The 100ha in fodder crop consists of 4ha of swedes, 4ha of fodder beet, 20ha of kale, 33ha of turnips-grass and 39ha of Goliath Rape.
The couple have sown fodder beet for the first time this season on a trial basis for finishing beef cattle. They were pleased with the results but said fodder beet will never replace their mainstay forage programme.
With very little topsoil and a clay-dominant soil the ground can be extremely fragile in wet weather. Jane said it doesn’t rain often but when it does they can get six month’s worth in one hit. Once the soil is damaged it could take years, or even generations, to rebuild its productivity.
“Obviously with fodder beet the higher yields result in a higher stocking rate per hectare, which is not something that we encourage during wet weather,” she said.
“We also like to keep our regrassing momentum up so a larger area in forage encourages us to do that.”
Turnips and rape are the mainstay winter crops at Newhaven.
Angus beef cows and Perendale ewes are wintered among the tussocks on the hill block. Ewes are then grazed on some forage after shearing and scanning in July.
The Smiths spend about $15/su on fertiliser and nitrogen. Even in their challenging climate they said the return on investment is unbeatable. They make the most of technical advice and like to stick with proven pasture species while watching new species with interest.
While seed is sown by direct drilling in years two and three of development programmes on Newhaven the Smiths never view direct drilling as a short cut, more as part of a well-planned and executed strategy.
It also pays to have a Plan A, B and C.
“We have had years when it has been so dry that we have had to redrill twice so be prepared to make concise and robust decisions quickly.”
They try to never overgraze young paddocks and identify key pressure points during the year, working backwards from that in regards to feed supply and demand. West-facing facing slopes at Newhaven are never cultivated to avoid risking losing valuable topsoil in a prevailing wind.
For the Smiths soil fertility is key. They recently tested the soil in every single paddock. They can then apply capital fertiliser in a variable rate plan and bring every paddock up to the same level.
Strategic nitrogen use is also serving Newhaven well.
“It is quite simply a growth multiplier and when you have already invested a huge amount of time and effort into your crop or young grass, why not multiply this out and increase your return on investment?”
Farm facts
- Blair and Jane Smith, Five Forks, North Otago
- Newhaven Farms – 1500ha
- Winter 9000 stock units at 6su/ha
- Newhaven Perendale stud and commercial Perendale flock
- Fossil Creek Angus stud, plus finishing cattle
- Small amount of dairy grazing on development areas
- 55% steep hill country, 35% rolling, 10% flat
- 350mm-1100mm annual rainfall
Anne Calcinai followed up five past Country-Wide farmer case studies and their pasture renewal. See the others:
