If You Don’t Measure You Can’t Control...Basic Pasture Management!

What’s going on? Have New Zealand dairy farmers taken their eye off the ball…..or even worse “lost the plot”? What has happened to their famous pasture grazing skills?

 Throughout the low cost pasture dairying world NZ farmers have a reputation of being expert grazing managers & very efficient users of low cost pasture. Is this still true? From my observations I’d say it’s no longer the case that NZ farmers are the best in the world.

In fact I’m appalled at what I’m seeing on most dairy farms. Most NZ dairy farm pastures I’ve seen are a total mess with little evidence of good pasture husbandry practices or care.

There is blatant evidence that few NZ dairy farmers do regular weekly measurements.

Therefore it follows that few are using the pasture management tools. The “Pasture Wedge Graph Concept” was developed back at Matamata in 1976 with NZ Dairy Board Discussion Groups & the clever mathematics worked out at Lincoln University Dairy Farm decades later. Drs C. P. McMeekan (From Grass to Milk), John Hutton, Arnold Bryant & Des Clayton from Ruakura would be equally shocked to see the state of today’s pasture management skills, as would Dr Ray Brougham (ex Director of Grasslands) & Dr Colin Holmes (ex Massey University). These gentlemen were the “Research Pioneers” who built NZ’s reputation as global best practice in dairying pasture management. People like Mac McKenzie & Don Johnson demanded of the Consulting Officer team that the extension focus of every Discussion Group was efficient pasture utilization, low costs & farm profit.

I think “Global Best Practice Dairy farm Pasture Management” now belongs to the low input pasture based dairy farmers in the UK & Ireland. The world’s best pastures are to be found either in the UK or France NOT New Zealand. In more difficult climates the dairy farmers in Victoria Australia are outstanding.
So why are the Discussion Group farmers in the UK & Ireland now world leaders in pasture management? Firstly the vast majority measure pasture every week & the data is recorded in Pasture Wedge Graph programs, many of which now are “internet cloud” based, so groups can share the information & gain extra efficiencies. Group members wouldn’t dare attend group days without pasture measurement data including growth rates, daily demand & of course their pasture wedge graphs. Farmers take enormous pride in their pastures & the care of those ryegrass/white clover pastures. Many organic dairy farmers lead the way in understanding why soils & soil organic matter in particular is so important to good pasture management. Many farms are under environmental restrictions (read enforced lower stocking rates) yet still produce outstanding pasture. Most would fully understand Danny Donaghy’s “Three Leaf System” of Ryegrass grazing & how this changes throughout the year. Many would monitor soil temperatures during the year to better understand leaf appearance rates & how it is changing. Danny has recently arrived at Massey University & is now Professor of Dairy Science.

The work of the NZ Dairy Consultants working in Ireland & the UK has been critical to those farmers now being global leaders in grazing & pasture management. People like Alastair & Sharon Rayne, Leonie Guiney (nee Foster), Lynaire Ryan, John Simmonds, Mark Blackwell, Carol Doak (nee Gibson), Paul Bird & more recently Adrian van Bysterveldt have had a massive impact.
Crucial to their success has been a strong network of Discussion Groups & vigorous "Championing of low input farming" leadership & focus on grazing management. http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark/Publications/pdfs/Open%20Day%20Moorepark%202009%20Grazing%20Manual.pdf 
 In Ireland there has been a real effort by researchers, extension staff & consultants to get as many farmers measuring & monitoring pastures weekly. This is supported now by internet cloud providers like “AgriNet” http://www.agrinet.ie/  which has excellent pasture wedge graph capability. Strong consultancy groups like the Grazing Musketeers are pushing on with Discussion Groups & honing the pasture management skills in both Ireland & the UK. http://www.grasstec.ie/sub.php?page=10&panel=3  

What I don’t understand is what has happened in NZ. The past research at No. 2 Dairy Ruakura & the Lincoln University Dairy Farm http://www.siddc.org.nz/index.htm  & past Consulting Officer efforts http://www.dairynz.co.nz/file/fileid/26914  have focussed on good pasture management & high utilization. I’m told that now fewer than 20% of dairy farmers regularly measure & monitor (pasture wedge graph) pastures. Why? Why don’t NZ farmers passionately care for their pastures? Where’s the pride in having spectacular pastures gone?

Let’s be clear about my criticism…..”If you don’t measure you can’t control” eyeballing pastures simply isn’t good enough. You need to know growth rates & daily demand. You need to know what’s going to happen next week & 2 weeks out. You need to know the current ryegrass leaf emergence rate by looking into pasture regularly to check the tillers. You should in my view be monitoring soil temperature regularly on your farm.
 Pasture measuring be it with a Plate Meter or CDax http://www.c-dax.co.nz/  should be done in my view by a senior Manager or the Farm Owner....the Pasture Wedge Graph is a communication tool for all Farm Staff or Consultants. Walking the farm has huge benefits if done weekly. To be honest I haven’t seen much evidence of any of these “Global Best Practices” in NZ lately. I’m sure there are some people & some advisers who are doing this every week & these comments are obviously not aimed at you.

 I suppose it’s nothing to do with the saying “Production is Vanity. Profitability is Sanity”…………..no surely not! Yeah Right!

Less N Leaching. Lower Emissions & More Grass with EcoN

Eco-N Every so often Agricultural Research hits the jackpot with a really significant finding. I suspect the work on N Inhibitors by Profs'. Hong Di & Keith Cameron at Lincoln University, NZ in conjunction with Ravensdown will prove to be very significant. The end product of this research is the N Inhibitor Eco-N (now a Ravensdown product for use on pasture based dairyfarms. The Eco-N is applied as a fine spray onto the soil/pasture during the autumn & again in the late winter early spring. Here is a photo of Prof Hong Di & Prof Keith Cameron at the LUDF demonstration soil pit. http://www.ravensdown.co.nz/Products/Eco-n/Default.htm

http://www.siddc.org.nz/lincolnuniversitydairyfarm/ludf.html

Urine is the main source of nitrate leaching & nitrous oxide emissions in grazed dairy pasture.

Dairy cow urine deposits the equivalent of 800-1000kg N/ha in each urine patch. Eco-N holds the nitrogen N that is normally leached or emitted, in the root zone so the plant can use it. It does this by slowing the activity of the nitrifying bacteria in the soil that convert ammoniun to nitrate. This boosts the N supply to pasture for plant growth during the growing season.

This was explained at the International Farm Management Conference held in NZ.

http://www.ifma18.org/

Watch a video of Prof Keith Cameron explain how Eco-N works

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2011/03/28/126114/VIDEO-Value-of-nitrogen-inhibitor-for-dairy-farms.htm

Eco-N is a Ravensdown product that could very very exciting & a huge break thru for the environmental management by pasture based dairy farmers. There are no incentives for reducing nitrate leaching or nitrous oxide emissions other than knowing you have contributed positively to the environment. So in the short term the usage will depend on whether the nitrogen savings (caused by the use of Eco-N) are more valuable (give an economic return to the dairy farmer)as measured by the additional pasture grown. The current cost in NZ of Eco-N is approx $170/ha/yr.

Work needs to be done urgently in the UK & France to see if we can get an economic return by using Eco-N & be credited with the environmental savings. Eco-N will need to be licensed for use in the EU. At the Lincoln University Dairy Farm 60 lysimeters (encased columnns of soil the same as exist in the paddock) have been placed on the farm to measure ground water nutrients. Further lysimeters have been set up at the University to see whats happening under clover pastures. Eco-N is applied before the major drainage off the farm soils...in most areas before winter. A second application is done pre spring rains. This also indicates that it is either Urine or applied N fertilizers that are applied during the autumn which might create the worst nitrate leaching problems. "Eco-N has the potential to be a valuable nitrogen management tool, together with best management practices, to support environmentally sustainable production of grazed pasture systems."

Current UK Pasture Measurements

On farm conditions remain very dry over most of the UK. Grazing conditions are ideal with very good quality pasture for milkers & young stock. Pasture growth rates have accelerated since last week. Magic Day is not too far away.

The very dry soils are a concern as we edge closer to summer without substantial rain. Dry summer planning eg Planting Chicory or Plantain & Clover leys, needs to start now.

