With winter right on their doorstep, farmers preparing to graze livestock on fodder crops this winter are encouraged to take advantage of DairyNZ’s Wintering Checklist to help spot any improvements they can make before winter arrives.
The checklist, alongside a new Winter Grazing Plan that includes a paddock plan and farmer tips, are designed to help farmers make practical, written plans for winter.
With the farming sector more focused than ever on improving winter grazing, and eliminating practices that impact negatively on the environment and animal welfare, there is little room for error. Planning for winter and wet weather now is important to deliver good outcomes when adverse weather arrives,” DairyNZ farm performance general manager Sharon Morrell said.
“Farmers have been moving stock onto crops for the past few weeks, so now is the critical time to ensure all plans are in place for the months ahead.”
To complement the wintering checklist, DairyNZ’s new winter grazing plan provides step-by-step strategies for paddock set-up and grazing management for immediate focus this winter. This includes protecting critical source areas and waterways, bale placement, back fencing and having a wet weather contingency plan.
These resources are supported by other new initiatives such as webinars, workshops and regular information from industry bodies collaborating on advice to farmers to ensure it is coordinated and consistent.
The advice is in line with new guidelines released by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) recently, with farmers able to utilise an industry or MPI comprehensive winter grazing plan.
MPI’s 2021-22 Intensive Winter Grazing Module highlights practical solutions farmers can take to mitigate the effects of grazing livestock on fodder crops during the winter months.
The Winter Grazing Action Group has also published guidance for animal welfare during winter in its “short-term expected outcomes for animal welfare” document.
The sector has also recently launched a wintering hotline for any concerns or complaints.
If anyone sees something that doesn’t look right, they can call the wintering hotline on 0800 FARMING.
The hotline is supported by Federated Farmers, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and DairyNZ and calls are confidential.
“We are all committed to lifting winter grazing performance and using a wintering checklist and practical plan helps farmers and graziers to do that,” Morrell said.
More: Dairy farmers looking for more information on winter grazing can visit DairyNZ and MPI.
