scholarly journals Establishment of plantain into existing pastures

2019 ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Racheal H. Bryant ◽  
Mike B. Dodd ◽  
Allister J.E. Moorhead ◽  
Paul Edwards ◽  
Ina J.B. Pinxterhuis
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Plantago Lanceolata ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Nitrogen Losses ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Small Plot ◽  
Direct Drilling ◽  
On Farm

In recent years plantain (Plantago lanceolata) has emerged as a potential forage for reducing nitrogen losses from dairy farm systems. However, achieving sufficient proportions of plantain in pastures to help meet target reductions in nitrate leaching presents on-farm challenges. To investigate sowing methods for establishing plantain into existing pasture to achieve high plantain populations, direct drilling was compared with broadcasting before and after grazing. Additionally, pre-graze mowing versus grazing only, and early versus late first defoliation after sowing were investigated to assess their effect on reducing competition from existing pasture. Botanical composition was determined in a small-plot study at Lincoln following summer sowing under irrigation, and from commercial dairy farms in Canterbury (irrigated) and Waikato (not irrigated). Generally, direct drilling was more effective than broadcast sowing for establishing plantain. The method of defoliation after sowing (pre-graze mowing or grazing) was not as important as timing of early defoliation in the resulting plantain populations. Early grazing, while seedlings were small enough to avoid defoliation, improved plantain establishment likely by reducing competition from the pre-existing pasture.

Establishing plantain in spring in existing perennial ryegrass pastures in northern Tasmania

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Pieter Raedts ◽  
Adam Langworthy
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Plantago Lanceolata ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Leaf Stage ◽  
Early Autumn ◽  
Productivity Decline ◽  
Direct Drilling

Research has shown advantages of including plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) in grazed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-based dairy pastures. Plantain is typically established in dairy pastures during paddock renovation, and included in a mixture with perennial ryegrass. While perennial ryegrass can persist for years, even decades, plantain plant numbers and productivity decline within a few years of establishment. Maintaining the advantage of plantain requires frequent re-establishment. The current research tested the efficacy of two sowing methods (direct-drilling and broadcasting) and three sowing rates (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 kg of seed/ha) for establishing plantain in existing irrigated perennial ryegrass pastures. Research was conducted on five dairy farms in northern Tasmania, Australia. Sowing occurred in mid-spring 2017, immediately after paddocks were grazed. Plantain establishment was monitored until early autumn 2018. Paddocks were managed as per normal farm practice, resulting in plantain being first grazed ~4 weeks post-sowing, before plants had developed to the recommended minimum six-leaf stage. Dry weather, timing of first grazing after sowing and insect burden challenged plantain establishment. However, both direct drilling and broadcasting were shown to successfully establish plantain into existing perennial ryegrass pastures.

scholarly journals Economic Feasibility of Anaerobic Digestion To Produce Electricity on Florida Dairy Farms

EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2006 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Russ Giesy ◽  
Ann C. Wilkie ◽  
Albert De Vries ◽  
Roger A. Nordstedt
Keyword(s):  
Capital Investment ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Florida Department ◽  
Consulting Firms ◽  
Fixed Film ◽  
Consumer Services ◽  
On Farm

This paper focuses on the economic feasibilities of using two digester designs suitable for Florida -- covered lagoons and fixed-film digesters to generate electricity for on-farm use or sales. A grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) was used to employ the services of two consulting firms that were familiar with the design and operation of fixed-film and covered lagoon digesters. The consultants visited three dairy farms located in Florida in the winter of 2005, calculated wastewater flows (including flushed manure, milking parlor wastewater, and recycled flush water), and determined the size and other necessary aspects of the potential systems specific to each dairy farm. Estimates were developed for the quantities of biogas and electricity that would be generated by each system. The consulting firms also projected initial capital investment costs and operating and maintenance costs for each system. Retired from EDIS public website March 30, 2021.

scholarly journals Nitrogen balances and losses on intensive dairy farms

1997 ◽  
pp. 49-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.F. Ledgard ◽  
J.W. Penno ◽  
M.S. Sprosen
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Farm System ◽  
South West England

