Kaipaki research site invaluable pasture proving ground
Farmers aren’t the only ones getting seed drills ready this...
Farmers aren’t the only ones getting seed drills ready this autumn. New Barenbrug pasture trials are being sown throughout the upper North Island as part of the company’s long running regional R&D programme.
Wide-ranging regional research benefits both red meat & dairy
From dryland lucerne under sheep grazing in Wairarapa to more...
From dryland lucerne under sheep grazing in Wairarapa to more than a dozen Italian and annual ryegrass cultivars in the National Forage Variety Trials in Manawatu, Barenbrug’ lower North Island regional research programme has something for everyone this year.
Putting sheep & beef pastures to the dryland test
Tyson, the new perennial ryegrass for sheep and beef, continues...
Tyson, the new perennial ryegrass for sheep and beef, continues to shine for the right reasons in a challenging North Canterbury pasture trial which has now been under evaluation for four years.
Champions of the Forage Value Index
In DairyNZ’s latest rankings for the Forage Value Index (FVI...
In DairyNZ’s latest rankings for the Forage Value Index (FVI) Barenbrug is unique in having a top ranking, five star ryegrass in all categories of the FVI, not just for this part of the country but in every region in the system.
Capturing the true value of white clover
White clover is a key competitive advantage in NZ’s pastoral farm...
White clover is a key competitive advantage in NZ’s pastoral farm sector. And that means the choice of white clover cultivar is important when you’re getting ready to renew pastures this autumn.
Do the right thing to profit from pasture this autumn
Pasture has never been more important in creating strong...
Pasture has never been more important in creating strong, resilient farm systems than it is now. So Barenbrug has made it easier for farmers to get more out of their pastures this autumn with a new free booklet called ‘Do the Right Thing’.
Grass into Gold: Contractor already penciled in for autumn sowing
Italian and perennial ryegrass will be direct drilled very soon...
Italian and perennial ryegrass will be direct drilled very soon on Kathy Craw and Logan Bowler’s Marton farm as they aim to repeat the success of early sowing last autumn.
Sowing too soon in the south – simply not worth it
Sowing ryegrass or brassica seed before soils reach minimum...
Sowing ryegrass or brassica seed before soils reach minimum temperatures for successful germination is never a good idea, even in years like this when spring gets off to a slow start in Southland and Otago.
Pasture Renewal Charitable Trust (PRCT) encouraging farmers to renew 10% of pasture annually
The Pasture Renewal Charitable Trust (PRCT) has launched a new...
The Pasture Renewal Charitable Trust (PRCT) has launched a new campaign aimed at encouraging farmers to renew 10% of pasture annually. PRCT project manager Tim Wood says the 10% target is a national average across sheep and beef and dairy farms.
North Canterbury sheep & beef - Pasture & crop options after drought
The adverse conditions, particularly in North Canterbury, has...
The adverse conditions, particularly in North Canterbury, has reduced farms ability to produce feed. To get things back on track, home grown feed is the cheapest option.
Bealey/Trojan mix best of new pastures in Canterbury
Darfield 2 July: The first in-calf heifers are due to arrive this...
Darfield 2 July: The first in-calf heifers are due to arrive this week on Dougal and Alana King’s 365 ha conversion in central Canterbury, and in one key respect they won’t be a day too soon.
Wintering barn saves soaked Southland pastures from treading
Hedgehope 29 June: It’s been a wet, cold June on the Murdoch’s...
Hedgehope 29 June: It’s been a wet, cold June on the Murdoch’s Southland farm but in-calf cows are dry literally as well as figuratively, and pastures are safe from treading damage thanks to the wintering barn Blair and Rebecca built in 2008, plus a feedpad.
Trojan growing twice the average DM/ha for Cameron Woodhouse, Carterton
Carterton 11 June: Even though he knew some paddocks were not...
Carterton 11 June: Even though he knew some paddocks were not growing as well as others this past season, Cameron Woodhouse says he was still startled to find out just how big the difference was in terms of DM/ha.
Kathy Craw’s doing her 2015/16 budget; new grass remains an essential despite payout.
Marton 22 May: Pasture renewal, drainage and broadleaf herbicide...
Marton 22 May: Pasture renewal, drainage and broadleaf herbicide for buttercup control remain farm budget essentials for 2015/16 while Kathy Craw and Logan Bowler put other capital purchases on hold.
Budgeting for pasture profitability & resilience
Cost-conscious dairy farmers finalising their budgets can tackle...
Cost-conscious dairy farmers finalising their budgets can tackle the low payout on two fronts – reining in operating expenses while spending wisely to protect and maintain their profit base. This is especially important in the South Island, where poor pastures left as they are act as a financial handbrake.
Grass into Gold: Near-record production on all-grass with fewer cows for Joy Thomas, Reporoa.
Reporoa 8 May: New pastures are looking ‘great’ on the Central...
