If you’re thinking about investing in ways to push feed forward, this is the year to do it.
This is according to Agricom’s Allister Moorhead who was speaking about preparing for a hot, dry summer at a recent levy-funded Beef + Lamb New Zealand workshop.
He urged farmers to use short-term tools such as strategically applied nitrogen to maximise the spring flush and summer forage crops to help push feed forward into late summer.
While soil temperatures are only just starting to rise, Allister encouraged farmers to get N on as soon as possible to help drive early spring pasture growth.
“But pick your paddocks to power up.”
The resulting feed will help drive lactation and pre-weaning growth rates - or depending on the pasture species could be differed and carried further into summer.
“It’s about trying to maximise spring surpluses as surpluses gives farmers choices.”
Having a spring surplus allows for summer crops to be sown in the ideal window.
Other tools farmers can use as the forecast El Nino takes grip include de-stocking, using older run-out pastures as a feed pad.
“By late summer, continuing finish lambs on summer crops when you have skinny ewes is missing the opportunity for these crops to be used as tupping feed, setting up the following years reproductive performance.”
Hear how farmers in the Northern South Island are preparing for a dry summer here.