DairyNZ's Tactics for Spring events are aimed at helping farmers manage their pasture during the most productive time of the year on-farm.
DairyNZ's Tactics for Spring events are aimed at helping farmers manage their pasture during the most productive time of the year on-farm.
DairyNZ's Tactics for Spring events kicked off on the Hauraki Plains last week, aimed at helping farmers manage their pasture during the most productive time of the year on-farm.
The nationwide events are taking place in September and October, the beginning of the 'money months' when more pasture will begrown and more milk produced than any other time of the year.
With uncertainty around where milk prices will go DairyNZ research and development general manager Dr David McCall is urging farmers to focus on what they can control.
"Our research shows pasture, without any input other than basic fertiliser, drives more than 85 per cent profit for most farms at a $7.00/kgMS milk price, but 98 per cent at a $4.00. So it makes sense to get our focus clearly set on managing this important feed source well - we've got to make the most of it, particularly this spring," says Mr McCall.
"Profitable farmers, no matter what system they run, have a 'pasture first' mentality. They measure and work to optimise the cheapest feed source - home grown pasture in spring."
The events are focused on helping farmers grow and harvest more spring pasture with topics including optimising pasture growth, managing pasture quality and effectively incorporating crops into the system.
"Growing and harvesting an extra tonne of dry matter that has already been paid for can reduce costs by around $0.33 per kgMS - pushing farms closer to break even or further into profit."
• Act quickly to remove supplement when balance date arrives. • Balance date occurs when soil temperatures are greater than 10° and pasture cover is at least 2000kg DM/ha. • Once balance date is achieved, pasture will meet the nutrient needs of the cow including getting them in calf. Supplement will not improve reproduction if sufficient pasture is on-hand. • Aggressively identify paddocks for conservation to maintain quality.
- Tactics for Spring comes to this region on Wednesday, September 21 at the Tokanui AgResearch Farm, 96 Farm Road, Te Mawhai from 10am-1pm.
- For more information visit dairynz.co.nz/tactics
