Spring seasonal preparation
by Greg O’Brien, DPI Ellinbank & Tom Farran, DPI Tatura
Spring is a critical season for managing risk. Growing condition risks for dairy farms at this time of year are:
- Temperature – both soil and air temperatures
- Moisture – stress or abundance
- Wind and evaporation
- Quality – grazing rotation and/or pressure (from cows or mechanical)
The current outlook for spring is favouring climatic conditions that are neutral for the Pacific and Indian ocean’s, therefore neither La Niña or El Nino are likely at this stage. For most of the state, average rainfall is the likely outcome.
In all irrigation districts good opening allocations and water availability are comforting. In areas that rely solely on rainfall, good soil moisture profiles are present on most farms. Hence, it is shaping up to be a good spring at this stage.
On the negative side, temperatures have been above average again and a continuation of this trend is worth factoring into your planning. Warmer temperatures are good for early spring growth but they may cause reduced late spring and summer growth, especially if combined with a moisture deficit or windy conditions.
If the favourable seasonal outlook eventuates, it should mean that home-grown feed will make up a large proportion of the herd’s diet this season for most dairy farms in Victoria.
Purchased feed
At this stage the cereal crops around the state are mostly in good shape. They are by no means across the line yet, with the critical flowering and grain fill stages still to come.
The current predictions are for at least an average grain crop. This, combined with a large crop last season, should see good quantities of grain available this year. The grain price is not only linked to the domestic crop but also to what the international crop and markets are doing. As always it is important to check the quality of grain as well as the price.
To keep up to date with the latest grain and hay market information visit the dairy Australia website (www.dairyaustralia.com.au) and click on the hay and grain report under the quick links section to get a weekly update.
There appears to still be a large carry over supply of hay from last season, however, much of this is poorer quality, due to mice infestation and/or rain damage at harvest. With the good start to the silage season in northern Victoria it is likely that in general hay prices will remain relatively low. However, quality hay may command a premium price depending on the outcome of this year’s season.
What does this mean?
Poor quality hay and silage is currently available in many areas for not much more than it costs to make. However, higher quality hay and silage is in shorter supply. The risk moving into this season is the ability to access quality fodder that you require for your feed requirements. As always, if you are going to conserve any home-grown feed it is critical to make a quality product. Making quality silage or hay should be a higher priority over making quantity. Cutting earlier to make sure it is of high quality, will be of greater end value than cutting for bulk.
The outlook for average spring rainfall may make fodder conservation challenging in many districts. There may be an increased risk of short windows of suitable weather for conserving silage. Tedding is critical in speeding up the drying process. The use of specific inoculants can help when ensiling high moisture silage.
The risks associated of receiving average rainfall this spring may lead many farmers to feel more confident in their pastures over this period, rather than the need to sow fodder crops to fill spring and summer feed gaps. However, forage crops may still be useful as part of a pasture renovation strategy to improve run down, pugged or weed infested paddocks. Re-sow to pasture next autumn.
Forage crops may still be an important risk strategy to cover summer feed gaps. The choice of crop is important to cover where you might have the greatest exposure. Some farms may consider growing summer crops to provide a grazing option over summer or make use of the great access to irrigation water this year.
Spring pasture renovation
Many farms are likely to have some underperforming paddocks coming into spring this year. It may be worth considering trying to get them back to performing again by capitalising on the favourable spring and possibly summer.
While pasture is traditionally sown in autumn, permanent pasture such as ryegrass can be sown successfully in spring. Spring over-sowing is risky in hotter areas.
Two key things to get right to successfully establish perennial ryegrass in spring are;
- Minimise competition for weeds and other pasture species.
- Sow early enough in the spring to allow the roots to get to the moisture below the surface before hot or dry conditions arrive. Being shallow-rooted, this is particularly important, especially in non-irrigated areas.
Another option worth considering is sowing a summer fodder crop this spring and then sowing the perennial next autumn. This allows for good preparation and a greater chance of successful establishment of the pasture. It does normally come at a higher cost which needs to be weighed up against the ability to fill a feed gap, the likely yield advantage and price of alternatives.
Perennial herbs
Chicory and plantain are high-quality grazing forages that can help fill the summer/early autumn feed gap. They have high growth rates over the warmer months. They can be sown in spring, the key being to sow early enough to allow their tap root to get into the deeper soil moisture before the topsoil dries out. They are short-lived species (two-three years) and have relatively low growth in the cooler months. Direct drilling of pasture seed into the sward once it thins out can be an effective way of returning to permanent pasture in the future.
If you are considering growing a fodder crop this spring/ summer it is important to have a realistic tonnage in mind, weigh up the risks of a failure or success, as well as to do your sums to make sure it is a cost-effective option.
DPI Climate Webinar Spring Series 2011
OCTOBER Tuesday 4, 10am to 11am
Renewable Energy Technologies: Biofuels
Steven Hobbs Farmer, Biofuel producer, Vic
NOVEMBER Thursday 3, 10am to 11am
Importance of soil carbon in productive landscapes
Declan McDonald, DPI Victoria
Audience: Farmers, agricultural service providers and anyone interested in the subjects on offer.
Cost: Free
RSVP: For more information on the Climate Webinar Series and to register visit
http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/climate/webinar-series
Further Information
Speaker profiles, webinar summaries and registration forms can be accessed on the website
www.dpi.vic.gov.au/climaterisk.
