• ProGraze - A workshop designed to enhance skills in livestock and pasture assessments, plant recognition, pasture budgeting and grazing management. Planned locations are Guyra/Ebor and Uralla/Walcha pending interest. To register your interest contact Georgie Oakes 0429 310 264 and Jeff Lowien 0427 102 680

• Farm Planning course. A 5-day course that enables participants to complete a simple and practical whole farm plan for their business that helps keep them on track for success. The course will put you in touch with technical experts who can help you improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of your farm. To register your interest contact Lauren Wilson 0427 496 944 

• Pilot of online apps, new technology and innovative tools to help make on farms decisions. We are looking for innovative producers who would like to road test a range of online applications and tools aimed at improving on farm decision making. Local Land Services is keen to support producers to road test these tools and see if they are useful for you. If you are interested in being involved please contact Max Newsome 0427 007 190

 

Surviving dry times

Tips from our Agronomist - Georgie Oakes 

Pasture planning is key

Now  
Very scattered summer storms continue across the Northern Tablelands region. With hot weather and the reduced pasture competition weeds are poking their leaves out. If you have been buying in feed please keep an eye out for new weeds on your farm. If you are bringing stock home from agistment be aware of the possibility of weed seed spread. Kangaroos, deer and birds are being forced to travel further for their food and are also contributing to the spread of weeds.
 
If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to do an evaluation of the food you currently have on offer (FOO) in the paddock. The days are getting shorter as we head into autumn which will gradually reduce the growth of pastures as will the reduced rainfall. Historically this time of year is our region’s second feed gap and, due to the low rainfall, our dry standing haystack is severely depleted.
 
Looking to winter
Producers really need to consider what winter pastures they have and the health of these pastures. You need to ask yourself what the soil moisture is like at depth and what the nutrition levels of these pastures are like.
 
I can’t stress enough the importance of taking the time to honestly forecast how these winter pastures are going to perform for you over a dry winter. When making these assessments it is really important to also know what class of stock you will have and the feed demands of each class. Will you be feeding weaners, lactating or dry stock?
 
Fodder crop options – traditionally the region has used fodder crops to assist with the known ’winter feed gap’. When choosing a fodder crop, again consider the class of stock that you will be feeding and when their feed demand is going to be high. You may need to consider a forage or variety that offers early or late feed at your time of peak demand.
 
Have your seed organised - last season’s harvest was severely reduced. When purchasing seed it is imperative you ask questions. What year’s seed is it? How has it been stored? Has it been treated? And with what? Has a germination and vigour test been done to ascertain the quality of the product?
 
I understand that these are some tougher questions and that time can be poor and your options for choice will be reduced, however you want to sow the best quality seed possible for the best possible outcome considering the cost and time required.
 
Spring/Summer 2019-2020
The long range forecast suggests a dry winter so we need to consider the feed options and pastures we will have on offer in spring? I realise it can be difficult to plan this far ahead when we are so flat out now. 
 
Spring maybe when you’re thinking of stepping back into the livestock market after destocking for the winter. What pasture varieties will you have coming to life as the temperatures warm up? What do you think the composition, health and nutrition of these pastures will be? Will you have the option for summer forage if it does rain? Or will you need to use a summer forage to combat weeds as competition rather than using chemicals to control weeds?
 
If you are considering planting pastures or summer forage or fodder options in the 2019-2020 summer start doing your homework now! We are already seeing a shortage in seed for both pasture and forage. It will take a few seasons for these stocks to return to full supply. 
 
In summary, the three key considerations going forward in each season are:

• FOO and stock class demands for feed

• Health and nutrition of pastures

• Forage options and availability

For more information, contact Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Pasture Agronomist, Georgie Oakes on 0429 310 264.

Tips from our District Vet - Andrew Biddle  

Grain poisoning

With most producers continuing to feed stock and feed commodities becoming harder to source, it is important to consider the potential of grain poisoning occurring.

Risk factors;

• Stock gorging on grain

• Accidental access to grain

• Availability and palatability of roughage

• Change of grain type 

• If you have questions seek advice from a nutritionist or livestock health adviser

Key points to remember;

• The ration must be consistent from day to day

• Any change in feed should be introduced to the diet slowly

• Additives such as sodium bentonite and virginiamycin (Eskalin) can be used to reduce the risk

• Some pellets are 90% grain and can also contribute to grain poisoning/acidosis 

• If you have questions seek advice from a nutritionist or livestock health adviser

Be on the lookout for;

• Unexpected deaths

• Depressed, lethargic animals with sunken eyes

• Grey diarrhoea which smells sour

• Animals that have obvious signs of discomfort and that are reluctant to move

• In acute cases stock can appear blind and death can occur 12-72 hours after onset of signs

Treatment;

• Animals need to the treated as an emergency to reduce mortalities

• Seek veterinary advice.

 

Water Requirements of Stock.

A reminder of the average water consumption per head per day of the following livestock classes; 

• Weaner sheep 2 - 4 litres

• Adult dry sheep 2 - 6 litres

• Ewes with lambs 4 - 10 litres

• Lactating cows 40 - 100 litres

• Young stock 25 - 50 litres

• Dry stock 35 - 80 litres

• Horses 40 - 50 litres

This can be used as a general guide to livestock water requirements and helps with assessing farm water supplies for forward planning.

For more information;
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/…/Water-requirements-for-sheep-a…

 

Goodbye and good luck to Kim Deans and welcome Max Newsome and Amanda Walker

Many of you will have worked with Kim Deans, our Farm Planner. Sadly for us, Kim has taken an opportunity in private enterprise and we are currently recruiting a new farm planner. We thank Kim for her excellent work with the farm planning program over the last three years and wish her well in her next adventure. Until we have a new Farm Planner on board please contact Lauren Wilson on 0427 496 944 if you have any farm planning enquiries.

The Sustainable Agriculture team would like to welcome Max Newsome into the fold. Max has worked as a Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer and will now take on the role of Land Services Officer for Livestock. Max can be contacted on 0427 007 190.

Amanda Walker is also a new recruit in the District Vet role based in Armidale and can be contacted on 0439 836 673.

 

The Local Land Services team is here to help

Brent McLeod - for sheep management and nutrition                         - 0413 884 710
Sandy Hodgens - for livestock and soils projects                                - 0428 744 287
Max Newsome - for cattle management and nutrition                         - 0427 007 190
Georgie Oakes - for agronomy                                                            - 0429 310 264
Jeff Lowien - for agronomy                                                                  - 0427 102 680
Beth Brown - for soils                                                                          - 0429 773 453
Andrew Biddle (Inverell) - for animal health and biosecurity               - 0427 825 725
Lisa Martin (Tenterfield) - for animal health and biosecurity               - 0428 623 471
Nigel Brown (Glen Innes) - for animal health and biosecurity             - 0419 434 087
Amanda Walker (Armidale) - for animal health and biosecurity          -  0439 836 673