The Rural Voice, 1998-08, Page 53Advice
Conserving
pasture production
during a drought
By Joan McKinlay
Soil and Crop Specialist
"Leave a little leaf."
"The first bit doesn't hurt but all the
rest do."
"Pasture is a perennial crop, manage
the root system."
Keep these principles in mind
when managing pastures at all times,
but especially during a drought! All
the principles of good pasture
management will be rewarded during
a drought, not by avoiding the
drought, but by keeping the effects
less severe than they could be.
Grazing management must be
adjusted quickly to drought
conditions, but species and plant
health will also have a major impact
on the production.
Plants that are healthy because of
good soil fertility programs and good
rest periods preserving root reserves
will be ready to respond quickly once
the rains return. Nitrogen, especially,
will need to be applied in conjunction
with moisture to be of benefit.
Natural fertility or applications of
phosphorus and potash will help to
keep root systems healthy. Healthy
plants provide a more complete
canopy, which will reduce soil
evaporation and keep the soil from
drying out as quickly.
Subdividing fields will help you to
manage the pastures better. Grazing
management is really "harvest
management" of the forage you have
produced. In a continuous graze
system, 70 per cent of the forage
produced is wasted. In a rotational
system, this is reduced to 45 per cent
and in a strip grazing system only 30
per cent or less of the material is
wasted. Otherwise, cattle tramp on,
lie on and foul on too much material.
If you can keep their heads all
pointed in one direction and moving
systematically across the field, then
you can greatly reduce these losses.
We don't tramp fields with haybines
so why do we allow livestock to do
even worse? Smaller fields address
all the principles listed at the first of
For
ATWOOD
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(519) 356-2282
TARA
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(519) 934-2343
Tel
Wet Dry Feeders
High grade stainless steel construction.
Equipped with adjustable shelf and solid
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Fittings and bolts inside feeder are stainless
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Can be installed between existing partitions or
mounted on the Floor.
more information contact your local BSM Dealer:
GRANTON MILDMAY
AVONBANK MIDWAY FARM
FARM EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS
(519) 225-2507 (519) 367-5358
KINCARDINE
LOWRY FARM
SYSTEMS
(519) 395-2615
WELLESLEY
PROGRESSIVE
FARMING
(519) 656-2709
DRAYTON
RICK STRUYK
FARM EQUIPMENT
(519) 638-5076
WALTON
KEITH SIEMON
FARM SYSTEMS LTD.
(519) 345-2734
BSM Agri Ltd. R.R. #4 Arthur, ON, Canada NOG 1A0
(519) 848-3910 Fax (519) 848-3948 Website: http://www.bsmagri.com
COMBINE EFFICIENCY Plus
• Friction free yellow engineered plastic Skid
Shoes eliminates sticking of all soils & residue.
• Harvest more bushels per acre - more acres
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• Plastic shaped to fit steel shoes. All holes pre-
drilled to assure accurate fit.
• Kit includes mounting hardware & complete
instructions.
• Available for all makes of flex head grain
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HAY & SILAGE
MOISTURE/
TEMPERATURE
METER
* Moisture range 10-80%
* Temperature 0 - 100C
* Digital readout, hand
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GRAIN MOISTURE
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* Programmed for 15 different varieties
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* Takes effect of humidity & temp. into
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Rape 4% - 30%
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GREEN OAK DISTRIBUTING
519-363-2652 Elmwood, Ont. 1-800-666-6192
AUGUST 1998 49