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• Making the Most of a Wet Start to Summer

Making the Most of a Wet Start to Summer

It is a pleasant change to be back to the seasonal conditions that dominated the early 90's. Now that we have accepted the consequences of a wet spring with late crops and poor quality silage, we can now reap the benefits of excellent early summer pasture availability.

Common management strategies being undertaken by good pasture managers now include:

• Continuing applications of nitrogen on all but the lightest country to prolong effects of the moist soil profile. The response to nitrogen will vary with pasture type, grazing management, soil fertility and follow up moisture, however the risk of a non economic response this year is minimal. Typical applications are 70-100kg/ha urea every 4 weeks. In wet years, there is no reason why this strategy cannot extend well into the new year.
• Topping. To maximise the quality and growth potential of pastures in early summer, removal of old tillers and seed heads will allow new tillers to develop. This becomes less likely the later in the season that topping takes place. If pastures have considerable clumping, pregraze topping may cause a drop in intake and milk yield. If only a small percentage of the pasture topped is of poor quality, then it may be a good option. If there is too much dry matter and there is enough ahead of the herd, such paddocks may be better off being cut and baled. In a year like this, topping all clumpy paddocks on the farm may prolong summer growth and be of great assistance to maintaining production.
• Sowing of crops on less productive land despite the late spring. In the past, we have stressed the importance of sowing early to capture dwindling soil moisture. This year, the daylight length and ground temperature will give crops a rapid start. Crops such as pasja may be ready for grazing as soon as 5-6 weeks after sow date.
• Keeping the rotation out to 15-20 days will optimise pasture growth and tiller development. In the next 8 weeks, pasture intakes will drop back so be quick to respond with increased grain supplements, crops, hay or silage. In a year like this, well fed herds maintain production at over 20 litres comfortably through summer. Typically milk solids decline in such herds at as low as 2 to 3 % per month once the summer feeding program is established. Despite the higher grain prices, the ratio of milk price to supplementary feed costs is still very attractive. At an average of 35-45 cents per litre for autumn milk this year, it is well worth maintaining that summer production for cows still milking in autumn.

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