Farm Tech

PasturePlan

Winchmore research farm, AgResearch

Location: Winchmore, Canterbury.

Farm size & type: 303 ha. Pastoral farming research farm that also grows 13–15 ha of winter brassicas and 13–15 ha of feed barley each year.

Topography: n/a.

Rainfall: Averages 745 mm/yr.

Climate: Winter lasts 100 days with a frost one day in three from May to August and snow on the ground once a winter. The farm has 50 days of drought on average each year, but it can get twice that in very dry years.

Soil type: Borderdyke irrigated Lismore stoney loam.

Fertiliser regime: Varies widely, especially on the 'bio' block where only non-refined products such as RPR and sulphur can be used. Generally the farm gets 250 kg/ha of super plus selenium every year, with nitrogen and nitrogen-based fertilisers applied for silage and growing greenfeed brassicas, cereal forages and cereal grain crops.

Stock numbers: 4,400 su, including 70 dairy heifers, 2,200 ewes to lamb, 1,075 ewe and ram hoggets, 85 rams and 450 deer. With the exception of 450 commercial ewes and the deer, the stock are part of scientific research or trials.

Carrying capacity: n/a.

Plot descriptions: (a) New pasture, dryland. (b) Old pasture, dryland. (c) 2-yr pasture, irrigated. (d) 15-yr pasture, irrigated.

Detailed description: There are 16 cutting cages, eight on dryland with the other eight on border irrigated. They are cut on alternate fortnights.

Farmer's comments: "Winchmore has a brief to provide a field laboratory for science and facilitate transfer of information appropriate for the district. So this project fits in nicely with generating accurate pasture growth rates for local farmers to get a better handle on pasture production, rather than winging it." (Colin Clemens, research farm manager)

Results published: Canterbury Farmer

Local Meat & Wool Innovation contact: Alan Marshall, tel 03-325 6911, cell 025-329 399, alan.marshall@mwi.co.nz