awaywithyou wrote: » https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/96078527/nations-farming-leaders-reject-notion-of-too-many-cows
Timmaay wrote: » Wait, so normally yous buy shop milk ha?? We drink nothing but unpasteurised milk straight from the tank here.
kowtow wrote: » From the tank, pah! Cooled and filtered as well no doubt. Right before the cluster goes on is the only job, or failing that get your chops around the dumpline!
Floki wrote: » Rich volcanic soils with outdoor outwintering and run off from heavy rains = a lot of nutrients flushed into any waterway. There was a sheep farmer near me who wintered hoggets on a forage rape crop after barley and 2 years ago during the wet winter there was a sea of mud coming out of the field. This year he changed tack and sowed the forage crop again after barley but just ploughed in the green crop. No roundup. Just ploughed it in and sowed the barley. Well I've never seen as many bales of straw on a field before. The increase of OM and retention of nutrients certainly did the trick. I often think anyone converting a tillage unit to dairy should grow a high mass crop like maize and chop and plough it in before putting to grass.
Timmaay wrote: » I want to put the a crop of grass straight back in after harvesting the maize, any suggestions on how to sow it, will the one pass with a power harrow do?
GrasstoMilk wrote: » Have put 40 ha from tillage to grass here. The best fields and the reseeds that have lasted are the ones we had a kale or fodder rape in where stock was outwintered, those fields are still performing where other ones are on there 2nd reseed
mahoney_j wrote: » Westerwolds be late for setting prg when maize cut
farawaygrass wrote: » If you dairy lads and lassies were to advise someone ( a32 year old, beef and sheep farmer, 110acres) who was thinking about entering dairying for the last 2 months, what would your advice be? -working full time at moment -land is in one block and overall good quality. -not making a profit without subsidies in the last 2 years.
Mooooo wrote: » When are you harvesting the maize? Would depend on conditions at harvest, don't think they'll be pulling out half loads!
Timmaay wrote: » Interesting point, it's a 300m draw to the pit, if the weather was ****e I could probably get them to go with half loads lol.
Timmaay wrote: » Dairying is a full time job itself. Are you planning on giving up the full time job if you go dairying? How big are the subsides lol? How good of a full time job, and are you happy at it? If it's a decent job that you are happy at, and you find the beef and sheep aren't worth the effort now I'd consider longterm leasing out the farm and keep the job. If your bored of the job and would much prefer to farm full time, and are comfortable with having to milk twice every day, and it doesn't cost you an arm and a leg to convert over, then the likes of 110 cows should make you a tidy living.
farawaygrass wrote: » Have a bps of 16k. Job is only ok. Would prefer to be full time farming without a doubt, and would not lease out the farm, I enjoy working it. I have decent sheds alright, but they would need alterations. I would need a new slurry tank tough and a new parlour. New roadways, an upgrade of water supply and a small bit of fencing would also be needed. I know there is a lot of hours involved in dairy, but it is the only show in town for profit making.
Water John wrote: » Not sure what other lads here would say to you, buying a whack of heifer calves, this Autumn or next Spring and rearing your own stock over the next year or two. I'd be very tempted to look at a robot, since your starting from scratch.
whelan2 wrote: » Think cows are a better buy tbh. A bit cheaper and more milk quickly
Timmaay wrote: » Agreed, but in my experience it can be hard to buy a cow that isn't someone else's reject. Only cows I'd consider here would be if it was a full herd from someone retiring!