Nitrogen (N) balances were constructed for "average" dairy farms in New Zealand, south west England and The Netherlands, and for Dairying Research Corporation (DRC) farmlets varying in stocking rate and use of N fertiliser and maize grain. N surpluses were calculated to indicate the potential impact on the environment and these were compared with measured N losses from the DRC farmlets. On the average New Zealand farm, annual N inputs of 186 kg N/ha/year (mainly from N2 fixation) resulted in N outputs in milk+meat of 55 kg N/ha/year (30% efficiency) and a N surplus of 131 kg N/ha/year. Dutch farms produced 70% more milk/ha but had N inputs of 568 kg/ha, N outputs in produce of 81 kg/ha (14% efficiency) and a N surplus of 487 kg/ha. English farms were intermediate. In the DRC farmlets, applying fertiliser N at 400 kg N/ha/year increased N surpluses and nitrate leaching by 3-4 fold, resulting in nitrate-N concentrations in drainage of 2.5× the recommended maximum for drinking water. The most efficient farm system received no N fertiliser and was highly stocked (3.3 Friesian cows/ha) for very high pasture utilisation. This resulted in similar milk production/ha to Dutch farms (with 1/3 the N inputs) and a 45% efficiency of conversion of N inputs from N2 fixation into milk and meat products. Keywords: dairy farm, nitrate leaching, nitrogen balance, nitrogen fertiliser, stocking rate

scholarly journals A paddock survey of on-farm plantain use

2019 ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Dodd ◽  
Ray A. Moss ◽  
Ina J.B. Pinxterhuis
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Critical Level ◽  
Plantago Lanceolata ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
N Cycling ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Visual Estimation ◽  
Successful Establishment ◽  
Direct Drilling ◽  
On Farm

The use of narrow-leaved plantain (Plantago lanceolata) in pasture sowing mixtures has recently increased following research demonstrating the value of the ‘Tonic’ cultivar in reducing cattle urinary N concentration, with likely benefits for reducing N leaching from pasture systems. The purpose of this study was to document the ways in which farmers are using plantain, investigate the factors that enhance successful establishment and persistence, and to test a method of visual estimation of plantain content in paddocks. This information will support verification of animal intake, given that there is evidence that a critical level of plantain is required in the diet to achieve significant effects on N cycling. In grass-based pastures, plantain content declined with age since sowing and few paddocks had more than 20% of their available dry matter as plantain after three years. A systematic visual assessment of plantain cover correlated well with a formal visual dry matter assessment and could be used to establish when plantain content at a paddock scale is  >20–30%. Plantain content tended to be highest when sown without grass, when established by direct drilling and on clay soils, but optimal sowing rates have yet to be determined.

Revised greenhouse-gas emissions from Australian dairy farms following application of updated methodology

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 937 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Christie ◽  
R. P. Rawnsley ◽  
C. Phelps ◽  
R. J. Eckard
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Emission Intensity ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Enteric Fermentation ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

Every year since 1990, the Australian Federal Government has estimated national greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to meet Australia’s reporting commitments under the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) methodology used to estimate Australia’s GHG emissions has altered over time, as new research data have been used to improve the inventory emission factors and algorithms, with the latest change occurring in 2015 for the 2013 reporting year. As measuring the GHG emissions on farm is expensive and time-consuming, the dairy industry is reliant on estimating emissions using tools such as the Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator (ADCC). The present study compared the emission profiles of 41 Australian dairy farms with ADCC using the old (pre-2015) and new (post-2015) NGGI methodologies to examine the impact of the changes on the emission intensity across a range of dairy-farm systems. The estimated mean (±s.d.) GHG emission intensity increased by 3.0%, to 1.07 (±0.02) kg of carbon dioxide equivalents per kilogram of fat-and-protein-corrected milk (kg CO2e/kg FPCM). When comparing the emission intensity between the old and new NGGI methodologies at a regional level, the change in emission intensity varied between a 4.6% decrease and 10.4% increase, depending on the region. When comparing the source of emissions between old and new NGGI methodologies across the whole dataset, methane emissions from enteric fermentation and waste management both increased, while nitrous oxide emissions from waste management and nitrogen fertiliser management, CO2 emissions from energy consumption and pre-farm gate (supplementary feed and fertilisers) emissions all declined. Enteric methane remains a high source of emissions and so will remain a focus for mitigation research. However, these changes to the NGGI methodology have highlighted a new ‘hotspot’ in methane from manure management. Researchers and farm managers will have greater need to identify and implement practices on-farm to reduce methane losses to the environment.

scholarly journals Wpływ subsydiów wspólnej polityki rolnej na dochody gospodarstw mlecznych FADN w krajach Unii Europejskiej w latach 2004-2013

2017 ◽  
Vol 17(32) (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62
Author(s):  
Marta Guth ◽  
Katarzyna Smędzik-Ambroży
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Family Farm ◽  
Panel Regression ◽  
Decoupled Payments ◽  
The Common ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

