Australian states embrace virtual fencing, creating growth opportunities for Halter
More Australian states are embracing virtual fencing technology, opening growth opportunities for Kiwi companies like Halter.
AUSTRALIA’S GROWERS are grabbing four-six weeks autumn or winter grazing off oilseed rape crops with no impact on grain yield, CSIRO agronomist John Kirkengaard told growers at Crops 2014.
“It adds to the bottom line and helps pay for the canola crop up front.”
In some of the colder regions growers’ long-season EU-bred winter cultivars sown in February or March are stretching that grazing window to three months “and they’re still getting reasonable yields at the end,” he added.
FAR has been investigating the potential to replicate that here as most growers are using those cultivars anyway.
“There was no significant difference in grain yield from grazing off about 2000kg
of dry matter [per hectare] in late May and June,”
FAR’s Jen Linton told the field day crowd.
“But there was a significant difference [reduction] when we grazed too hard, for too long, beyond stem elongation.”
Due to difficulties sourcing sheep to graze trials in winter 2013, plots were mown instead and “looked really good” coming into harvest, said Linton. However, a windstorm wrecked the trial, thrashing so much seed out of the pods of mown and untouched plots that the data was meaningless. Linton’s hoping similar work this year, including experiments removing just the main raceme, will come to fruition.
“Oilseed rape can compensate very well for defoliation if it has time.”
Grazing with cattle hasn’t been attempted, the concern being they would be too hard on the crop and soil, particularly in wet weather.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
New Zealand must continue to educate Chinese consumers about the unique qualities of its red meat products and how they differ from competitors, says Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton.
There are opportunities outside the farmgate for young farmers to further develop their skills, says 2025 Primary Industries Emerging Leader Award winner Bridie Virbickas.
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