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GET THE calculator out and don’t leave it to guesswork when planning winter feed crops for next year.
That was a key message to come out of a Beef + Lamb New Zealand field day on Waiouru Station earlier this month (see p23).
“Sometimes farmers will say I’m going to sow 10has of crop and the stock class is then going to have to fit that,” explained PGG Wrightson Seeds’ specialist Charlotte Westwood.
“Instead, they should be saying I have 2000 ewes to winter, therefore I have demand for X amount of dry matter per head per day over a given period.
“It’s about the need to plan: how much area you need to grow; and how to grow the best yielding crop,” she stressed.
Westwood’s other key message is, having grown a crop, accurately determine the amount of feed using quadrant samples tested for drymatter.
There’s no point “eyeballing” crops to determine yield because few, if any, people can do it accurately.
“There are book values out there for the crops, but they are unreliable, especially for kale because it’s quite variable with dry matter percentage… there can up to a 2 or 3 % dry matter difference.”
If the book value percentage is higher than actual drymatter, and farmers are unaware of this, they’ll end up underfeeding stock, she warns.
“You must send a sample away to do a dry matter assessment. And while sending it away have it nitrate tested.”
Crops are a good option in areas where pasture growing seasons are limited by climate but yields do need to be high, says Westwood.
Where cold winters limit pasture growth, beside brassicas providing a weather-proof bulk of feed to carry stock through, they also have a lower minimum temperature for growth, so will grow a little when the pasture has long since stopped.
The other benefit to factor in is growing a crop is a good start to a re-grassing programme.
In New Zealand, every dairy farmer worth their salt knows just how important it is to look after the welfare of their animals. The health of the herd directly impacts profit margins, which, in turn, determines the viability and sustainability of the farm.
As we approach the winter months it’s important to be prepared for the challenges and uncertainties that come with unpredictable weather events.
Farmers needing stock feed or wanting to supply or donate feed are being urged to use the National Feed Co-ordination Service.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Federated Farmers have restarted the national Feed Coordination Service to help farmers recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle.
Driving from home base in the Horowhenua through Hawke’s Bay and up the East Coast, it’s pretty evident that feed for cows is in short supply and that ground is still wet.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
