20 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Hayden and Alecia Lawrence The Lawrences are the second-generation to farm the land and milk 400 predominantly Friesian cows. Karen Phelps Hayden and Alecia Lawrence have partnered with FertFinda and Elite Foliar Solutions to unlock previously inaccessible farmland and achieve better grass growth on their 151-hectare effective Taranaki dairy farm. The Lawrences are the second-generation to farm the land and milk 400 predominantly Friesian cows and split calve to capture Fonterra’s winter milk premium. Central to the changes to their system has been foliar application: “We’ve been dabbling in foliar for several years and we’ve seen enough good results that we have now upped our game in foliar application. We’ve gone a lot deeper and have made a plan around it,” says Hayden. Mike Smith from FertFinda has helped the Lawrences to develop their targeted liquid fertiliser programme. Mike’s extensive background as a dairy farmer across Taranaki, King Country and Southland, followed by five years as Tow and Fert National Sales Manager, provided the expertise needed to unlock the farm’s potential. FertFinda helps farmers harness the benefits of bio-stimulants (products that enhance plant growth by assisting to stimulate the soil and plant biology), organic fertilisers (that provide essential nutrients to plants without relying on synthetic chemicals), fish based fertilisers (which contain high levels of natural nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with trace elements such as calcium, magnesium and sulphur) and animal health minerals. Under the guidance of FertFinda the Lawrence’s are Unlocking previously inaccessible farmland aiming to build pasture resilience through deeper root systems via foliar application. While traditional solid fertiliser application relies on rain to dissolve nutrients into soil before reaching plant roots foliar application provides faster, more efficient absorption with less leaching, allowing plants to utilise nutrients more effectively. The results have already been impressive, particularly as a winter milking operation when during the colder months grass growth typically slows. They have been using two key products - UAN (a combination of three different nitrogen forms) and Gibberellic Acid - which have kickstarted their programme. UAN provides both immediate nitrogen release through urea and slow release through ammonium nitrate and Gibberellic Acid stimulates growth by mobilising plant energy reserves and elongating plant cells to speed photosynthesis. “Already on the paddocks we’ve used these products we’ve achieved remarkable winter growth rates. Traditional grass growth in Taranaki is 15-20kgsDM per hectare per day and we are producing 30-40kgsDM when conditions allow,” says Hayden. • to page 22 Under the guidance of FertFinda the Lawrence’s are aiming to build pasture resilience through deeper root systems via foliar application.
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