Past
Events
Winter Grazing Workshop - May 2019
Winter grazing management is an important aspect of dairy farming and, if not carried out appropriately, can contribute to the ever present environmental concerns of water quality impairment, soil quality degradation and reduced erosion control.
Whether you are a dairy farmer wintering on farm or a grazier wintering on behalf, wintering cows to a high standard requires a whole team approach...
People, Animals and Environment.
With this in mind, NOSLaM held a Winter Grazing Workshop for farmers and their teams with 4 topics being discussed:
1. Compliance obligations
Presenter: Nicole Foote, ORC Rural Liaison Support Team
2. Animal health issues that can arise over winter and how to keep animals in optimal condition going into calving.
Presenter: Mat O’Sullivan, Veterinary Centre, Oamaru
3. Nutrient management including high risk areas for nutrient loss, how to reduce losses and how to maximise the nutrient returned from winter grazing.
Presenter: Hanna Stalker, DairyNZ Catchment Engagement Leader
4. Soil management including how best to look after your soils when winter grazing crops, management practices at the end of winter and the basics of soils and what they need for forage to grow.
Presenter: Kate Macgregor, Soil and Nutrient Consultant
Content and examples focussed on the challenges of winter farming in North Otago and there were handouts of each of the presentations to take away.
Plantain Workshop
Attendees look on attentively as presenters Dr Paul Edwards from DairyNZ and Dr Robyn Dynes from Agresearch combined resources to present a workshop on pasture systems which had a focus on the use of Plantain grasses.
Preparing to face environmental pressures field day
Chris Arbuckle of Aspiring Environmental facilitated a field day on preparing to face the environmental pressures ahead from a sheep and beef perspective.
Blair and Jane Smith opened up their high country property to show how their Land Environmental Plan Level 2 was starting to work for them.