Displaying items by tag: pasture
Tiller Talk promotes pasture
Northland ‘Tiller Talk’ farmers Don and Kirsten Watson took a leap into farm ownership in 2017-18, moving to South Head (Kaipara Harbour Edge).
Rain watch on the Coast
A few minutes can make all the difference to saving or losing a paddock to pugging on a West Coast dairy farm.
Maintaining nutrition as pasture quality drops
At this stage of the season, levels of Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) rise very rapidly in typical NZ pastures as ryegrass starts to form seed head.
Make good use of the cheapest form of feed
It is no secret that the cheapest form of feed on New Zealand dairy farms is home grown pasture.
Watch the grass grow
Dairy farm owners are paying a lot more attention to what's happening on their farms – especially pasture – because of the low payout.
More farmers renewing pasture – still more to go
Renewing 10% of New Zealand farm pasture annually would ensure productivity and performance gains achieved via new species do not dwindle over a 10-year cycle.
How to best manage grazing of pastures
Pasture growth and utilisation is becoming increasingly important as farm businesses face ongoing environmental and milk price challenges.
High quality feed all year
Pasture based farming is most profitable when the pastures are managed to provide the highest quality feed at all periods during the season, maximising the amount of pasture grown and eaten.
Low grass growth hits milk yield
The Southland winter-spring, with prolonged incessant rain, cold wind and low sunshine hours, have depressed grass growth well below normal.
Grass always wins
Nothing competes with grass when it comes to cost effective feed. But when grass supply is short, ProGibb SG is the next best thing, says Farmlands Manawatu field manager Mike McLean.