Reporoa 8 May: New pastures are looking ‘great’ on the Central Plateau farm Joy farms with husband Deverel and are nearly ready for their first light nip-off with calves.
Grass into Gold - Seasonal update: Morgan Easton, Waitaki
Waitaki Plains 7 May: Production is going well and pasture growth...
Waitaki Plains 7 May: Production is going well and pasture growth is also holding up for sharemilkers Morgan and Hayley Easton, with the latest average farm cover at 2650 kg DM/ha.
Latest from Grass into Gold: Pasture covers on the rise for Hayden Cartright after long dry spell.
Timaru 29 April: Pasture covers have started to increase on...
Timaru 29 April: Pasture covers have started to increase on Hayden’s South Canterbury dairy farm, with the most recent average reaching 2280 kg DM/ha, and that’s a welcome change after a long and challenging dry spell.
HB Farmer of the Year showcases excellent farming, high levels of performance
All eyes were on Craig and Trish Sinclair last week as the...
All eyes were on Craig and Trish Sinclair last week as the winners of the Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year opened their gates for a field day to reveal the ins and outs of their very smart business.
Grass into Gold - Seasonal update: Paul Awaikera, Totara Flat
Totara Flat 24 April: Pasture growth has been above expectation...
Totara Flat 24 April: Pasture growth has been above expectation for Paul on the West Coast this autumn, and as a result he’s been able to milk through March and most of April feeding grass only.
Nitrate poisoning
With crops or annual/Italian ryegrass grown in summer dry areas...
With crops or annual/Italian ryegrass grown in summer dry areas this year, the potential for nitrate poisoning is greater than usual. This most commonly happens when you start grazing the crop this autumn/early winter, so take care transitioning stock as outlined in this story.
Grass into Gold - Seasonal update: Susan Dyer, Drury
Drury 2 April: Take care not to overgraze pastures during a dry...
Drury 2 April: Take care not to overgraze pastures during a dry and challenging summer has proved its worth for sharemilkers Susan and Mark Dyer on 160 ha (eff) at Ararimu this season.
‘Too late’ to sow new pasture? We beg to differ.
One of the problems with our “new-normal” of dry or droughty...
One of the problems with our “new-normal” of dry or droughty summers is the effect these are having on our sowing season. In years like this, many farmers are starting sowing later than ideal, and the season is more condensed.
Grass into Gold - Seasonal update: Aaron Price, Morrinsville
Morrinsville 30 March: ‘Fantastic’ autumn growth after good rain...
Morrinsville 30 March: ‘Fantastic’ autumn growth after good rain has seen recent pasture covers hit a surprise high of 2520 kg DM/ha on the 80 ha Aaron sharemilks with his wife Sarah at Tahuna.
Grass into Gold - Seasonal update: Blair Murdoch, Southland
Hedgehope 30 March: Daily pasture growth rates are finally...
Hedgehope 30 March: Daily pasture growth rates are finally getting close to where they should be after a challenging spring and summer on the Murdochs’ totally self contained System 5 property in Southland.
Pasture recovery plan: setting up next spring.
Rain in the past few weeks has helped alleviate dry conditions...
Rain in the past few weeks has helped alleviate dry conditions for many farmers throughout the country. With some soil moisture available, it’s now critical to strike the right balance between feeding animals, and maximising pasture and crop growth. This will make a big difference to how fast you get production back on track for spring.
Can you grow 30 t DM/ha of pasture in just 12 months? With Shogun, the answer is yes.
It’s official – Shogun is a 30 t DM/ha crop. Thanks to a Bay of...
It’s official – Shogun is a 30 t DM/ha crop. Thanks to a Bay of Plenty dairy farmer and his reseller rep, we’ve been able to prove for the first time under commercial farming conditions that ryegrass can yield far more DM/ha than most farmers expect.
Perennial ryegrass heading dates – 3 facts you need to know
There is some confused opinion as to what is the ‘right’ ryegrass...
There is some confused opinion as to what is the ‘right’ ryegrass heading date for pastures being sown this autumn. This is a relatively straightforward decision, although some of the things we are hearing seem to be making it very complex!
White clover rewards careful sowing – new trial results
A new trial confirms the method by which pastures are sown can...
A new trial confirms the method by which pastures are sown can significantly influence white clover population. Results showed a 20% increase in clover content when ryegrass and clover were sown separately.
Should dairy farmers invest in pasture renewal this year? Yes!
Pasture renewal is still one of the best investments you can make...
Pasture renewal is still one of the best investments you can make in your farm business. Pasture remains the cornerstone of feeding cows in the New Zealand dairy Industry, and the amount of ‘pasture eaten/ha’ is widely acknowledged as a key profit indicator. With the lower payout, what does that mean in terms of return on investment in pasture renewal?
Pasture research for N mitigation
As nitrogen (N) management comes increasingly to the fore in New...
As nitrogen (N) management comes increasingly to the fore in New Zealand land use regulations, agricultural researchers have been investigating pasture and forage options that may help farmers mitigate N leaching.