Farm Tech

PasturePlan

‘Kent Farm’, Lynden and Sandra Prebble

Location: Dipton.

Farm size & type: 193 ha, intensive sheep and beef farm.

Topography: n/a.

Rainfall: 1,000 mm/yr.

Climate: Tends to dry out in summer or autumn.

Soil type: n/a.

Fertiliser regime: Applied 500 kg/ha of super 10 when they bought the farm in 1996. Now apply 375 kg/ha of super 10 per year.

Stock numbers: 2,150 ewes and 450 hoggets.

Carrying capacity: n/a.

Plot descriptions: (a) 2-yr ryegrass. (b) 5-yr ryegrass.

Detailed description: n/a.

Farmer's comments: Lynden is a farm consultant and believes the more information you have about pasture growth rates the better.

"With good growth information you can plan grass management better.

"It's a discipline that I've sometimes struggled to get done. I have assessed pasture cover in the past with a plate meter but the quality aspects of the project, such as the ME rating, will be great." (Lynden Prebble)

Results published: Otago Southland Farmer.