Ashburton Courier: April 21, 2022

FEATURE
34 Ashburton Courier, April 21, 2022
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
WINTER FEED
&
SILAGE
Autumn grub and slug warning
Arable farmers arebeing
advised to keep agoodeye out
for grass gruband slug
populations heading into the
busy autumn sowing period.
In the case of grass grub,
FARresearcher Richard
Chynoweth says in adry year,
many eggs arelost to
desiccation, but thisseason’s
wetter than average December
and January meansalot of the
eggs have survived and
hatchedinto larvae.
They’regoing to be tricky to
manage and there are alot of
factors to consider, he says.
“It's quite easy to find grass
grub larvae now as the good
feeding season means they are
biggerthan they would usually
be at thistimeof year.
‘‘On theupside, this means
they are potentially more
susceptible to cultivation
damage, but on the downside,
they’re hungry.
grub larvaeatpresent, but
once those weeds are removed,
pre­sowing,they'll be sitting
there waitingfor the new crop
to come through andcancause
enormous damage at that
point. The use of ashort term
cover crop that provides afood
source mayactually provide
someprotection of the main
crop planting by advancing
larval development so the stop
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Grubby finds ...Grass grubs can decimate crops during awet season.
feeding earlier in winter.
“Naturally occurring
pathogens are another thing to
factor in.The wet seasonwill
have suitedthem as well, but
it’s really difficult to know
what impactthey will haveon
larvalpopulations.
‘‘Mysuggestion to all
growersistoget outwith a
spadeand look atthe number
of larvae they'vegot,
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especially relativetohow
manyseeds of the cropthey're
goingtoplant and make acall
as towhether they need toput
some treatmenton.”
For slugs the story isslightly
different as slugs’ major
reproductiveperiod is just
beginning,sothe summer
rainfall may nothave
influenced numbers to any
greatextent,yet.
2476220
Feed quality fears
There’s no shortageoffeed forupper South Islandsheep
andbeef farmers —but qualityiscoming intoquestion.
Beef+LambNewZealandisencouraging farmers
establishing new cropsand pastures to keep aneyeout
forslugs andother insect pestsbecauseofmoistsoils
andpasturesurpluses.
More pasture thatch than usual is creatingan
environment for insectstothrive, as farmers deal with
othergrass qualityproblems.
Northern SouthIsland extension manager Lucy
Murraysaidsome farmers haduptotwo winters’worth
of feedinfrontofthem.
Feed quality wasdropping duetoalarge feedsurplus,
andfarmerswould need to focusonmaintainingfeed
quality to maximise animalproductioncome springand
nextsummer.
‘‘Weneed to encourage farmers to target key paddocks
that theywill be lambingonand grazing lambs on in
spring. Farmersmay wanttolook atbuying in stock to
help managefeed qualityandthere areafewoptions
with weaner calf sales, store lambs coming up from
Southlandand dairy cattle forfattening.’’
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PHOTO: RICHARD CHYNOWETH
However, it’s important to
note thatthankstothe wet
season, unirrigated farmsare
sitting on thesame conditions
as irrigated ones,and may
need to be more vigilant than
usual.
As withgrass grub,
monitoringfor slugs is going to
be absolutely key, especially
in the high riskcrops like
brassicasand clovers.’’
2474676
IN BRIEF
FEEDSERVICE
Anational service hasbeen
activatedbythe MinistryofPrimary
Industriestosupport farmers
sourcing feed.Priority areas are
thoseaffectedbyrecent flooding
anddroughtconditions.
The activationis supported by B
+LNZ and DairyNZ, withFederated
Farmers contracted to deliver it.
Theservicematches willing
buyers and willing sellers –like a
dating service, but forfeed.
Registering is simple–ifyou
require feedgohereorifyou have
feed for sale go here.
Oryou cancall0800Farming
(0800 327 646) and select option 2
to request acall back.
GUMBOOT RUN
Join the Gumboot Runfundraiser,
organised by FarmFit, from 6pm
April 29 throughto6pm on May1to
support mentalhealth.
Donationsraisedduring the run
willgotowards mental health
charitiesIAmHope, andWill To
Live.Anyone interestedcan
download the Strava App by mobile
phone and logkilometresasyou
runduring those dates.
For every kilometre run,
donations will be raised to support
the two charities.
A&PCOMPETITION
Alan Broomhall hasbeennamed
overall winner of theMayfieldA&P
Associationon-farmheifer
competition.Itwas organised and
run by Hayleyand JonDampney.
Mr Broomhallhad second
placing success in two classes; the
Class 3GrazierR1Heifers, andthe
Class4GrazierR2Heifers.
TheMayfieldA&P committee
wasthankful for thecommunity
support and sponsorship forthe
event.
Full results:Overallwinner Alan
Broomhall.
Class1Owner R1 Heifers: 1st
Grant Early, 2ndFraser Hutchinson
,3rd Steve Schmack.
Class2Owner R2 Heifers: 1st
MarkMcDonald, 2ndFraser
Tasker,3rd BenWoodhouse.
Class3Grazier R1 Heifers: 1st
MikeRigarslford,2nd Alan
Broomhall, 3rd DaveKing.
Class4Grazier R2Heifers: 1st
Dave King, 2ndAlanBroomhall,
3rdJames Murdoch.
Spot Prizes: Ben Woodhouse
most even line and Bert Oliver beef
line.