Canterbury Dairy Farmer, Alan Davie-Martin was an early adopter of ProGibb® SG because it seemed like a cost-effective option and complementary to nitrogen application.

Eight years later, Alan says ProGibb SG is not only instrumental to maintaining a pasture-based feed system on his farm, but he has also experienced greater outputs and increased stocking rates. “Pasture is our cheapest feed option” states Alan. “My approach is to use it as extensively as possible because, firstly, it’s the most sustainable option and secondly, supplementary feeds are a lot more expensive.”

Growing no other crops on the milking platform, Alan is feeding a herd of 540 dairy cows. His greatest challenge in managing feed is the climate. “I don’t have a lot of complaints about farming in this area” he says. “We have good, free-draining and very fertile soils and good irrigation, but depending on the weather we can go from 80 kg dry matter to 40 kg daily growth rates if we get a cold snap. Wet periods in August and September also play havoc with feed utilisation.”

PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative, David White has worked with Alan for the past decade. Alan appreciates his local knowledge and describes David as “the man” for advice in agronomy and pasture management. “David’s been in this district for over 20 years, he knows the challenges of the land and adds so much value to our business with sound advice.”

"With David and the PGG Wrightson team, it’s not about sales, it’s a partnership: they are charged with adding value to our business, we succeed with their support."

David explains that ProGibb SG is a simple, proven and cost-effective way to help with a current or future feed deficit on-farm, for example it’s best used when demand exceeds supply. “Applied in autumn, ProGibb SG will boost pasture covers allowing the rotation to be extended to enable more days in milk says David. “In spring, the boost in dry matter growth enables farmers to have more feed going into the second round in mid September when demand is high but growth rates are still too low.”

ProGibb SG must be applied while pasture is in a ‘growing state’ for the best response. It contains gibberellins, which naturally occur in most plants, to encourage growth. To stimulate a rapid response, it’s also best applied post-grazing, when the pasture’s natural gibberellin levels are low.

Alan applies ProGibb SG over one rotation in late winter to early spring and over one and a half to two rotations in autumn. He uses it across the whole farm, except in newly sown pasture. “In our experience, ProGibb SG is fast working” confirms Alan. “We see a boost in growth within ten days, which is complemented by nitrogen stimulated growth another week or so later.”

It’s also important to Alan that ProGibb SG is a natural product. “Given our nutrient footprint is key, to be able to use a natural growth stimulator is a good thing.” Alan concludes that ProGibb SG suits his system. “ProGibb SG is a complementary development tool on our farm. Since we introduced it, our outputs are greater, we’ve increased stocking rates and seen a steady increase in milk production.”

“The best indicator that ProGibb works is that farmers, like Alan, continue to use it year after year” says David.

SPONSORED BY NUFARM