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Ag News: Wednesday, July 17, 2009

Includes: Dairy Reminders for July; Farming Diaryand other interesting articles

By Department of Primary Industries - 16th July 2009 - Back to News

DAIRY REMINDERS FOR JULY

Pastures/forages

• Ryegrass leaf appearance rate: 14 to 20 days per leaf (depending on soil moisture and temperature).
• Estimated grazing rotation length: 45 to 60 days between each grazing.
• Area of farm to graze today: One forty-fifth to one sixtieth of grazing area in 24 hours.
• Recommended pre-grazing decisions for all stock: Check that ryegrass pastures are at the three leaf stage between the clumps. If it is less than three leaves, then lengthen the grazing rotation. If tillers have more than three leaves, then shorten the rotation.
• Recommended post grazing decision for milkers and young stock: To maximise pasture production, do not graze pastures lower than 5 cm between the clumps when the cows leave the paddock. If post grazing residual is above 5 cm between the clumps, then reduce supplementary feeding by 1 kg. However, if the herd is grazing below 5 cm, add in 1 kg of supplement.
• Seasonal management tasks: Do not graze pasture within 21 days of nitrogen application. Applying nitrogen just after grazing helps to minimise the risk of nitrate poisoning. Control capeweed and other broadleaf weeds in pastures before they shade out desirable pasture species.
• Estimated soil temperature: 8 – 12 degrees Celsius.
• Estimated daily evaporation: 2 to 4 mm per day without rainfall.
• Average daily pasture growth rate: 10 to 18 kg DM/Ha/day across Gippsland. If all your pastures are short and your average cover across the farm is low, then the daily growth rate could be much lower.

Bobby calves

• Clean out and prepare calf sheds ready for the new batch of calves.
• Take time to train other people employed on the farm in the handling and management of both replacement calves and bobby calves.
• Do not allow antibiotic contaminated milk from cows treated with veterinary drugs to be fed to bobby calves you intend to sell for slaughter.

Heifers

• Don’t neglect your heifers this winter. Supplementing the heifers pasture diet with pellets or good quality hay (9 MJ/kg or better) helps to maintain energy levels in the diet; and provides adequate fibre, energy, protein and minerals to the growing animal.

Cows

• Check your cows’condition score at drying off (5.5 condition score) and again during the dry period to ensure they achieve their target condition score at calving.
• Watch out for nitrate poisoning when grazing forage oats, brassicas, annual or hybrid ryegrass or pastures containing capeweed or marshmallow.
• Do not put hungry cows on potentially high nitrate pastures. Instead feed with hay or supplement prior to grazing any pastures containing elevated nitrate levels.
• Track maintenance will help reduce lameness and foot problems in the herd.

Fodder

Prepare a fodder budget to get you through to the magic spring day.

Cost out fodder purchases based on a cents per megajoule of energy basis.

Stick with feeds you know or understand, and have a feed test certificate and fodder declaration.

Irrigation

• Fix any channel problems from last season. It is also time to do maintenance on the centre pivot irrigator and on irrigation pumps.
• Spray farm irrigation channels to control unwanted weeds and grass.
• Clean drains and spinner cuts on irrigation bays. Drainage is important all year round for pasture growth.

Forward Planning for August

• Tasks for August include tree planting and reducing muddy areas on tracks and concrete surfaces.

For more information, contact your nearest Dairy Extension Officer at DPI Ellinbank on 5624 2222, DPI Leongatha on 5662 9900, or DPI Maffra on 5147 0800.

FARMING DIARY

Farm Finance Ideas

The South Gippsland Young Dairy Development Program will be hosting a seminar on ‘Financial Farming Philosophies’ with John Mulvany on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at the Fishy Pub, Fish Creek.

This interactive seminar will explore different options for people interested in sharefarming and the stepping stones to leasing.

For more information and catering purposes, please contact Kylie Barry 5624 3904 or email yddpgipps@dcsi.net.au

Fire Relief Community Planting Day

Community help is sought to help sow 10,000 indigenous plants in areas affected by the 2009 Bunyip Ridge bushfires on Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 9:00 am onwards.

The event which includes lunch at 1:00pm will be coordinated from the Labertouche Hall, Cnr Labertouche and Forest Road, Labertouche.

Interested helpers are asked to bring gloves, a bucket for watering, sturdy shoes and wet weather clothing.

This event is supported by the Cardinia Environment Coalition, Western Port Catchment Landcare Network, Planet Art – National Tree Day and Landcare Australia.

For more information and catering purposes, please contact Bridgette McCallum on 5941 8446.

Milk Price Discussion Forum

A dairy forum entitled ‘Lower milk prices – options for this season’ will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at the Macalister Demonstration Farm from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

The farmer led discussion panel will focus on options for moving forward and a BBQ lunch will be provided.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact DPI Maffra on 5147 0800.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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