The main aim of the article was to assess the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy subsidies on the income of FADN dairy farms in 2004-2013. The share of total subsidies, including subsidies on investments on farm income per unit of work (FWU) on FADN dairy farms in EU countries, with the division to EU-12 and EU-15, was examined. The trend of family farm income with and without subsidies during the period under review was presented. In order to demonstrate which of the groups of subsidies had the greatest impact on family farm income, a panel regression was conducted. It turned out that the most significant for the FADN dairy farm income in 2005-2013 was decoupled payments and additional aid with other support.

scholarly journals Flood Impacts on Dairy Farms in the Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Ryan Paulik ◽  
Kate Crowley ◽  
Nicholas A. Cradock-Henry ◽  
Thomas M. Wilson ◽  
Ame McSporran
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Flood Hazard ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Flood Damage ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Response And Recovery ◽  
On Farm

Flood damage assessments provide critical information for flood hazard mitigation under changing climate conditions. Recent efforts to improve and systemise damage assessments have focused primarily on urban environments with few examples for primary industries such as dairy. This paper explores the adverse consequences of flooding on dairy farms in the Bay of Plenty region, New Zealand. Ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie in April 2017 caused prolonged riverine and surface water flooding on over 3500 hectares of dairy farmland. The event provided an opportunity to develop and apply a participatory approach for collecting information about on-farm flood damage, and both response and recovery actions implemented by dairy farmers. Semi-structured interviews and transect walks with farmers revealed a range of direct and indirect damages to production and capital assets, influenced by duration of inundation, silt deposition and seasonality. Results highlight the need to identify on-farm and off-farm asset interdependencies of dairy farm systems to estimate long-term socio-economic consequences at farm-level. Enhancing dairy farm flood resilience in a changing climate will rely on farm-level response and recovery plans, proactively supported by emergency management agencies, farm service suppliers and support agencies.

Addressing on-farm management to enhance pasture productivity and persistence

2013 ◽  
pp. 241-244
Author(s):  
W.N. Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Operating Profit ◽  
The North ◽  
The Cost ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Attention To Detail

Following the 2007/08 drought, we experienced poor pasture production and persistence on our dairy farm in north Waikato, leading to decreased milksolids production and a greater reliance on bought-in feed. It is estimated that the cost of this to our farming operation was about $1300 per hectare per year in lost operating profit. While climate and black beetle were factors, they did not explain everything, and other factors were also involved. In the last 3 years we have changed our management strategies to better withstand dry summers, the catalyst for which was becoming the DairyNZ Pasture Improvement Focus Farm for the north Waikato. The major changes we made were to reduce stocking rate, actively manage pastures in summer to reduce over-grazing, and pay more attention to detail in our pasture renewal programme. To date the result has been a reduced need for pasture renewal, a lift in whole farm performance and increased profitability. Keywords: Focus farm, over-grazing, pasture management, pasture persistence, profitability

An evaluation of a strategic de-stocking regime for dairying to improve nitrogen efficiency and reduce nitrate leaching from dairy farms in nitrate-sensitive areas

2000 ◽  
pp. 105-110
Author(s):  
Cecile De Klein ◽  
Jim Paton ◽  
Stewart Ledgard
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Nitrogen Efficiency ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Sensitive Areas

Strategic de-stocking in winter is a common management practice on dairy farms in Southland, New Zealand, to protect the soil against pugging damage. This paper examines whether this practice can also be used to reduce nitrate leaching losses. Model analyses and field measurements were used to estimate nitrate leaching losses and pasture production under two strategic de-stocking regimes: 3 months off-farm or 5 months on a feed pad with effluent collected and applied back to the land. The model analyses, based on the results of a long-term farmlet study under conventional grazing and on information for an average New Zealand farm, suggested that the 3- or 5-month de-stocking could reduce nitrate leaching losses by about 20% or 35-50%, respectively compared to a conventional grazing system. Field measurements on the Taieri Plain in Otago support these findings, although the results to date are confounded by drought conditions during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. The average nitrate concentration of the drainage water of a 5-month strategic de-stocking treatment was about 60% lower than under conventional grazing. Pasture production of the 5-month strategic de-stocking regime with effluent return was estimated based on data for apparent N efficiency of excreta patches versus uniformlyspread farm dairy effluent N. The results suggested that a strategic de-stocking regime could increase pasture production by about 2 to 8%. A cost/ benefit analysis of the 5-month de-stocking system using a feed pad, comparing additional capital and operational costs with additional income from a 5% increase in DM production, show a positive return on capital for an average New Zealand dairy farm. This suggests that a strategic destocking system has good potential as a management tool to reduce nitrate leaching losses in nitrate sensitive areas whilst being economically viable, particularly on farms where an effluent application system or a feed pad are already in place. Keywords: dairying, feed pads, nitrate leaching, nitrogen efficiency, productivity, strategic de-stocking

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