Pastures and Forages

A study monitoring heifer growth rates on winter crops has shown the importance of testing all winter feeds for nutritive value and formulating winter diets to ensure nutrient requirements are being met, rather than just allocating feed on a drymatter basis. Words Andrea Dixon & Dawn Dalley.

A Waikato dairy farmer is choosing to buy in maize silage from a neighbour which keeps his costs down and lets him focus on growing more grass on the milking platform. Words Heather Chalmers

A maize grower is trialling planting clover in between crops to break the cycle of insects overwintering on grass, eliminating the need for an insecticide treatment on maize seed. Words Heather Chalmers.

Irrigation season has started and it’s time for a refresher. Checking the system is working as it was designed to and managing water application by monitoring soil moisture will be well worth it.
Words Anne lee.

Making every drop of water count is important when the resource is limited. Technology is helping one couple do just that. Words Anne Lee, Photos Holly Lee.

Pasture management is crucial for optimising dairy production and DairyNZ’s Spring Rotation Planner can help farmers manage pasture after calving.

A Waikato farm is trialling planting maize using no-till and strip-till on clay soil. Words Heather Chalmers.

A balanced use of insecticide without killing beneficial insects is important for managing fall armyworm. Words Heather Chalmers.

Optimising Winter Nutrition for Dairy Cows: Insights from Kale and Fodder Beet Research at the Southern Dairy Hub.

Isaac Algar and Jordyn Crouch highlight the opportunities that still exist in the dairy sector. Buying their own farm in their twenties has been an accomplishment born out of sacrifice, hard work and making the most out of their opportunities. Words & Photos Sheryl Haitana.