Preparing for El Niño

With El Niño conditions forecast for the coming season, many parts of New Zealand, particularly the North Island and eastern regions of the South Island, are expected to experience drier and potentially warmer than average conditions.

These conditions can place significant pressure on pasture growth and feed supply.
 

Plan ahead for dry conditions

Pasture growth rates during the season are likely to fall below average. To offset that loss of dry matter production consider the use of forage crops to meet feed demand.

Spring-sown forage crops, such as turnips, provide a cost-effective way to boost feed supply during this period. Typically sown in October and November, fast-maturing cultivars such as Barkant and CleancropTM Toto can be ready for grazing in as little as 55-60 days after sowing.

Producing average yields of 10-12 tonnes of dry matter per hectare (t DM/ha), these crops can deliver a high-quality, home-grown feed source for as little as 10 cents per kilogram of dry matter. This makes turnips an excellent option for dairy platforms operating under dryland conditions or restricted irrigation.¹

Make the most of spring growth

Warmer temperatures should bring more favourable growing conditions, increasing the likelihood of a spring feed surplus. This may provide an opportunity to make extra supplement or remove underperforming paddocks from the grazing rotation for pasture renewal.

If you are planning to sow new pasture, consider Midway diploid perennial ryegrass. Available in the Farm Source White Pack, Midway has performed exceptionally well in the National Forage Variety Trials, delivering outstanding early spring, summer, and autumn dry matter production.

Its strong seasonal performance makes it an excellent choice for farms aiming to slow the post-peak decline in milk production while reducing reliance on imported feed supplements.
 

Preparing for El Niño

El Nino brings warmer, drier weather in some regions but in the south it may actually bring cooler, wetter conditions. This can disrupt spring sowing of pasture and forage crops. Timing of events around sowing will be critical to ensure successful establishment.

Avoid the temptation to take shortcuts, as good seedbed preparation remains essential for successful crop establishment. On heavier soils, cultivation may be required to alleviate compaction and improve soil structure. Where direct drilling is planned, a double-spray programme is recommended to control perennial weeds and create a clean stale seedbed before sowing.
 

Stay on top of weed pressure

Effective weed management is equally important.

Farms with problem weeds including wild turnip, spurrey, or shepherd’s purse should consider incorporating Cleancrop^TM brassica cultivars into their cropping programme.

The Cleancrop^TM range of forage brassica cultivars provides an effective tool for reducing weed pressure, improving crop establishment, and maximising yield potential. These cultivars also support long-term pasture renewal by producing high-yielding, weed-free crops while leaving paddocks in excellent condition for subsequent forage crops or pasture.

Article supplied by PGG Wrightson Seeds

¹ Feed no more than 35% of the diet on a dry matter basis as brassica crop for lactating dairy cows, due to the risk of brassica milk taint.