Average Pasture Cover (kgsDM/ha) & Pasture Growth (kgsDM/ha/day)

Belfast, 2150kgs Av Cover & 66kgs DM daily growth (double last week)

North Wales, 1860 & 45

Oxford, 2100 & 70 excellent grazing

Sussex, 1902 & 55 (demand 50 & grazing rotation 21 days)

South West Wales, 1912 & 69 (Demand 52)

Dorset, 2048 & 64

Devon, 2500 & 94kgs (shutting for silage)

The Origins of the Pasture Wedge Graph

Have you ever wondered how the

"Pasture Wedge Graph" started. 

Who invented it & who developed the original concept?

Tom Phillips (thats me!) developed the original concept of the Pasture Wedge Graph.
 I was working with Discussion Group dairyfarmers in the Matamata area of the Waikato, New Zealand in 1976. Initially it started as chalk drawn wedge diagrams on milking shed (milking parlour) walls or concrete floors.... that resembled silage clamps of pasture stored on the farm that day. This was before white boards or computers remember....we had it tough in those "oldie" days.
The development of the Pasture Wedge Graph is a classic example of a product of an ideas person/adviser working with smart farmers & combining forces with very good researchers & communicators....classic "Tipping Point"as the Pasture wedge Graph is now used in every pasture based dairy industry through out the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tipping_Point

This photo is of the very first "Pasture Wedge Graph".....a photo that very proudly hangs in my office.

The very first official "Pasture Wedge Graph" was drawn by me (1976) to represent the "ideal pasture for grazing "......fast growing lush pasture of about 15cm (6 inches) at the top of the diagram & at the bottom of the wedge we showed the short residual (stubble) that was 3cm long. At the extreme ends was grass that was too long for grazing (note the stalky tall grass with little clover & dead matter at the base OR pasture that was too short.....both affecting milk yields (cow pasture intakes) & opening up the sward & encouraging weed infestation.
The next "small but very important"step was taken by me working closely with two now famous NZ Researchers at Ruakura.....Des Clayton & Dr Arnold Bryant. Arnold was a friend of mine & at the time was one of NZ's best known dairy researchers heading the team at No2. Dairy Ruakura. The concept of the wedge appealed to Arnold as it neatly summarised the work at No.2 Dairy. This was quite an achievement as Arnold was a tough man & a very rigourous scientist. Des then took the idea of the wedge across NZ in his role as advocate for research at Ruakura....the rest is history as they say.....
Dr Arnold Bryant had a massive impact on NZ Dairy farmers & the way in which grazing management was so important to low cost productivity. You may not have heard of Dr Bryant but believe me he influenced a generation of farmers & advisers. Quite rightly he has been honoured for his contributions to grass based dairy farming world wide.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/agriculture-recognised-honours-list/5/51243.
After working in NZ I moved to Victoria Australia......where we used the pasture grazing wedge extensively in the DPI Dairy Officers' extension program & later the Target 10 program in the mid 1980s.
Australian dairy farmers really contributed to the thinking as they faced abrupt changes to pasture growth patterns. So how to move from one grazing rotation to a different grazing pattern was really tested in Victoria. Its a very good example of collaboration and participatory research & development. Now there are so many packages and cloud based products available to farmers in many different countries.......sadly few realize nor acknowledge the participatory process that key farmers contributed to......... to even get the thinking right back in the 1970-80s.
Victorian dairy farmers played an important role to the development of the Pasture Wedge Graph concept.
Thanks guys!
Much much later in the early 2000's work at Lincoln University Dairy Farm revisited Arnold Bryant's work. Adrian Van Bysterveldt & Peter Gaul started to put numbers on the pasture wedge graph & ask the question how could they record plate meter readings and use it as a predictive tool. They had a very special WOW moment.....the rest is history!

The very first scientific paper documenting this mathematical assessment of the pasture wedge graph was written by Adrian at the SIDE Conference 2005 "Lincoln University dairy farm, now a cropping farm?" Proceedings of the New Zealand South Island Dairy Event. LUDF and Adrian & Peter in particular  very successfully used the demo farm to extend the grazing message.....this time world wide as the internet website has been so successful. http://www.siddc.org.nz/.

