Welcome to Rural Diary, PGG Wrightson’s monthly publication circulated to farmers and rural professionals to assist with planning activities on farm.
Rural Diary includes contributions from PGG Wrightson’s specialist Technical Team and leading suppliers in the rural industry. We’re sure you’ll find something interesting inside!
Summer brings a few challenges, from pest and weed control, to flystrike and facial eczema in your stock. This month, we have articles to help on all these topics. We also took a trip to visit Mayfield based Spray Contractor, Gary Harrison. Gary has seen great results from the use of Minecto Star in brassica crops.
November is the last month to nominate your local school, St John or Rural Support Trust as part of the Cash for Communities programme. Visit www.cashforcommunities.co.nz to nominate your cause. This edition of Rural Diary features key topics, from herbicide options to drench checking. Plus, our team takes a trip to South Canterbury and visits Arable Farmer, Sam Grant to discuss fungicide control in wheat. Turn to page 5 to read more.
With the busiest season on-farm upon us, we have articles on key topics such as cropping, herbicide options and silage quality to help with your decision-making this spring. Turn to page 12 to read an interesting article on the importance of calcium in your herd. Our Cash for Communities programme is back, visit www.cashforcommunities.co.nz for more information and to nominate your cause.
It is hard to believe that we are already in June and this year’s National Fieldays® is around the corner. We have moved to a new site this year on H37-H43. There will be plenty to see and do, including live demonstrations, retail specials and competitions for the kids, so make sure you visit our site.
This edition offers advice for calf rearing from birth through to weaning. Our Nutritionist, Andrea Murphy provides top tips on what to look out for at each stage. Our team visited the Te Awa family in Oxford, North Canterbury, and met with Diana Te Awa who rears both heifer and bull calves. Working closely with her Technical Field Representative, Kaleb Bolton, and local Rangiora store team, Diana uses Calf Milk Replacer (CMR) to maximise her chances of meeting liveweight targets. Also, turn to page 12 to read an interesting article from our Soil Scientist, Stephanie Sloan, on
effluent testing and use; and knowing what’s in your pond.
Agriculture in New Zealand is currently in an interesting place. As we look out over the medium term we have generally good commodity prices across the majority of agriculture sectors, yet we are seeing increasing pressure on environmental compliance, restrictions in new water schemes for which there are a range of views and a changing framework coming in our employment laws. These are not new challenges to our sector to which we adapt as we have done in the past as we all have a great passion for our sector and the communities we live in.
As we head into winter, the focus shifts to ensuring stock is in prime condition for lambing and calving so this edition covers feed options and animal health requirements extensively. We visit Blair Anselmi, drystock and dairy farmer in Piopio. Blair works closely with his Technical Field Representative, Doug Burnell, to achieve his goal of clean pastures and optimal feed quality. Together they work out an annual winter spray programme which involves Nufarm’s Relay® Super S to provide selective control of broadleaf weeds, severely preventing the growth of thistles and ragwort.
Enjoy the read.
Autumn is settling in and some of you will be in the middle of winter feed budgets. Our Technical Specialist of Soil Science, Stephanie Sloan, explains what should be on your checklist when planning your winter production options and preparing for spring forage.
In this month’s issue, we also explore various options around making good supplementary feed choices for cows in late lactation. We visit Josh Lavender, Contract Milker at Platinum Dairies, in Winton. Working closely with his local Technical Field Representative, David Wheeley, Josh explains the benefits of feeding molasses to dairy cows through lactation.
Keep safe and thank you again for your support of the Cash for Communities programme.
In this edition of Rural Diary, we introduce the newest member to the PGG Wrightson Technical Team, Jason Leslie, our South Island Vet. Jason has recently joined PGG Wrightson after 24 years as a Vet in practice. In Jason’s first article, he explains drenching options for lactating cows.
We travelled to Hastings to visit Josh Buckman, who has seen good results from his animal health programme. With help from PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative, Warren Johnson, he uses Zolvix Plus to drench lambs when they arrive on the property. On the land production front, we visited the Stocker family in Mid-Canterbury, who discuss their winning combination to tackle their battle against nodding thistle.
Enjoy the read and I hope March brings you some favourable weather, with harvest windows upon us for a number of crops.
We have certainly seen a lot less hay and silage made so far this summer and, with minimal excess pasture, the importance of planning for the autumn agronomy window is a key focus in this month’s edition. Our North Island Agronomist, Gary Bosley, gives tips on how to maximise performance when renewing pasture and PGG Wrightson Seeds explain key perennial ryegrass selection factors.
We visit Cameron Henderson in Canterbury to discuss his grass grub control programme. PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative, Kaleb Bolton, has worked with him for
many years now and following Kaleb’s recommendations to incorporate the use of suSCon® Green into his pasture maintenance programme, Cameron has seen positive results.
On the animal health front, our Vet, Andrew Dowling, reminds us to keep the end goal in sight when it comes to tupping.
December 2017
North Island | South Island
November 2017
North Island | South Island
October 2017
North Island | South Island
September 2017
North Island | South Island
August 2017
North Island | South Island
July 2017
North Island | South Island
June 2017
North Island | South Island
May 2017
North Island | South Island
April 2017
North Island | South Island
March 2017
North Island | South Island
February 2017
North Island | South Island
At PGG Wrightson, we recognise the importance of working alongside our clients.
For on-farm technical advice on feed budgeting, soil fertility, animal health and more, contact your local Technical Field Representative.