Thursday, 28 July 2022 08:55

Oz farmers study N usage

Written by  Staff Reporters
The High Integrity Grass-fed Herds (HIGH) project identifies positive outcomes for pasturebased dairy farms by reducing synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use and improving milk production efficiency from low-cost grazed pasture systems. The High Integrity Grass-fed Herds (HIGH) project identifies positive outcomes for pasturebased dairy farms by reducing synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use and improving milk production efficiency from low-cost grazed pasture systems.

Australian dairy farmers are backing a new five-year research project looking into reducing the reliance on nitrogen fertilisers used in pasture production.

The High Intensity Grass-fed Herds (HIGH) project identifies positive outcomes for pasture-based dairy farms by reducing synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use and improving milk production efficiency from low-cost grazed pasture systems.

Other elements of the project are focused on adding economic value for non-replacement dairy cows, as well as the enhancement and development of people and skills.

The project has seen the construction of a purpose-built dairy at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture's Dairy Research Facility at Elliott in north west Tasmania and the establishment of four new farmlets (or mini farms), to research strategies for reducing reliance on synthetic fertiliser and its impacts under real farm conditions.

More like this

Reviewing 50 years of NZ use

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, and nitrogen fertiliser has long been critical to maintaining the high productivity of grazed pasture systems in New Zealand.

More N available than thought

Paul Hunter farms 240ha of well-drained Mairoa ash soils at Mulroy Farm, situated south of Te Awamutu in the Waikato.

Featured

State farmer opens pathway to ownership for more Kiwis

In a landmark move, the state-owned farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) is making four of its 44 dairy farms available for people wishing to take up various contracts including herd-owning, share milking, variable order share milking and contract milking.

Coming to a beach near you!

The popular Surfing for Farmers programme, which gives farmers a well-earned break from life on the farm, starts its eighth season from November 5.

MilkHub sold

Milk vat manufacturer DTS is selling its dairy automation business to MilktechNZ.

National

DairyNZ levy to increase?

Retiring chair Jim van der Poel has used his final AGM to announce the intention to increase the DairyNZ farmer…

Former Fonterra CEO dies

Former Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings passed away in the Netherlands over the weekend.

Graduate brings passion for farming

Rhys Dawson will join Perrin Ag in 2025 as the firm’s newest graduate recruit, bringing a passion for inter-generational agribusiness…

Machinery & Products

Data connection made easier

New Holland and Case IH are introducing new advancements in their precision technology stack to make farming easier and more…

A formidable duo for tillage

The new Lemken Solitair MR series mounted drills, available in three or four metre working widths, features a 1500-litre tank, which…

When compaction is a good thing

Good silage starts by cutting the crop at the correct growth stage, followed by reducing moisture content, chopping to a consistent…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Feed from farmers

OPINION: The country's dairy farmers will now also have a hand in providing free lunch for schools.

Brighter future

OPINION: The abrupt departure of Synlait chief executive Grant Watson could be a sign that Chinese company Bright Dairy, the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter