App helps get best out of pasture
Ever wondered what the financial result would be if you let pasture weeds get away on you? There's now a tool to find the answer.
New research confirms it’s better to sow treated pasture seed early in dry autumns instead of waiting for rain before planting, says seed supplier Agriseeds.
Benefits include faster pasture establishment, higher DM yield and potentially better pasture persistence, and it’s easier to get a contractor. It all helps get a head start on feed recovery after drought, says the company’s agronomist Will Henson.
“Last year many farmers did not sow while it was dry. When the rain came in April, it kept raining on and off for three weeks; contractors were working 24 hours a day but couldn’t keep up.”
Questions arise about early sowing, the company says, e.g. how well do seed and endophyte survive in hot, dry soil? And is there possibility of poor establishment?
In a replicated trial near Cambridge last autumn, Trojan perennial ryegrass with NEA2 endophyte was sown on three dates: February 20, March 20 and April 27. All seed was treated to protect it from insects and disease.
The first sowing was in dry conditions, and seed sat in the soil with no sign of germination until 45mm of rainfall on April 4, 43 days later.
“We deliberately chose dark peat soil for this trial, because it is known to reach high temperatures in late summer and early autumn,” Henson says.
At the seed sowing depth, the soil temperature at 10am on February 20 was 49.1°C. On March 20 it was 41.7°C and on April 27 it was 27.0°C.
Seed sowed early established quicker and grew more, Agriseeds says. The February and March sowings grew 2t DM/ha more than the April sowing (5.8t versus 3.8t), measured over five grazings from May to October.
The Commerce Commission says connectivity options for rural New Zealanders are front-of-mind as it begins a formal investigation into the future of the copper network.
Grand Finalists have been selected, all regional finals have concluded, and the journey towards the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final is underway.
Hopes of NZ sheepmeat prices picking up anytime soon in the country's key export market of China looks highly unlikely.
Regional councils are welcoming the certainty for councils in today’s Resource Management Act (RMA) announcement by the Government.
ASB says the decision to sign on to the AgriZeroNZ joint venture came out of a wish to be a part of the solution.
Federated Farmers says changes announced to the Resource Management Act today mark the end of the war on farming.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.