Events

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Progression Pathways in Dairy Industry:  We are currently doing a fed farmers/DairyNZ progression looking at progression pathways within the dairy industry with the aim to investigate the current progression paths in the dairy industry; and to identify the key success factors and current issues within the sharemilking sector of the industry. It will then provide recommendations to ensure that there are viable progression paths in the dairy industry, thus allowing for effective succession.

 

 

As one of the methods of collecting information I have started a blog just to see how it goes. It would be great if you could add any comments that you may have about the issue in your area to this blog www.milkmeatandmoney.blogspot.com

www.seed2feed.co.nz  - A new website for you to check out.  If you are:

·         Grower of feed crop – offer your product to the market where the true value of the location and quality can be realised.

·         Farmers, who maximise their farming operation with extra supplements – access the availability of crops and accurately value qualities using your Preferred Contractor.

·         Contractors, to market their client’s crops – a simple way to sell future crops online at market value and find buyers for up and coming crops.

AgFirst Waikato Ltd
P O Box 9078
HAMILTON

Ph: 07-825 4911
Fax: 07-839 2683
Mob: 0274-924 751

Sally.lee@agfirst.co.nz
www.agfirst.co.nz

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The very wet and humid weather has brought about a couple of very high counts already this year.  With all the rain, grass growth is very good and stock shouldn't be grazing low to ingest spores that are already present.  Methods of control include:

 

 

 

 

Monitor your own place or follow the district spore counts.  Averages for regions with data to date include (ooo's):

 

·         Kaikohe/BOI         10

·         Whangarei             6

·         Maungaturoto       198 HIGH

·         Rodney                  0

·         Franklin                41 MODERATE

·         Hauraki Plains       10

·         Waikato                 0

·         Matamata-Piako     1

·         Waipa                   7

·         South Waikato      5

·         Western BoP         1

·         Rotorua                1

·         Whakatane           0

·         Opotiki                 3

 

Whether you are on a sheep and beef property or dairy, the management of nutrients is becoming an important issue.  This is in two forms – the management of effluent, whether from yards, sheds, runoff or stock access; and the application and management of fertiliser.  Any nutrients that have access to a waterway can be dollars down the drain.  In a hill country situation, work at Whatawhata showed that 10-23 kg N/ha/yr and 1.5-3.2 kg P/ha/yr can be lost.  Overseer is available to assist in nutrient budgeting, evaluating the inputs and outputs in relation to soil type and farm production.  Be proactive rather than reactive in managing your nutrients.  If interested in doing a budget or a nutrient management plan contact AgFirst Waikato on 07-839 2683.

 

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There will be a Discussion Group Day next Wednesday, 25th January 2012, from
10:00am to 2:00pm at 97 Mill Road, Ohaupo (grazing unit).

Everybody is welcome.

Regards
Sue for Tineke




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An Introduction to biodynamics with Peter and Gill Bacchus

All farmers with an interest in biological, organic and biodynamic growing welcome.
Bring your ideas and questions.

On:     Thursday, 9 February     10.30 am – 3.30 pm

At:      Marama Farm, Cameron Road, Waipahi, South Otago

Programme will include:

Gill and Peter Bacchus will introduce biodynamics, as a system that can be used to improve soil, plant and animal health and sustainability and quality of produce.

Peter Bacchus will discuss:

the importance of oxygen in soil fertility and in liquid manure and effluent management,
using biodynamic preparations to further enhance the value of effluent and your soil and
assist with weed management,

There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Demonstration of stirring machine for improving the value of liquid manure and farm effluent

Farm walk and observations of soil, pasture and stock

We will build a compost heap (for improving soil fertility) and add biodynamic preparations



Morning and afternoon tea provided. Please bring your own lunch.

Cost to cover expenses:  $15/person

Further information from: Graham Clark  graham@maramaorganics.co.nz   03 205 8813 or Glenn Mead  glennandkate@ruralinzone.net ; or Gill Bacchus   gillbacchus@xtra.co.nz


Contact; Peter Bacchus 027 263 2521 Home (07) 862 7929


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Poplars and willows - they’re the arboreal workhorse of our rural landscape, holding hillsides and river banks together, providing shade, shelter, timber and fodder for stock when feed is short. It’s therefore appropriate that the first Trees on Farms workshop for 2012, to be held in Central Hawke’s Bay in February, will focus on the management of these two species at a time of year when the option of harvesting appropriate trees for fodder starts to look very appealing.

