West Coast Monitor Farm

Westland has some unique challenges such as high rainfall and seasonal dry peroids which are variable across the region. Westland has now been collecting data for 10 years and continues to building on the information currently available.

This project funded by Westland Milk Products, DairyNZ, CRV Ambreed, ARL-Ravensdown and Rabobank aims to generate reliable pasture growth and quality, and soil temperature information, over the next 12 months, on two commercial dairy farms in Westland.

Farm walks schedule for this season are weekly from August to May, and monthly over the winter period.

Each week we will provide a Weekly Summary of information from the following regions:

Buller: Mawheraiti (Stu and Deb Bland), Westland: Kowhitirangi (Anna and Jeremy Hart).

Expanded farm summary for the week ending 15 May 2019

CO comment

The past week has seen a bit of a change in weather, with rain across the Coast and temperatures dropping off.

Now is the time to think about pasture management through winter and into spring.

Some things to remember include…

•           The spring rotation planner can help to manage the transition from winter to spring and ensure appropriate covers are reached in spring.

https://www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/pasture-management/feed-wedges-and-rotation-planners/spring-rotation-planner/spring-rotation-planner-tool/

•           Winter is the time of year where grazing below 7 clicks/1500 kg DM/ha does not appear to damage ryegrass growth.

•           Pugging (reduces tiller density and allows weed ingress, reduces subsequent pasture production). Consider standing cows off on races/feed pads.

•           Grazing at high stock density on wet soils (reduces subsequent pasture production by up to 45% the following year).

•           High farm covers in August (leads to shading and loss of tiller density).

While we hope not to see too much rain over winter, but if we inevitably do, some tips for wet weather management include…

•           Build pasture cover before the wet period

•           Graze paddocks vulnerable to wet conditions early (e.g. autumn)

•           Take cows in and out of different gateways

•           Start grazing from the back of the paddock

•           Use on-off grazing with a well-designed and managed stand-off area.

Farm Summary

Previous Weekly Summaries

2019

2018

2017

2016