Dairy support priceless on tussock land

08-09-2010 | Lynda Gray

A cashless dairy grazing agreement is reaping rich rewards for Matthew, Jenny and PhillipTayler at Lorne Peak Station, near Garston in northern Southland.

Land development plus winter dairy grazing for the past five years has dramatically improved the fertility on 640ha of native tussock alluvial terrace country, boosting average pH from 4.8 to 5.8 ,and Olsen P from 8 to 28. The productivity plug has increased stock carrying potential from one to around 6 su/ha - an extra 3200 stock units.

The arrangement began in 2005 when Southland dairy farmer Kees Zeestraten approached the Taylers in search of free-draining flat country to develop into less expensive winter dairy grazing country.

The Taylers were keen, and The Garden block, Crown leasehold land across SH6 from the Kingston railway line, was earmarked.

LINZ consent for development was granted on condition that no supplementary feed was made on the pastoral lease and all waterways and wetlands were fenced off.

No formal agreement was signed and the arrangement is based largely on goodwill.

The Taylers have been responsible for subdividing, supplying water and electricity; the dairy grazer is responsible for cultivation and growing of crops, fertiliser, supplying silage, feeding the stock, and regrassing.

Fulfilling their side of the deal required the Taylers to install a $100,000 water scheme, an 8kW power cable and $300,000 (40km) of fencing. It hasn't been cheap and some would argue that the dairy grazer has got the better end of the deal, but overall Matthew has been happy to forego cash in favour of fertility.

"For us the cows have been a useful tool for breaking in the land. It's achieved in five years what would have taken us 30-odd years with sheep alone."

Also, he says growing the required dry matter of around 5t/ha to break even has been a risky business on the newly cultivated native country with summer rains leaving the crops vulnerable to pest damage.

Another bonus has been that Kees Zeestraten and the subsequent grazer, Southland agricultural contractor Russell Jack, have had the right staff, machinery, implements and attitude to break in the land. The Taylers had tried with limited success over the previous decade to work the stony flats but retreated to the more fertile pockets of the terraced tussock country.

"It wrecked a lot of gear and the cost didn't justify the returns under sheep farming," Matthew says.

Cultivation costs aside, Matthew estimates that it would take capital fertiliser of at least 1t/ha of Super and 7.5t/ha of lime to boost Ph to 5.9, plus 300-400kg/ha of DAP and 100kg/ha urea to grow the crop.

"They're putting around $800 to $900/ha of fertility in the ground for us, not just from solid fertilisers but also from the trucked in silage which has increased the organic matter of the soil."

A double swede/turnip crop-to-pasture development programme has been followed and to date almost 550ha has been sown out in new pasture for use by the Taylers. The first sown pastures are starting to run out, with grass grub and brown top becoming a problem. Breeding cows and steers are being used to tidy up these pastures and, following a further rotation of turnips and cows, the best country will be direct drilled with lucerne for baleage and finishing lambs.

The next best land will be sown in fescue and clover based pastures, and cocksfoot and clover on the less fertile country.

Potentially another 200 to 240ha could be developed but consent to proceed has been declined because of the deemed significant inherent values of the semi-improved tussock land.

Winter dairy grazing at Lorne Peak will continue, but crop ownership and grazing management will be changed. The Taylers plan to start growing crops and feeding around 1000 cows on their own account.

"It means we can have more control over the system and will end up with longer persisting lucerne and pastures ... we'll be taking on more risk for hopefully more reward," Matthew says.

They're also looking at leasing land or selling crops on a dry-matter basis for winter grazing.

"A lot of the risks are now known and the fertility is better so it's a more attractive option."

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