Business Rural North Autumn 2021

56 | Nitrate losses lower, production higher Kelly Deeks O ne of the few positives that comes with age is the ability to put changes in farming practices into perspective, says Functional Fertiliser director Peter Burton. “Those of us farming during the 1970s and 1980s saw ourselves as land developers. ‘Tooth and hoof’ was the catch-cry as we poured on fertiliser and added more animals in the quest for greater total farm production.” The notion of fewer animals and better feeding was dismissed as being out of touch with reality. Superphosphate was cheap and applying more than recommended was regarded as, ‘money in the bank’. Contrast that with the most recent demand for farmers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and leaching of nitrate nitrogen to groundwater, along with phosphorus losses to waterways. “The standards being demanded and the time frame within which they must be met are both seen as unobtainable and, in some regions, a genuine threat to existing intensive pastoral farming. As in other developed nations where environmental standards are stricter, operators in New Zealand will adapt and survive – it’s just what resourceful Kiwi farmers do.” And making significant changes may be easier than first thought. “It is essential to remember that when one thing improves, so too does everything else,” Peter says. Phosphorus losses due to the solubility of P in superphosphate are easily overcome. The trial work by O’Connor and Hunt in Northland in the 1990s showed with the addition of lime, a marked reduc- tion in the amount of phosphorus was required. RURAL SERVICES » Functional Fertiliser Northland farmers, as well as those in other regions, already knew lime improved water-holding capacity, pasture palatability, and increased dry matter production, the reasons for it to be regarded as an essential input. The recent increase in nitrate-nitrogen lost to groundwater is usually attributed to the high urea content of urine. Because animal, plant and soil health are inextricably linked it’s essential to also look at the feed component. Rapidly growing pastures, particularly those fed with urea, are high in nitrate relative to protein and for the animal to survive it must rapidly excrete the excess. Increasing the amount of full protein in plants relative to nitrate/crude protein markedly reduces the amount of urea in urine and, when deposited on land, less N is lost via leaching. “Nitrogen supplied by clover is less prone to leaching as clovers increase the rate at which N is fixed in response to declining soil levels, resulting in a natural supply and demand balance,” Peter says. “A strong clover base in pasture can provide all the nitrogen necessary for over 18 tonne DM/ha annu- ally, and with clovers containing significantly more calcium than grasses, lime is a regular input.” “It is essential to remember that when one thing improves, so too does everything else.” You have two ways of dealing with animal sickness... STOP-SICKNESS: SOLUTION 1 Correct the Ca/Mg levels in your soil. Typical NZ soils have a mineral imbalance that leaves animals vulnerable. In many cases, applying Golden Bay Dolomote will help the problem so that your soil looks more like this: Ca 60-70% Mg 10-20% K 2-5% Other Bases H 10-15% Na 0.5-3% STOP-SICKNESS: SOLUTION 2 Dust with Golden Bay Dolomote . This will address your directly, while SOLUTION 1 corrects the mineral imbalance long term. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Read more: goldenbaydolomite.co.nz Call: 03 5259843 Email: sales@goldenbaydolomite.co.nz 1. Stop it here Organic calcium and magnesium found in Dolomite are two crucial keys to preventing: • Grass staggers • Milk fever COST: From as little as $75/hectare 2. Fix it here Once an animal gets sick, the cost of getting her back into production (includes vet bills, loss of production, farm resources) can far outweigh the cost of preventing the sickness. COST: Time/Money/Loss of income The work to support these claims has been carried out in the Bay of Plenty over the last twenty years by Functional Fertiliser, with the results independently verified. A scientist-led study showed nitrate-N losses under intensively grazed dairy pasture were 70% lower than a neighbouring high urea input property. Pasture production using the Functional Fertiliser programme was 18% higher than the district aver- age, costs were lower due to fewer and better fed animals, with profitability $1630 per hectare greater on a $6/kg MS payout. Calcium is at the heart of the success of these programmes, and calcium in the form of lime is a cheap and abundant resource throughout the North Island. PHOTOS: Same soil type, paddocks separated by a fence, show brown soil from an area that has regularly received high urea inputs. Healthy mixed pasture.