Changes in the wind for crops
Has Micro plasma bovis pushed crop growing up the ladder of importance for New Zealand farmers?
Growing crops has been a major part of farming but the unfortunate development of this cattle disease may force more farmers to keep their animals on their own property rather than send them off farm to outside grazing.
Where once a plough and some seed was all that was used to grow a crop of maize now the cropping process is highly mechanised using latest technology and equipment.
Jackson Contracting Limited general manager Jeremy Rothery is keen to use new tools and techniques to improve the company’s service offering to their clients.
He says that we can learn a lot from the UK when it comes to crop technology, soil conservation and the need for reduced nitrogen leaching. He grew up in the UK and has an agricultural technology and management degree.
Jackson Contracting Limited is a medium sized agricultural contracting business which is now owned by two dairy farmers. They decided to purchase the business about 10 years ago when it was based in Te Pahu. They moved the contracting company to Tauhei.
Rothery says the owners believe a contractor should work around the farmer rather than farmers having to work around contractors. Jackson Contracting has clients spreading out from their depot in Tauhei, to Cambridge in the South, north of Huntly along with some clients in and around Te Pahu.
‘‘Because of our size we can service our clients’ farms in a more personal, detailed manner.
‘‘Our philosophy has always been to supply the complete package – from spray out to harvest and re-grassing, we can tailor to particular needs. Every farm is different, every farmer has different needs,’’ Rothery says.
The company has gone from strength to strength and the two owners maintain an active interest in the contracting business.
There are eight fulltime staff and at the beginning of September they bring in four more staff from overseas for the contracting season which runs through to June.
Rothery says there is quite a ‘work’ network in the international contracting market and Facebook plays a part. This season four Irishmen are coming, however part time staff who have worked for Jacksons regularly return for the summer contracting season.
‘‘Operating agricultural machinery for contractors can be a good lifestyle for young men and women. They can earn good money especially if they work a season in the northern hemisphere and then one in the southern and it is a great way to see the world, experience different farming systems and cultures.’’
He says the technology in these machines is quite incredible so they have to recruit skilled operators who are passionate about the industry.
‘‘Even then, we do place a high degree of importance on training and continued professional development for all our operators to help them achieve their career goals and get the best from the equipment.
Jacksons have eight tractors between 185-315hp, four have GPS auto-steer.
‘‘The auto steer is a highly valuable tool. It allows us to reduce overlap significantly, making us more efficient, saving the farmer money on his contracting bill.
The GPS technology also extends to implements such as the maize planter. The planter will recognise when each row starts to overlap a previously planted area, such as a headland and closes off each row. This saves on using excess seed where not required and gives a more consistent crop.
Another feature they have is the NIR (Near Infrared Sensor) forage harvester. This measures moisture and yield and is very accurate.
‘‘We can give the farmer a report showing exactly what tonnage has come off what paddock. The yield map is colour coded to show the yield variation across the paddock.
‘‘It means the farmer can look at the map and make management decisions about the paddock for future crops. It starts a process to understand the land better and help makes decisions around drainage, solid fertility and how to farm the land sustainably.
‘‘We hope to be in some trials with variable seed or fertiliser applications now that we have three years of yield data from some of the Maize cropping blocks we work on.
‘‘Along with soil test data, better decisions can be made which will allow cropping farmers to make more efficient use of nitrogen and fertiliser use.
‘‘I think we are on the brink of some quite significant change. With the outbreak of m.bovis many farmers are talking about becoming self-contained but this means they have to think long and hard about how they are going to feed their animals on their own land.’’
Are farmers going to grow it or buy more feed in and with the situation surrounding PKE that adds another dimension?
‘‘Farmers might have to look at changing the way farms are structured to cope with becoming more self-sufficient. Do they cut cow numbers and increase crop areas.
There is likely to be more changes to come, to be more sustainable.’’
He says there is also a groundswell of concern regarding nitrogen leaching and protecting waterways.
‘‘Crop growing has a part to play in this. Traditionally it was spray out, plough, rip or disc, power harrow, and plant but there is a nitrogen loss every time you turn the soil over. Now there is plenty of talk about no-till or minimum till to keep the impact of the cropping to a minimum. Trying to be less intrusive and to preserve soil structure which will in turn assist with control of nitrogen movement and help protect the waterways.
‘‘The practice is well established in the UK but it is coming into New Zealand now,’’ Rothery says.