Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Make It Count an Autumn nutrient solutions podcast with Balance
Agri Nutrients powered by the Country.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome into this podcast series with the Balance Agri Nutrients
powered by the Country.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
I'm Hamers Mackay, cousin of the Other Fella. Great to have.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Your company on this one. Well, today we're looking at
the fact that most farmers are having a pretty positive year.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I mean I go to the fielding sale on a regular.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Friday and things are going pretty well with good growth
rates translating into those higher returns. I mean the old
calculators and the advocuses are smoking at the moment.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Which is a good thing.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
And of course, well that translates that you get these
high returns and we can get into the increased nutrient
application on farm and some farmers have been reinvesting in
their land to ensure a soil and pasture is in Well,
it's all important, isn't it. Optimal state? Now pretty wet January,
wasn't it, Which meant most people have gone head into
(01:10):
autumn with the woolheaded with pretty good moisture content and
have had great pasture growth through a traditionally dry period. Unfortunately,
a little bit too wet in some places. This has
meant some pretty bumper crop yields, a lot of additional
supplement has been harvested and higher covers around the country.
So I guess we look at how can farmers set
(01:31):
up well for order with key nutrients to finish the
season strong as as well as drive through winter to
support next year's production. Well to look at this, Katie
ake and Head is going to join US now science
Extension leader at Balance agri Nutrients.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Katie, how are you?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I'm good? Thanks? How you going? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Good, thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I'm going to deal with a couple of things first
before we to get into the nitty gritty Katie. I mean,
I know you're from a farming background, but you actually
never expected to be in this world in the egg space.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
No, I have a pretty interesting intro to agriculture. Grew
up on a sheep and beef farm, but I actually
through my primary school years we were on a quarantine facility,
so it didn't actually get to go on farm very often.
But it was quite unique introduction to agriculture.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, that would have been quite interesting, wouldn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah, maybe that was sort of what underpinned your drive
to be actually about eventually go to go on farm.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Now tell me we're about to see you're based and.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
What a science extension leader basically entail.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
I'm based in Topal. So the science extension team is
across the country. There's five of us across the country
and we're responsible for training our field team. We help
our farmers translate science into solutions. So I went to
university and sometimes there was those old professors in the
corner that did all the research, and then there were
(03:06):
the ones that actually translated what they said into something
that's practical. So we're those translators in the middle to
take the science. So we don't actually we're not. My
team's not the one doing it. There's the innovation team
that does that, but we translate it into solution. Can
help our farmer is out with implementing that science on farm.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Fantastic right out, Let's kick and do it.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Why is it important to be thinking about nutrient application
at this time of year?
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Particularly autumn is one of the most responses periods for
nutrient application for pashes and crops. So we've still got
reasonable sort of temperatures, we've got good sunshine hours and
that growth needs to be supported by nutrients when we
think about our farm systems. We need to build feed covers. Now.
If we're on a dairy farm, we might want to
(03:53):
push that production for the next few months, make the
most of the good payout year. We might be pushing
feed into when we know it's not it's not going
to grow as well. Supporting body conditions score and just
making sure we're ready to go once we get through
winter and into that spring regrowth in the new season.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
To get this all happening.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
You know, the bodies condition up, Get that up and
get ready for spring. What are the key nutrients that
farmers need to think about at this time of year
coming into autumn.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Really depends on your farming system. At balance, we follow
a simple method of test, diagnosing, and recommend so I
can talk to you about the different nutrients. But your
saw test is going to be your best starting point
and or herbage test to tell you what your farm
really needs. But if we're talking generally, and if you's
in beef farm system, we might be looking at maintenance
(04:43):
fertilizer in the autumn. The P and s are potentially
a little bit of molly and selenium in with those.
If you're looking at dairy we might be talking around
finishing off our maintenance if you put some on on
the spring, but if you haven't put it all on
PK and F for the autumn and then really looking
at are you maximizing your potential returns using nitrogen applications
(05:06):
as well. Elemental self is also really important if we're
putting it on an autumn to making sure if we
do get really wet and we have been wet, that
we are going to hold on to some of that
sulfur and it's not all just going to wash away
when we get the reins or continue to get the rains.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, okay, so I need to keep a bit of
a check on that through winter. And you know, especially
if these are an annual application sort of thing, you know,
lots to keep an eye on though, isn't there?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, definitely lots to not drop the ball on.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So what does a farmer or grow I need to
know now to optimize their fertilizer applications this autumn period.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
So every farm is different, So really we do need
to drive into that saw test and identify what is
important on your property. There's no point if you are
already in the optimum range going above and beyond your
maintenance requirements, it's not going to glow you anymore far.
So we really need to identify what is the nutrient
or the nutrients that are limiting your production and target those.
(06:07):
So start with the test, then we can move into
the diagnose to work out which one of those are
going to be the most limiting. And if we think
about some of the things that are commonly limiting at
the moment, nitrogen I don't know. I know Derek A
dopted Deeric Mooch down from Lincoln University and he always
says not all plants are nitrogen deficient at all times,
(06:28):
except leg ums. So nitrogen will really drive pasture production
and especially combining it with elemental sulfur at this time
of year can be quite good for pushing your growth
if you haven't put your maintenance on. Then phosphorus is
always a key driver of pasture production as well. And
also thinking that our animal health, cobalt and selenium. We've
noticed with head beats, noticed that some selenium levels have
(06:51):
been dropping and properties that haven't applied certilizer for the
last few years, so selenium can be really important. And
then once we've tested it was diagnosed it. Then we've
come up with our recommendation. Thinking about the timing and
the conditions is a really important as well.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Right well, I'm thanking fosphorus, I'm thinking selenium, cobalt, nitrogen.
