60 | Local farmers have local expertise Mark Dunham on a dairy farm. Kelly Deeks RURAL SERVICES » Northland Seed and Supplies Manufacturing quality feed since 1982 Our range covers feed for Cows, Calves, Poultry, Horses, Pigs and other animals At Arxada we’ve combined local intelligence with global scale to become a trusted supplier of specialty ingredients and crop protection products both here in NZ and around the world. Arxada are proud to support Northland Seed & Supplies 1997 Ltd Our core business is investing in the research and development of forage options, and in the advancement of endophyte technology to increase ƋĘå ŞųŅĀƋŸ ųåƋƚųĹåÚ to farmers. AGC2581 HIGH PERFORMANCE OPTIONS FOR PRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS. For more information contact 0800 183 358, visit your local seed merchant or gofarmgrown.co.nz GET MORE TUCKERWITH MOHAKA. UNLEASH THE BEAST. NEWZEALAND BRED, CERTIFIED CHICORY. EARLY SEASON BOOST, ALL SEASON PERFORMANCE. NEW NEW 37 ® ® 37 ® ® 37 ® Agricom is proud to support Northland Seed & Supplies. Successfully farming through the challenges in Northland requires a high level of experience of its diverse range of soil types and its varied climate. Fortunately local farmers have local expertise to draw from, with Daniel Hawkins and Mark Dunham of Northland Seed and Supplies each bringing 10 years of experience, great products at great prices, and an absolute wealth of knowledge to get those Northland crops and pastures growing to their fullest potential. “Northland has more than 300 different soil types which can make crop and pasture planting time a challenge to get right for those that have not experienced the diversity,” Mark says. “We are a long narrow region, six hours from one end to the other, with a coastal influence for most parts of Northland. Dealing with the climate is difficult, and different to other parts of New Zealand. Farmers have the best intentions around planning and doing the right thing for each season, but things have been thrown at them which are very hard to plan for, especially in the past two years.” When it’s wet one day and dry the next, farming practices in Northland have to change from day to day. Mark says with he and Daniel’s specialisation in cropping, pastures, and the agrichemicals that work with them, Northland Seed and Supplies can help farmers to pivot in the right direction at the right time, and as an independent company, can provide the best advice for the best products, with quick responses from seed and chemical suppliers. Northland Seed and Supplies carries a wide range of seed options for pasture renewal, maize crops, summer forage crops, cereals, legume crops, vegetable seed, and lawn seed, and a pasture seed range including ryegrasses, clovers, cocksfoot, fescue, plantain, chicory, and more. With its own on-site seed mixing facility, Northland Seed and Supplies provides short run custom mixes of seed to suit each client’s needs and their environment in a timely manner, giving clients their best chance of having a persistent and profitable pasture. Northland Seed and Supplies also has an on-site seed treatment facility providing a top-quality, Northland-specific seed treatment, providing protection against pests and diseases and improving plant establishment. Agri-chemical treatments also require a customised approach for Northland conditions. “We’ve got to make sure we have all our bases covered and quickly, because weeds do pop up quickly,” Mark says. “We’ve got more warmth which means plant life cycles happen quicker, especially during the summer months. In the Waikato, a pre-emergent herbicide only for maize might be fine, but in Northland, we might need to apply a post-emergent five or six weeks later to stop weed growth.” Operating costs have risen as much as 30% for many farmers in the past two years alone, and this has more Northland dairy farmers looking to maize silage as a good economical feed. Northland Seed and Supplies has a great deal of help to offer in this space, starting with selecting the right hybrid for the right paddock, and continuing with a consistent crop monitoring scheme that the company is pretty proud of. “With close monitoring, we can pick up any weeds that come through and provide the best spray at the best time for the best result.” The weather however, is cooperating this season. With June looking more like a May, farmers are heading into spring in a much better state than last year. “We get the feeling from farmers they are in a better head space, and while compliance issues are still burning, the change of government has brought more positivity to the rural sector.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=