The workshop will be held in the Huatokitoki catchment south east of Waipukurau on Wednesday February 15, starting at 9a.m.

President of the Hawke’s Bay Farm Forestry Association Ed Saathof says a growing number of local farmers want to find out more about poplar and willow management, especially safe ways of feeding out and how to manage poplars and willows when they get bigger.

The morning session will therefore run through the basics of poplar and willow management, and include presentations on new clones and the benefits of shade and shelter on stock productivity.

Keith Betteridge, a senior scientist at AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North, will present a case study on the impact of shade on animal productivity based on trials at a hill country farm near Porangahau. Welfare and the environmental consequences of providing shade will also be discussed.

In the Porangahau trials Angus cows were exposed to one of two treatments - space-planted shade trees, or no trees. Pasture was unlimited and the stocking rate was 2.1 cows+calves/ha. GPS collars identified where the cows were throughout the three week trial, while motion sensors on their leg showed whether they were standing, walking, grazing or lying down.

“Amongst many findings, the point of most interest was that cows with shade grazed 30-40 minutes longer each day compared to cows without shade,” says Keith Betteridge. “This contradicted the opinions of those who assumed that if cows were under shade, they would not be eating and therefore not growing. Shade trees provided a place for cows that was 10 degrees cooler than out in the open, which, for these black cows that experienced up to 50 degrees C on their back, proved to be most welcome. These cows used shade extensively from around 9 a.m. until mid afternoon.”

Video clips of successful farm foresters from the Hawke’s Bay Farm Forestry Association will provide case studies of local on-farm success with trees.

The morning session will also include a presentation by AgFirst on the economic impact of building trees into an integrated land management strategy, including use of Farmax modelling, and the role of tree planting in generating diverse revenue streams - spreading risk and cash flow, enabling short-term and inter-generational/succession planning.

After lunch a farm tour will look at specific management issues in the field, including demonstrations of managing trees for fodder, and the merits of appropriate commercial production species and native plantings for Hawke’s Bay.

As well as written information and hard copies of presentations, workshop participants will receive a CD containing the workshop presentations, interviews with local farm foresters, recent poplar and willow publications and electronic handbooks outlining best practice growing and management of the major farm forestry timber species.

The workshop is free to attend, but an indication of numbers is needed for catering purposes. For more information contact Ian Nicholas at i.nicholas@clear.net.nz (07 348 5923, 0274 505 904) or Hawke’s Bay NZFFA secretary Marie Taylor plantHawke’sbay@xtra.co.nz (06 836 7018, 0274 424 536)

Trees on Farms is being funded by MAF’s Sustainable Farming Fund, and the NZ Farm Forestry Association, Tane’s Tree Trust, Agfirst, and regional and unitary councils. Targeted at farmers and other land managers, these workshops aim to highlight tree planting options that will help farm profit, succession planning, and social and environmental sustainability in the long term. Following the highly successful inaugural workshop held in Gisborne in November, a further 25 workshops and hui will be held around New Zealand in 2012-13.

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Go Organic Part-time course - Due to start 28th February 2012 in Hamilton and Whitianga, the aim of this course is to build ecosystems, promote biodiversity, increase soil and plant health and avoid the use of artificial fertilisers and sprays.  It is ideal for plant growers, permaculture planners, lifestyle-block owners and keen gardeners interested in sustainable growing.  On successful completion participants will receive a National Certificate in Organic Horticulture (L3).

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HOMOEOPATHIC FARM SUPPORT

FieldDays

Southern Field Days          -           Waimumu Feb 15th 16th & 17th
Northern Field Days          -           Dargaville March 1st 2nd & 3rd
Central Field Days            -           Fielding March 15th16th & 17th
National Field Days           -           Mystery Creek June 2012
Come and see us there

FREE ONE DAY SEMINARS
Cambridge Whakatane
Whangarei Dargaville
Stratford Takapau
Invercargill Papakaio

Free one day seminars coming up in April

HOMEOPATHIC FARM SUPPORT LIMITED
P O Box 9025
HAMILTON

Phone: (07) 858 4233
Fax: (07) 858 4234
Email: hfs@xtra.co.nz

www.farmsupport.co.nz
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13th – 16th June

National Field Days

Venue:  Mystery Creek, Hamilton

Contact:  http://www.fieldays.co.nz/

 

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