covering short-term deficiency and fits in well with drenching, dipping and weaning activities on-farm. Plus, farmers can select from plain or selenised versions, so on farms where selenium levels are low, stock blood levels can be bolstered at the same time. Make sure you don’t use Elevate B12 Selenised at the same
time as any other selenised fertiliser, prill, drench or vaccines without consulting an animal health advisor.
Giving your young stock an Elevate B12 during routine farm activities will ensure optimum health and better productivity that can lead to increased animal growth and wool production.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Bayer.
ELEVATE B12 2000 SELENISED 500ML
• For the treatment of and control cobalt deficiency, or cobalt and selenium deficiency in sheep and cattle.
• No meat or milk withholding periods.
Elevate is a registered trademark of Bayer New Zealand Limited.
The first 4-6 weeks of lactation can determine the whole season’s production. During this critical time period, a cow’s valuable energy is likely to be compromised. Not only has it just calved and started lactation, it must also get back in-calf again in time to repeat the process 1 year later! Maximising cow health and nutrition during this time is essential, if milk production and reproduction potential are going to be obtained.
Whilst they might not be causing clinical signs, worms cause a diversion
Kicking parasites to touch early in the game is vital Get your young stock over the advantage line
Anyone with young beef or dairy cattle will know that internal parasites can impact productivity and growth rates, with spring being a key period of concern. Worms picked up during the winter cause a diversion of energy and protein away from vital functions as well as affecting grazing behaviour, which limits the potential of this short window of high quality, abundant grass. Due to their lower immunity to these parasites, younger animals are particularly vulnerable and therefore deserve the best protection available.
of energy and protein, placing extra demands on the cow’s already stretched energy resources. Hence, treating cows for worms at this time makes sense.
Eon Pour-on is ideal for treating and controlling production-limiting worms at early lactation and offers the essential nil milk withholding.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Bayer.
EDGE is a combination injection for cattle and sheep, containing the trusted active doramectin, together with the power of levamisole for enhanced protection. With a dose rate specifically for accurate dosing in young stock, EDGE injection provides combination efficacy against internal parasites for your young stock this spring.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Bayer.
Early intervention hoof care saves time and money
New Zealand’s leading veterinarians and hoof care experts are in agreement over the immediate benefits available through blocking hooves. As cattle lameness and attention to hoof care becomes more of an issue through wet months, farmers throughout the country are investing significant amounts of time and money into this ongoing issue.
“Blocking feet is a key to reducing pain and quickly getting lame cows back in the milking herd,” advises Neil Chesterton, veterinarian and lameness consultant. “Over a season I block approximately 60 percent of hoof injuries I treat. Serious cases need a block that lasts for a minimum of 3 weeks. However, less severe cases do benefit from blocking for 10 days to 2 weeks.”
While Neil strongly recommends the use of blocking for all hoof injuries, the perceived short-term cost is the main limitation for most farmers. Ideally, Neil would like to see farmers use a block for even mild injuries, to get the animal immediately back into the herd.
The introduction of an early intervention treatment system, which can be used quickly and easily by the farmer, is already receiving great interest around the world. Walkease blocks can be left on the hoof indefinitely, as they will naturally wear down and wear off while the cow walks comfortably on a rubber jandal.
“I find Walkease blocks a cost effective solution for these milder cases of lameness. The low cost, ease and speed of application makes them a good choice,” Neil explains. “Fitting a Walkease block takes me about three and a half minutes in total, after treating the injured claw.”
Prevention and early intervention of cattle lameness is of vital importance for farmers and their animals globally. Having a low cost, easy-to-use hoof care product, which can be used at the first sign of a sore hoof (pre-lameness), is certainly good news for farmers and good news for their cows.
“A feature of the Walkease block is that it wears evenly and thus does not need removal as wood blocks can do. Even for the heavier cows I am surprised how effective the Walkease block can be.”
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Shoof.