Smart wintering webinars popular
More than 300 farmers joined a recent Southland-focused Smart Wintering webinar.
It outlined best-practice management strategies farmers could adopt to ensure they were protecting their environment and livestock.
The hour-long webinar, which was run by Beef + lamb New Zealand and Dairy NZ, covered a range of issues from grazing management through to environmental protection, animal welfare and regulatory requirements.
B+LNZ’s Southern South Island Extension Manager Olivia Ross said while 300 farmers registered for the on-line event, the actual number of people who tuned in was likely to have been higher.
“Anecdotally, we hear farmers had their farm teams listening in which highlights just how seriously farmers take their responsibilities in ensuring they are doing their best to protect their natural resources as well as their livestock.”
Olivia said they have had positive feedback from those who attended the webinar and most farmers appreciated the opportunity to continue extension activities while the country was in lockdown.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to got something out of the webinar that they could take home and implement,’’ she said.
Two of the main risks associated with winter grazing are a change of diet and mud and Olivia said farmers should be thinking about how they could minimise these risks on their farm.
Options might include using back fences which are shifted every two to three days, bale rings and portable water troughs so stock are not having to walk to access water.
“All of these can make a significant difference.”
Before grazing (ideally before crop establishment), Critical Source Areas, or areas in the paddock over which water may flow in the winter, should be identified, fenced off and left uncropped and ungrazed or only grazed over summer.
A five-metre minimum buffer should also be built around waterways.
Studies have shown that strategic directional grazing can reduce the overland flow of nutrients and sediment by 80 percent.
Ideally, crops should be grazed from the top of the slope to the bottom so the crop acts as a filter for any run-off. Stock should graze towards Critical Source Areas and or waterways.
DairyNZ’s Animal Care Team Manager Helen Thoday encourages farmers to think about what they would do in adverse weather events.
Thinking about previous events can help plan for future storms.
“This week sit down with your family or team and think about the last adverse weather event and what lessons you learnt.”
Stock should have access to a comfortable lying surface over winter, for cattle they need around 9m/head, and there should be enough room for all stock to lie down comfortably at the same time.
Paddock grazing plans are a valuable tool as they can highlight the risks and management requirements of individual paddocks and allow for planning of adverse weather events.
Factors to consider when drawing up a plan include Critical Source Areas, waterways, grazing direction, shelter, bale placement, portable water troughs, back fencing and access.
Olivia said having a contingency plan for sheep and cattle in bad weather could include providing 10 per cent extra feed by enlarging the break or in the case of sheep, using a grass run-off and feed grain or nuts.
She said farmers need to think about what success looks like for them when it comes to winter grazing management.
“Set clear expectations, steal ideas of your farming colleagues and make a plan.”