Trace elements are needed in relatively small amounts but are critical for pasture growth. Recommendations for trace elements vary but a useful indicator for the amount required is information on the amount of trace elements typically found in plant tissue. Because trace elements are needed in relatively small amounts, they can be applied to paddocks…
Category: pastures
Growing pastures course outline
Good pastures are a valuable asset on a farm or hobby / lifestyle property. But getting pastures established can be challenging. This module will take you through all the basics for establishing pastures and even rejuvenating an old pasture. The module builds on previous modules on plant growth, nutrition and soils, so to get the…
Dairy farming in SW Gippsland – our farm.
Well, much to everyone’s surprise we are still farming after 5 years! Someone said our act of faith in starting a dairy farm at a low time in the industry was like “attempting to jump over 50 cars inĀ a Harley Davidson without any practice”. Its true we bought a going dairy farm but we…
A pasture growth problem solved?
Its easy to get tied up with the day to day chores of a farm and it seems to be inevitable more so if you’re running a dairy farm! But sometimes its good to take a walk out on the farm without any particular job in mind just to see how things are going. This…
Our dairy farm
We’ve had our dairy farm for just over 2 1/2 years and that’s also as long as we have been dairying! The farm is 250 acres of rolling hills in South West Gippsland. The current herd is 125 milkers, 50 heifers which are up and coming milkers, and 75 calves. Around the farm. This summer…
Our new farm
After a lot of searching we finally found a new home for our calves, 173 acres in Ranceby in South Gippsland. The previous owners Robin and Deb McKinnon were very helpful in showing us their production figures, explaining how the farm worked and then allowing us to move some machinery and cows early.…
How to sow new pasture and forage crops
In our quest to become dairy farmers we have leased a few acres in Gembrook to grow pasture and forage crops for our small herd. The land is run down pasture and I have outlined soil test results in the last few entries. To get this pasture productive again we need to raise the pH,…