There’s a school of thought seemingly prevalent among the science and farming communities in NZ that, although changes are required to soil fertility systems in order to stem further environmental damage, they can be made by tweaking the existing urea...

The collapsed dairy milk price and the downturn in sheepmeat export prices has caused a sudden flurry of promotion for good management of permanent pasture. The advice has emanated from all levels and related organisations, many of which had formerly been...

The last dolomite article contained the quote by the late Tom Walker, a past Emeritus Professor of Soil Science at Lincoln University, “It makes good sense to me to correct animal deficiencies through the soil and the plant.” When animal deficiencies are...

Some things change over time, and others don’t, with one certainty being the daily demand for magnesium by dairy cows, particularly prior to calving. Without adequate daily intake of magnesium a wide range of health problems occur – at one end of the scale...

In years of low income, nitrogen sales rise relative to phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur inputs on the basis that nitrogen produces the cheapest supplementary feed. There’s an attitude that soil nutrients can be mined for a period of time and replenished...

“We can no longer afford to think in terms of N P and K; we must include S and Mg.” This statement is from an article titled, Magnesium – Cinderella of NZ Agriculture, written 50 years ago by M.R.J. Toxopeus a scientist at the Ruakura Research Centre. The...

When a milking cow in spring runs short on magnesium, the cost incurred isn’t difficult to calculate.  In a worst case situation she dies, and the cost is the value of the animal, and her production during the coming season.  Should she die prior to...

In the past, when dairy income has been tight, withholding autumn fertiliser has been seen as a valid means of containing costs. But is it a sound option?  Farmers that spent less on feed last spring, without reducing animal numbers, are reporting fewer...

As one farmer client stated “this spring has been a challenge”, and he’s referring specifically to pasture growth over the last three months. In the cooler areas of the Bay of Plenty, and the pattern by most accounts has been similar country wide, there’s...

A report of Dairy NZ’s recent annual meeting quoted Dairy NZ director Alister Body as saying that he was apprehensive about going to social gatherings knowing someone might “have a go” about dairy farming. Chief executive Tim Mackle was also quoted as...