Autumn Pasture Management

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 94, Issue 3, 15 March 1957, Page 259

Autumn Pasture Management

Seasonal Notes by the Extension Division

'T’HE saving of the autumn flush of. pasture growth on A part of the farm for use by the milking cows some 2 or 3 months later in the season, when feed is very short, is now standard practice on most well-managed dairy farms. This autumn flush of grass, which comes on sheep farms when the ewes should be kept down in condition and do not need it, can and should be saved for use in June and July when the sheep will benefit from the extra feed. It can be saved on the sheep farm in much the same way as it is on the dairy farm by confining the ewes to a portion of the farm to keep them down in condition while the rest of the paddocks are spelled to grow as much feed as possible for use later on.

ROTATIONAL GRAZING

RUNNING ewes in as big mobs as possible through the autumn and winter for the better management and utilisation of the pastures and the easier and better

management of the ewes themselves, makes the saving of the autumn flush of growth a feasible proposition. This practice is being adopted by more and more sheep farmers, both on hill country and on fat lamb farms. It is difficult, if not impossible, to do very much about saving autumn growth where the sheep are set stocked and all the paddocks are in use. The amount of growth made in these spelled paddocks will vary with the fertility of the farm and the type of pasture. On hill country, autumn-saved grass can be held from April and May until July and even early August, when it is invaluable as extra feed to bring the ewes up in condition for lambing. On fat lamb farms, especially those with high carrying capacity, feed saved in April and May can be used in June and early July to bring the ewes forward for lambing in July. These spelled paddocks make remarkably quick recovery after grazing off and are therefore in good condition for the spring. C. J. HAMBLYN * * *

TOPDRESSING

EARLY autumn ; topdressing with superphosphate increases late autumn

and early winter pasture production and where grass-grub or porina (Oxycanus') attack is likely DDT should also be applied. Under intensive grass farming the judicious use of nitrogenous fertilisers may be worth while to increase winter grass growth. In the South Island 2- or 3-year-old pastures with a high proportion of short-rotation ryegrass should be treated early enough to allow several weeks of growth before winter. In the North Island, however, experience shows that nitrogenous fertilisers are generally best applied in July to increase early spring growth. —S. M. J. STOCKDILL * * *

FEEDING DAIRY HERD

BY autumn spring calved cows have passed their milking peak and consequently there is a tendency for farmers to ease up on their management at this

time of the year. This is unfortunate, for though good feeding is not as rewarding in the autumn as at other times, judicious management .of the herd and pasture has an important influence on the wintering of the herd and subsequent spring production. When crops are fed in autumn milk production can be held at a reasonably high level and at the same time pastures can be saved for later feeding.

Where no crop is available it is important to remember that for over-all high production winter and spring feeding have the greatest influence. It is consequently unwise to graze pastures bare in the autumn to obtain a- few extra pounds of butterfat and be left with no saved pasture and with swards which will recover only very slowly. During periods of autumn feed shortage it is therefore necessary to ration the grass strictly to the milking herd so that some pastures are spelled for winter and spring. Any deficiency in the diet should be made up with hay or preferably silage. It is preferable to feed hay and silage in autumn and save some .of the pasture for winter and early spring when nutritious feeding is well rewarded. —C. M. BLICK ** . *

SEED-BED FOR AUTUMN GRASS

PROBABLY the most serious fault of seed-beds for autumn grass is that they lack, firmness. If the seed-bed

is not firm, clovers do not strike and without clovers the grasses do not flourish. A properly firmed seed-bed gives an even strike of grasses and clovers and,, with efficient after management, a well-balanced pasture of grass and clover. On light land the roller should be used to firm the seed-bed thoroughly and the furrow slices should be rolled before surface working begins. On heavy land the requisite firmness can usually be obtained only after a period of fallow which allows the soil to settle naturally. In both cases the land should be rolled before sowing and, if conditions allow, after sowing also. — W. SMALLFIELD * * *

HARVESTING THE POTATO CROP

SOUTH ISLAND potato growers will shortly be turning their attention to harvesting. Some will be

anxious to get the job over and done with, but the wise grower will remember that the potato is very susceptible to the maltreatment associated with undue speed. He will know that storage losses are caused mainly by lack of care- during digging and handling of the produce. Early digging should be confined to potatoes for immediate use and main-crop digging should not be begun until the crop is mature and the skins are hardened. Digging out of warm, dry ground is often followed by heavy losses through soft, wet rots and it is wise to delay harvesting until autumn rains or early frosts have cooled the soil. Physical damage, however slight, will permit the entry of fungous spores and, depending on storage conditions, can result in severe losses through dry rot disease and secondary bacterial soft rots. Careless operation of the digger often leads to wheels crushing undug rows. Depth should be adjusted to avoid cutting of tubers and to lift sufficient soil to cushion the action of the aprons. Agitation of the aprons should be sufficient only to separate soil from tubers and in free soils the back apron should be removed. Speeding up of the aprons in wet or weedy conditions will cause excessive damage and the hanging of a spare length of apron over the front elevator to break up the soil is to be preferred. Tubers should be allowed to dry before bagging. Rough handling into buckets and severe dumping of sacks should be avoided. To minimise the entrance of potato tuber moth, bags should be sown as soon as possible and haulms should not be placed over open sacks. ': .. 5 '

—S. M. J. STOCKDILL