After our introduction to Plant Health, agronomists Glenn Cain and Lucy Powell from Webber and Chivell enabled students to investigate various crops in our region. At Tyson and Gavin Sinclair’s 300 cow dairy farm students saw a Pasja and Rape crop and the regrowth from the second grazing. Students learnt that it was originally planted as a protein source for the cows in summer, and the paddock was disced up, power harrowed with seed sowed at 5kg/per ha, then watered up with effluent and strip grazed, with weeds such as Fat Hen and pests such as Diamond Black Moth sprayed out. The crop produced 7t per ha with a 42t crop which the cows have been appreciating as part of their 22kg a day diet rations. At the Sinclair's cover plot, students were challenged to find examples of the 9 different types of plants that were strip grazed by young stock to provide feed but also worked to improve soil health. Students found examples of Buckwheat, Linseed, Vetch, Tillage Radish, Leafy Turnip, Forage Rape, Chicory, Cow Peas, Millet and Sunflower which all played different roles such as attracting beneficial bugs, tap roots breaking up soil, fixing nitrogen, scavenging phosphorus and producing a healthy crop with lots of nutrients. On the way back to school at another site students compared a Sorghum and Maize crop and learnt about the features of each. Students heard that Sorghum takes 10 weeks to grow, will produce 4-5t yield, it could be baled as silage or direct grazed by heifers. This was contrasted with the Maize crop which takes 16 weeks to grow, will yield 15t of pit silage as it produces stalk, leaves and cobs, needs a combine harvester to put in a silage pit and is a high risk crop with bigger costs to return. Thanks Glenn, Lucy, Tyson and Gavin, a great way to learn about crop health and prepare us for the Hermitage plant Science competition. Comments are closed.
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March 2024
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