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Dairy Reminders For May 2005

By Department of Primary Industries - 18th May 2005 - Back to News

Pastures
Long term average ryegrass pasture growth rates for May range from 12-20kg DM/ha/day on dryland dairy farms across Gippsland depending on the timing of the autumn rainfall events. The irrigated pastures of the MID are expected to grow at 10-15kg DM/ha/day. Higher fertility soils and nitrogen boosted pastures could produce up to double this amount of pasture growth.
Ryegrass leaf appearance rates for mid May are estimated to be 14-16 days depending on soil moisture, aspect and soil temperatures. Therefore, pasture rotations should be around 42-48 days to allow ryegrass to reach the 3 leaf stage before grazing. If conditions remain dry then leaf appearance could be even longer than those above.
Increased ryegrass pasture quantity will be produced by extending the growth from 2 leaf stage out to 3 leaf stage.
The dry start to autumn has opened up gaps in pastures allowing broadleaf weeds to germinate without competition. Control capeweed and other broad leaf weeds with a suitable registered herbicide.
Oversow poor producing paddocks and any bare areas of your paddocks with a short rotation rye grass. May/June sown perennial pasture mixes will find it difficult to establish prior to the onset of winter.
The February rains have encouraged insect populations in paddocks. Inspect emerging pastures for damage from red legged earthmite, crickets, Lucerne flea and other insect pests. Take action before rather than after the emerging pastures are eaten.

Cows
Now is the time to make sure there is enough pasture ahead of the cows for winter by developing a feed plan and working towards a pasture wedge to enable the pastures to be growing at their optimum through winter. The top end of the wedge should have ryegrass pasture ready to graze at the 3 1eaf stage. The farm should have even amounts of paddocks with 1, 2 or 3 leaf stage ryegrass pastures. This can be achieved by lengthening the grazing rotation on the farm while using more supplements.
When drying off your cows consider worm control and treatment with 7 in 1 vaccine. Record any veterinary treatments.
Monitor cow condition. Are the cows in the condition score you want them for calving, 4.5 – 5? If not, you may need to adjust the feed you give them when dried off or budget on having more feed for them when they calve.
Determine the number of empty cows and decide wether you will milk them on or sell. If milking through they will need access to high quality feed both as pasture and supplements to maintain their milk flow through winter.

Irrigation
Make a note of problem areas, so the winter maintenance program can fix these issues rather than rediscovering them at the first irrigation of the season. Irrigation pumps should be booked in for their winter service.
Run some spinner cuts down the slow draining irrigation bays to assist drainage over the winter months.

Nitrogen fertiliser usage in autumn
Applications of nitrogen in autumn will increase the pasture growth rates; a response of 10kg of DM pasture is possible for each kg of nitrogen applied.
Post grazing applications of 30-60 kg of nitrogen per hectare will give favourable growth responses on rotational grazed, fertile perennial ryegrass pastures.
Plan ahead and apply nitrogen at least 6 weeks before the feed is required.
Avoid grazing nitrogen boosted pastures for 21 days after application due to possible elevated nitrate levels in the leaf which may cause nitrate poisoning in livestock.
Capeweed pastures will contain high nitrate levels, therefore do not apply nitrogen to capeweed pastures and watch for nitrate poisoning if capeweed is present in pastures.

Environment
Spear thistles and slender thistles have germinated due to the February rains. These weeds are in the rosette stage at present, which is an ideal and economical time to control these troublesome pests.

This may be your last chance to empty the dairy effluent pond before the wet winter months. Apply the pond water over as large an area as possible to distribute the valuable nutrients and to avoid the possibility of surface run off from the farm.

LETTUCE APHID DETECTED IN VICTORIA

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has confirmed Currant Lettuce Aphid (Nasonovia ribis - nigri) in Scoresby, Eltham and Templestowe, in outer eastern metropolitan Melbourne.

Lettuce aphid was first detected in Tasmania in late March 2004, and up until now was contained to the Island State.

DPI survey staff are visiting lettuce growing districts to determine the distribution of lettuce aphid. The aphid was detected in a lettuce crop and in flowering hawksbeard in parklands.

The Department has informed local industry and is consulting with interstate quarantine authorities to determine whether they will be imposing any trade restriction as a result of this detection.

Lettuce aphids range in colour from green to yellow and have distinct dark band markings on their abdomen.

They tend to feed and colonise on new leaves deep inside the plant making it very difficult to manage.

The aphids feed on lettuce seedlings and plants, chicory and weeds such as hawksbeard and nipplewort, however they are harmless to human health.

Growers and consumers seeking more information on the Lettuce Aphid are encouraged to visit the AUSVEG web site at www.ausveg.com.au.

WILD DOG MANAGEMENT
LOCAL AREA CONTROL PLANS

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) are currently seeking further comment from community members that have an interest in wild dog management in Gippsland.

All members of the public and government representatives that attended the Wild Dog Local Area Plan meetings held across Gippsland will soon receive a draft copy of the maps and works program that they had input in developing.

The maps and works program spread sheet will form the basis for each Local Area Control Plan across areas of Gippsland affected by wild dog activity.

Meetings were held at Dargo, Gelantipy, Omeo, Ellinbank, Gembrook, Maffra and Bonang.

Vaughn Kingston, DPI Wild Dog Program Coordinator for Gippsland said we are calling for community comment by the close of business on Friday 3^rd of June.

"Once this process has been completed the Local Area Plans will be ratified by the Gippsland Wild Dog Management Group before publication and distribution."

Other members of the community can contact Vaughn Kingston on (03) 51 52 0600 for further details on the Local Area Control Plans or the Gippsland Wild Dog Program.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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