Actual figures & an understanding of the mathematics of the Demand line gave this humble graph immense power.
The real power lies in the fact that it is VERY SIMPLE but conveys a powerful message in the visual picture.
When I first arrived in the UK in 2001 I was amused but very proud to hear terms like "Pasture Wedge Graphs" & "Magic Spring Day" which I had developed back in 1976. It's intriguing that that language of the grass based dairy farmer has traversed through out the world & is being used not only correctly but very successfully by advisers & farmers.
It's not only the UK of course but the grazing wedge has got to the USA as well as Ireland, Argentina & Chile & South Africa & France.
.http://plantsci.missouri.edu/grazingwedge/.

Now we are moving rapidly into a new & exciting phase....online data bases where individual grass based dairy farmers anywhere in the world can log their pasture measurements, look at their pasture wedge graphs & compare with other groups of farmers & their consultants.
This could have a big influence on how Dairyfarm Discussion Groups use & compare grazing data.
Can I introduce Agrinet.....https://www.agrinet.ie/Default.aspx
The Agrinet website will allow grass based dairyfarmers who regularly measure grass with a platemeter to go online & calculate their data & wedge graphs online. The real power will be the ability to team up with your fellow Discussion Group members & compare graphs. Keep your grazing consultant in the loop too.

I strongly recommend you have a look at the Agrinet website......its free until 2011 when the annual fee is expected to be approx 80 Euros per year. Try it & talk to your group about joining .....lets talk about it on the Pasture to Profit Network Discussion Group on Facebook.

I'm incredibly proud of this humble little Pasture Wedge Graph that started life before many current users were even born. It's had a huge impact on grass based dairy farm management for thousands of farmers all over the world.....it's come a long way from Jim Diprose's concrete cow yard chalk diagram at Matamata.

I guess we've reached the "tipping point"!
Can I make the plea with current & future users to "Keep it Simple" as the real power is in it's simplicity!

In the UK we are now entering a critical stage of the grazing cycle. We are currently grazing the second to last time & we need to build covers to approx 2600-2700 by or for the first week of October.

Regular measurement & use of the grazing graphs is critical. This is a time of critical decisions & you have to get the timing just right. You must know the target covers for October. You must graze grass out cleanly & get the residuals down to 3cm or 1500kgs DM/ha.

A current dilemma on many Discussion Group farms (especially those that have only had recent rains) is the patches (Grass Monuments) of high nutrient grass that the cows are very reluctant to graze. Under each of these "Grass Monuments" that are embarrassingly obvious (due to colour & height) at the moment is an old dung pad. Grass Monuments are normally associated with under grazing or low stocking rates but in this case its a seasonal issue after rains that broke an unusual dry spell. The issue is do you pre mow & graze these paddocks or do you get it in the first week of October when you start your last grazing rotation.


Some Autumn Calvers have stored pasture since June which they are now grazing with the Springers mob. Below is a photo of an Autumn calving group on a mixed sward of deep rooting species including Chicory. This is an interesting concept that along with the "tall Grazing concept" is designed to increase the Soil Organic Matter....interesting onfarm experimental work by innovative farmers.
Remember the target now is to build pasture covers to approx 2600-2700kgs DM/ha by the first week of October. The last grazing rotation will start on most UK grass based dairyfarms in the first week of October & end sometime in November or December depending on wetness & when grass covers reduce to about av. 2100kgs DM/ha.
Grass Covers & Pasture Growth This Week
Northern Ireland 2350kg Av Cover, 70kg DM/ha growth, Demand 45kgs/ha
Dumfries 2550, 55kg growth, 51day rotation
Cumbria 2600, 54kg growth
North Wales 2050kg, 43kg
Cheshire Organic, 2223, 43kg
Shropshire 2470kg, 89kg
Staffordshire 2396, 51kg
Staffordshire 2610, 45kgs rain needed
Hereford Org 2329, 41kg
Hereford Org 2520, 45kgs
Hereford 2300, 50 kgs, 35kg demand, 3kg cake
Gloucestershire 2522kg, 77 kg growth, 30 days
SW Wales 2537, 85kg growth, 37 demand, 32days
SW Wales org 2664kg cover
SW Wales 2350kg, 65kg growth
Somerset Org 2350, 50kg growth
Dorset 2289, 40kg growth, 45 days
Dorset 2250, 47kg growth
Cornwall 2500, 80 kg growth
Cornwall 2250, 40kg, 36 days
Limerick Ireland 2400, 65kg
Rotorua NZ 2040kg cover & 52 kg growth