Last autumn they were given a capital fertiliser dressing of 150 units of potassium and 40 units of phosphate and were lightly grazed over winter.
In spring the new pastures were part of the rotation and received regular applications of nitrogen (N) which totalled 180kg/ha over the whole farm.
“We aim to maintain soil nutrients at an Olsen-P of 40 with potassium levels of 10-12.”
Soil tests are done annually early in spring at the same test sites.
“Given the high stocking rate and high production we are now achieving, we have elected to address the sub-clinical grass-grub problem that was starting to have an impact on pasture performance.”
They are now spraying their three to four-year pastures (40-50ha) with Diazinon 50W. This is at a stage where the pastures are established but some pulling and damage is beginning to occur.
“In the past we have done nothing about grass grub as it is a sub-clinical problem, but it was beginning to cost us in milksolids and we need our pastures to be going at 100% all of the time.”
