Pastures and Forages
Profitable pasture
Creating pastures to sustain a profitable farm system has been central to the Armstrong family’s expansion and improvement of their Taranaki operation over the past three generations. Now as the fourth generation take on their roles and the Newells take on contract milking the dairy farms, pasture performance remains a top priority. Words & Photos Anne Lee.
Crunching the Numbers on Plantain
As nutrient regulations tighten, farmers need solutions that are effective, practical and proven at scale. DairyNZ’s plantain programme is putting a dent in nitrate leaching. Words Dr Kate Fransen.
Homegrown feed still the backbone
Latest DairyBase data shows that pasture and crop harvested remain one of the strongest drivers of operating profit per hectare nationwide for both owner-operators and sharemilkers. Words Jodie Goudswaard, DairyBase Manager, DairyNZ.
Brix might not be best
A high Brix test may mean high sugar for the horticulture sector, but when it comes to measuring pasture quality, farmers are being told to look to traditional feed quality analysis. Words Anne Lee.
Real data shows real costs
A deep dive into the numbers shows just how big the dollar benefit is to utilising pasture well and reveals the surprising real cost of supplement boosted milk production. Words Anne Lee.
Pasture-Based Wintering: The Low-N Alternative
Research from a recent Canterbury farm study shows wintering on diverse pastures can have a range of benefits. Words Dr Racheal Bryant.
How healthy soil affects more milk in the vat
How one Canterbury dairy farmer improved his soil health which led to an increase in pasture productivity and a decrease in nutrient leaching. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.
Gains grow in the detail
Simple, repeatable systems are proving to be a winning formula for North Otago couple Peter and Emma Smit. They spoke at a recent Pasture Summit field days to find out just what those systems entail and how the Smits achieve top-performing financial returns. Words Anne Lee, Photos Holly Lee.
Is your feed plan ready?
The scramble for supplementary feed last season is a good forewarning for farmers to do their budgets and plan early for maize silage feed reserves this season. Words Sheryl Haitana.
Bridging Research and Reality
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH) is carrying out comparative demonstration at scale, looking at a Standard Herd and a Future Herd, which is focused on greater individual cow performance. Words Southern Dairy Hub.