So you'll come up with the right this is what
we need to you know, here's the rates in the
time and the place.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You can come up with all that.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
We can come up with all that, And I think
probably a tip for specially people that are trying to
get fertilizer an't eerily this year, it's probably book your
planes in early. We've spoken to a lot of people there.
It seems to be well. With the money that's around
in the industry at the moment, people are going back
to putting on your maintenance fertilizer, which is great, but
(07:39):
that may mean a bottleneck with the planes. And so
we don't want to get to the end of the
season and have farmers not be able to get there
fedilizer on just because we've had limited flying days. So
booky planes early would.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Be one ted yep, that's a good idea, get in
there and get organized. Look, heavy rain is well, we've
had so much of across the country and I don't
think we've seen the last of it, So what are
the risks and what can farmers do to mitigate the
impacts of the heavy rain that we're particularly seeing of late.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Yeah, So when we think about rainfall, we typically think
about nitrogen leaching, and so nitrogen leaching happens when there's
build up of well, there's excess nitrogen in the soil,
and then we get rainfall and we have saturated rainfall
on tap of the saturated soils. So that means that
the nitrogen has been pushed through the soil profile out
(08:29):
of the range of the roots, and then it is
lost to the farming system. So if we are thinking
about what we're doing at the moment, we need to
think about when are we putting our nitrogen on. So
we need some rainfall to push it into the root zone,
but we don't want excess rainfall that we push it
out of it. So timing of your nitrogen is key
(08:52):
with that. We also have sulfur, so sulfate. Sulfur is
a water soluble form of sulfur, but that's also the
the plant needs. But if we're putting it on at
the moment, if you have had flooding and you are
coming off the back of that, you probably do want
to put on some sulfate sulfur if you're not in
an area that's being flooded, but you want to protect
(09:13):
that sulfur and get it through a coming week season.
Then you're looking at that elemental.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Sofa and all this is too, you know, obviously with
the science around us, we're also keeping an eye on
Obviously we want to get the greatest impact for the
less least environmental risk possible too, of course, absolutely. Okay,
what are the key points or tips for farmers ahead
of autumn application? You know there must be four or
(09:40):
five that you think of the critical things to make
keep top of mind.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Well, let's start with autumn being an opportunity, so the
warm soils and rainfall can create a favorable environment for
nutrient responses. It's times and targeted correctly, So autumn nutrition
is about setting up well for winter, not chasing last season.
That will be the first one. Second one, maybe protect
your investments, so make sure you're choosing products and application
(10:06):
strategies that reduce losses. So that's your vladialization and leaching.
The goal isn't necessarily more fertilizer it's getting a better
response from the fertilizer you're putting on. Number three, let's
go with making sure we're doing the right thing environmentally.
So it started before with saw testing, So start saw
testing to know what you're putting on. Split your applications
(10:27):
and make sure you've got a cover over your ground.
So if you've got grass there, it slows your erosion down.
So making sure you've got to cover as you go
through winter, it's going to help with your profitability and
make sure you're a good steward of the land. Good
nutrient timing to protect both performance and the environment. Also,
(10:50):
we've touched on the weather before. Stay tuned, check it out.
Think of your rain forecasts and your sore moisture to
make sure you're going to get the best uptake of
those nutrients. Don't put it on if the souls are
saturated and these heavy forecast prolonged rain work with it,
not against it.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
You are listening to this podcast brought to you buy
Balance Agri Nutrients an association empowered by the Country.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
I'm Hamus Mackay, Katie I can Head. It is the
Science Extension Leader. If you've liked what you've heard, to.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
This point, which I can't imagine why you wouldn't have
What should a listener do now at this point if
they want to progress further, Katie.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
So your Balance Nutrient Specialist is a great first point
of contact. So it's a team of people around the
country that can help out by the face of the business.
But we've also got support teams in the background like
myself and the Science Extension team, but we've got digital
support teams BUN Sustainability Services team, so everyone's here with
years of knowledge and experience to help you out make
(11:51):
sure you get your fello of plan sorted as soon
as possible, and they are the ones that will help
you do it. We also do have another couple of things,
So this week you would have received in your letterbox
our Grow magazine, which is our science publication we produced
twice a year covering off the latest research and innovation
and nutrient efficiency and management. So that's a great source
(12:14):
of information. And we also have a series of shareholder
roadshows currently being rolled out across the country, so from
Fromeraray down to Mosville, and I think there's still a
couple of those to come to check out the Balance
websites for information, but also the shareholder roadshow as well.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Hey fantastic Hadie, great great information in there. And another
thing I was thinking about during this do you reckon?
Sometimes people get put off by the you know, just
the thought of our two big a job. Well, you
know in terms of like, if I go into this
in too much depth, it's going to cost me a
whole lot of money. But at the other end of
the scale, in fact, you might you might find that
actually you going okay, and you might need a bit
(12:50):
of this and a bit of that and it might
work out a whole lot better.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Most of the times when we're having conversations, it's not
about spending more and doing more. It's just fine to
and making sure you're putting on the right things to
get the maximum return for that money you're spending. So
it's better to take the time, whether it's half an
hour or so, and actually just check in on your
system and make sure you set yourself up properly, make
(13:14):
sure you're targeting the right things, and it might have changed,
so no harm and tity.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
And one of the big tail outs from me talking
to you today, Katie is that do not underestimate autumn
as a time to be making a consideration about your
nutrient solutions to boost that performance.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Ah, that's a good time of year.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
Definitely, let's make sure we make the most of the
returns that are in the industry at the moment.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Thank you very much for joining us.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Patti a Canhead there science extension leader with balanced agri
nutrients on this podcast powered by the Country on Hamers
Rick I, thank you for joining us.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Make It Count an autumn nutrient solutions podcast with balance
a green nutrients powered by the Country.