Early summer prompts call for farm plan

File Photo.

A very wet spring followed by a hot, dry start to summer has put pressure on summer feed supply for dairy farmers in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

With the unusual start to summer, DairyNZ is encouraging dairy farmers to have a plan in case dry conditions continue.

"Pasture is open after pugging damage, quantity of silage harvested is down and in many cases crops haven't been planted or were planted two to three weeks late," says DairyNZ North Waikato regional leader Phil Irvine.

"With PKE $80-$90/t more expensive than this time last year, it's important to start thinking about targets and options if the summer is a dry one. Having said that, there has been a lot of late maize planted on non-dairy land."

Data also shows current soil conditions are drier than normal in parts of Northland, Taranaki, Lower North Island and Southland.

"It's apparent that in many regions silage yields are down and summer crops have been sown late," says DairyNZ extension general manager Andrew Reid.

"Farmers always factor variable weather into their seasonal plans, so many, if not all, across the country will be pretty well prepared for the conditions we're experiencing.

"However, it is timely to revisit the summer plan and talk through different scenarios with the farm team.

'For example, supplementary feed usage, culling policies, once-a-day milking, irrigation priorities and what the target dates and trigger points for dry-off decisions are.

"It's easier to have these in place now rather than trying to work through them during a stressful dry period.

"Dairy farmers will be monitoring the condition of their cows - and their feed supply.

'For many, winter and spring pasture damage and subsequent weed burdens may mean changing expectations about how these pastures will perform over summer."

Many of DairyNZ's Tiller Talk farmers, who are working to improve their pasture management and are sharing their progress online, talk about how they are responding to dry conditions.

Many are extending rotation length and some farmers have started 16-hour milking intervals.

To see their updates - including average pasture growth rates, pasture cover and rotation lengths, visit dairynz.co.nz/tillertalk.

For guidance on how to prepare for summer weather, or to check your options, visit www.dairynz.co.nz/summer

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.