Farmer focus, livestock: George Moss

Pastoral farming this month has been severely challenging. After 620ml of rain for August and September and only five non-rain days this month, mud and lots of it are the order of the day.

Gateways have become impassable for vehicles, cows push the grass into the ground before it can be eaten and races (laneways) become bogs. We have become wedded to our wet weather gear, which becomes as damp inside as it is wet outside. Basic tasks take longer, but the biggest challenge of all has been trying to keep people motivated.

Calves are waiting for a fine spell so they can leave the sheds. Weighing and drenching of yearling heifers is a month behind. Soon the sun will shine.

Both farms have lower milk yields compared to last season, with the conventional and organic farm down 7.5% and 6% respectively. Conventional cows are being supplemented with a Palm Kernel Expeller (PKE) and organic cows are on grass alone. Regrettably, the PKE trailer in paddocks leaves areas of badly damaged soil requiring remedial work later.

Overall the organic farm has faired better largely as a result of later calving and lower stocking rates. Milk solids a cow are more than two kilograms on both properties, which is credible. The organic farm now has full USDA-NOP organic certification giving us the full $1.05/kg premium.

A decision has been made to reduce stocking rate on the conventional farm next season to lower the need for imported feeds such as PKE. The organic farm may become totally self contained next season as it appears we are likely to lose the organic dry-stock block which provided some feed buffers. Interestingly, the organic farm is just as profitable as a conventional dairy doing 20% more milk.