| 33 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Hopcroft Farms The irrigation system includes two Valley centre pivots that cover 160ha. Good Irrigation management key Anne Boswell The efficient use of an irrigation system has seen a Southland dairy farm experience consistent milk production over the past eight years. Hayden and Kirsty Gaines are variable order sharemilkers for Hopcroft Farms owners Janine and Simon Hopcroft. The Hopcroft family have been farming in Southland for 160 years and have owned the Riversdale property as part of their business since 2014. The farm was converted from sheep to dairy 2013/2014 season, when Hayden and Kirsty came on board. Today, the milking platform is 260ha effective, supporting 750 cows that produce 415,000kgMS annually. The farm, which sits about 800m from the Mataura River, is flat land. It has alluvial soils and stony ground, which has a tendency to dry out between mid-December and early March. Because of this, an irrigation system was part of the development when the dairy conversion took place. The irrigation system consists of two Valley centre pivots that cover 160ha. The farm also has three Valley wipers that cover the remaining area under irrigation (around 58ha) with 80 and 120-degree scope to reach the corners of the farm. Hayden uses a couple of pieces of software with his irrigation - the VRI (variable rate irrigation), which allows him to control water volume and switch off individual nozzles, and a Harvest weather station. This helps to utilise the water more effectively on various parts of the property. The farm averages 70-75 days under irrigation annually, with water sourced from three bores on farm. “Irrigation gives us the reliability to grow grass in the summer, allowing the cows to continue to have a low-cost, grass-based diet through this period,” Hayden says. “We have calculated that on dry land we can grow around 12-13 tonnes of dry matter annually, whereas under pivot we can grow 17.5 tonnes.” Hayden says people tend to think irrigation is complicated. “Really, you just put water on the grass to make more grow,” he says. “As a general rule of thumb, if it hasn’t rained for 3-4 days, I look to the moisture data and whether we need to use irrigation. “Additionally, there is decision making around how much water to put on and when, with factors like soil temperature, moisture status, weather forecast and water restrictions to take into consideration.” Hopcroft Farms was the site of an irrigation efficiency and good management practice field day in November 2023 entitled ‘Make every drop count: use water more efficiently to grow more grass’. The event, which was hosted by DairyNZ and sponsored by Waterforce, covered everything irrigation from undertaking equipment testing before irrigation season starts to management, operation, and maintenance; irrigation scheduling; measuring and reporting water use; teaching good irrigation practices to farm staff and technology development and opportunities. The benefits of good irrigation management are countless: it protects water quality and quantity, as well as soil structure; it helps retain valuable nutrients, and saves on labour and maintenance costs. Effective irrigation scheduling can significantly enhance water use efficiency in dairy farming. “We have calculated that on dry land we can grow around 12-13 tonnes of dry matter annually, whereas under pivot we can grow 17.5 tonnes.” • Drainage and Irrigation Earthworks • Laneways and roading maintenance • Tree services • Site/House pad excavations & fill services • General Earthworks • Servicing northern Southland CONTACT HAYDEN TODAY FOR: Proud to be providing our services to Hopcroft Farming Ltd 51 SpittlesWay, PO Box 255, Gore Ph. 03 208 6799 / M. 0274 889 834 E. dickdore@doreelectric.co.nz Proudly supporting Hopcroft Farms
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