108 | nzdairy ON FARM » Dairy Holdings Aligned business partners provide Sue Russell John Hodgkin describes the relationship between Dairy Holdings Ltd and Ravensdown as enduring, one which is based on trust and the ability to bounce ideas off each other. “It’s about finding solutions and working through all the variables that exist to understand what to apply, at the right time and at the right rate,” John explains. Each year Ravensdown meet with key staff at Dairy Holdings to thrash out annual fertiliser plans. This takes two days and sets the parameters of fertiliser usage on all its dairy farms ensuing year. Agri-Managers from Ravensdown present their fertiliser plans to the group which is carefully scrutinised. The over-arching fert policy document is also reviewed at this time. Soil testing trends are reviewed along with setting the all important nutrient budgets. “After that meeting everything is signed off and set for the year.” Proof of placement is incredibly important and Dairy Holdings uses Ravensdowns HawkEye software technology to provide decision support, data recording, visualisation and comparison tools on nutrient application. By 2025 all farms are required to work to a Farm Environment Plan and nutrient application is a key component of this. HawkEye allows farmers to order Ravensdown fertiliser directly from the farm map, using a phone, tablet or desktop device. Once received, the order information is sent to all parties involved in the order. An advantage of online ordering is that it becomes very easy to keep track of all on-farm events and hold detailed statistics all in one place. “It means when it comes to reporting nutrient information its easily accessible.” HawkEye also allows for feed predictions and calculate nitrogen use efficiency, useful information supporting strategic planning. The correct level of pasture nutrient sits fundamental to Dairy Holdings farm management systems, given the groups focus on optimising pasture and working herd activity around soil quality and pasture performance. “We also carry out an extensive herbage testing regime to provide further evidence whether or not to apply trace elements and also rates and timings of potassium, which is particularly important for our legume (clover) content in the pasture sward,” says John. The processes and fertiliser policy etc have been refined over the years and because so much information has been gathered, around soil testing trends, across all paddocks, nutrient requirements are very specific and detailed. HawkEye software technology has been in use on Dairy Holding farms for six years and the gains that have occurred in that time have been substantial. “It’s a really good example of the benefits working collaboratively brings between two organisations whose history goes back a long time.” Fonterra supports and enables Dairy Holdings, as its largest shareholder, to achieve environmental and overall farm practice gains year on year. It does this through its Co-operative Difference framework, as Canterbury/Marlborough Regional Head, Mat Cullen explains. “We have quarterly engagement with Dairy Hold- “It’s a really good example of the benefits working collaboratively brings between two organisations whose history goes back a long time.” Mt View Dairy Farm. $JUL 5HDOW\ /LPLWHG /LFHQVHG 5($$ ([HPSODU 5HDOW\ /LPLWHG /LFHQVHG 5($$ There’s a legacy in this land Now your decision will shape its future. There’s strength in seeking good advice. /HW WKDW EH \RXU OHJDF\ Ruth Hodges 027 309 0334 Richard O’Sullivan 027 292 3921 All-round performance with GEA iFLOW rotary Whether you’re looking to improve cow throughput, gain more insights, combat labour challenges or simply operate a system that won’t let you down, the iFLOW will help you achieve better performance on farm. Custom-built to suit your farming goals, the iFLOW is proven on dairy farms here and around the world. For all-round milking performance, choose the iFLOW rotary. Call us on 0800 GEA FARM.
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