Using two-wheel motorbikes and quad-bikes during mustering also has its risks.
"We know when mustering that most of the rider's attention is on the sheep - so it's good to remind ourselves that we need to stay focused.
"Use the right vehicle for the job. Two-wheel motorbikes and quad-bikes need our full attention to balance and control. In some situations, like difficult terrain or where the rider is inexperienced, it may be safer to use the quad or motorbike to get to the paddock, then get off and muster on foot. In all cases, it is good practice to work your dogs from a stationary two-wheeler or quad."
For more information on staying safe on farms, visit saferfarms.org.nz
Last call for awards
Entries close tomorrow for the Enterprising Rural Women Awards. The awards offer women who run their own rural businesses the opportunity to boost their profiles and gain recognition for their achievements.
The awards enable Rural Women NZ to raise awareness of women's entrepreneurship and their input into rural communities, creating local employment and often supplementing farm income.
There are four award categories:
-Love of the Land - for land-based businesses.
-Help! I need somebody - for businesses providing any type of service, from retailers to agricultural contractors.
-Making it in Rural - for businesses that involve manufacturing or creativity.
-Stay, Play Rural - for businesses engaged in rural tourism or hospitality. To enter the awards, women have to own and operate a small business with less than 10 fulltime-equivalent staff, based in a rural area. The business must have been running for at least two years. If in partnership, women must be an active partner of 50 per cent or more in the business.
Visit ruralwomen.org.nz for an entry form.
Use your vote
As voting gets under way for the DairyNZ elections, farmers are encouraged to get involved and question the director candidates.
Ten farmers have put their hands up for three seats on DairyNZ's board, voting for which opened on Monday.
The dairy industry body's second election involves four candidates for three spots on the directors' remuneration committee.
But it is the board of director candidates who will participate in an online Q&A at dairynz.co.nz/election, where any farmer can put a question to all 10 candidates - and get the candidates' answers published online.
DairyNZ corporate communications manager Bernie Walsh encourages voters to learn about the candidates before casting their votes.
"Levy-paying farmers should receive their voter packs this week, where they can read about all candidates," Walsh says.
"They can also learn more about them at dairynz.co.nz/election, where their 14 profiles are and where questions can be put to the director candidates.
"Sharemilkers and farm owners can both vote in our elections.
"Directors govern DairyNZ's investment priorities and decide how farmers' levy money is spent, so they carry out an important leadership role on behalf of the industry.
"Farmer levy payers can vote by the internet, post or fax until noon on October 12, or in person at the annual meeting."
Results will be announced at the DairyNZ annual meeting in Morrinsville on October 13.
Grazing strategy
Results from Ag Research trials undertaken in South Otago as part of the Pastoral 21 project have shown that grazed winter forage crops contribute significantly to the risk of nutrient losses to water but that with careful management sediment and phosphorus losses can be reduced during grazing.
DairyNZ developer Maitland Manning says strategic grazing and careful management of wet areas such as gullies and swales in winter forage crops can reduce losses of sediment and phosphorus to surface runoff by 80 to 90 per cent.
"Gullies and swales are where overland flow and seepage converge to form small channels of running water, which may then flow to streams and rivers," Maitland says.
Management tips to reduce surface runoff include:
-Work out a grazing strategy before putting up fences. Think about stock water sources and question whether you need portable troughs.
-Use a winter crop calculator (dairynz.co.nz/wintercropcalc) to work out feed requirements to achieve body condition score targets at calving.
-Ensure cows begin grazing the least risky parts of the paddock first to minimise the period of runoff risk. This usually means that cows should enter at the top of the paddock and graze their way downhill.
-On-off graze any crop left in the gully or swale at a time when soil moisture content is not too high.
-Fence off gullies or swales to provide as much of a buffer zone as possible.
These initiatives can help farmers to manage soils, animals and forage crops during the challenging winter season so that they can optimise their businesses and reduce their environmental footprint.
