Name: Tom Macfarlane
Farm: The Kowhais
Type: Intensive grazing
Location: Raincliff
Total Area: 800Ha
Total Effective Area: 655Ha
Area under VRI: 86Ha
AquaCheck soil moisture probes: 6
Annual Production: 1000 Lambs, 1500 deer and 1000 bulls
Average Pasture Production: 9500kgDM/Ha
Efficient meat production is the goal for Raincliff farmer
Tom Macfarlane. After taking over the property 3 years ago Tom is striving to
lift production whilst doing so in a sustainable manner. The Opuha River runs along
the boundary of the property and this means that Tom is wary of the impact that
his intensive farming operations may have on the environment.
Finishing 700-800 bulls before their 2nd winter on
farm requires a high level of feed intake and the bulls need to be growing
every day. The techno system is intensive and requires daily management of
multiple small mobs of animals. Juggling the stocking rate according to the
feed supply and demand requires effective pasture management strategies to
maintain quality throughout the spring and summer.
Water use efficiency is also high on the agenda at Macfarlane’s
as water for the properties irrigation system is supplied from the often
restricted Opuha Water scheme. Roughly 180 Ha is under irrigation on the property
and his pivot and lateral, both with Growsmart Precision VRI, water an area of 86
Ha. Irrigation is also applied through K-Line, hard hose gun and Roto-Rainer
systems which cover 31.8, 32.5 and 56 Ha respectively.
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| The Kowhais EM Zone Map to be used with VRI |
The Growsmart Precision VRI really proves its worth when
water restrictions kick in as Macfarlane is able to use planned moisture
deficit management to water different areas of ground cover at reduced rates.
When water is short the fodder beet is watered less frequently to free up more
water for the higher quality pastures. Macfarlane also is able to reduce
applications on heavier soils to spread his water further. All of this is
enabled by the combination of EM Soil Surveys, AquaCheck soil moisture sensors
and Growsmart Precision VRI.
The installation of AquaCheck soil moisture sensors has
added to Tom’s suite of decision support tools. Tom is now aiming to forecast
potential pasture production from soil temperature and moisture data received
from the AquaCheck probes. This will enable him to better decide how many head
of stock he will be able to carry and will aid in planning for the upcoming
season.
The combination of AquaCheck moisture probes and a Growsmart
Precision VRI system enables Tom to better manage his irrigation scheduling.
The ability to see what is happening to soil moisture and applying the correct
amount of water at the correct time has benefits in terms of sustainability and
pasture growth. Pasture growth is critical in Macfarlane’s techno beef system
where pasture utilisation needs to be kept as high as possible. With potential
harvest efficiencies of up to 85 to 90% the cost of overwatering is not just
limited to run off and nutrient loss. Pasture damage caused by heavy 18 month old
bulls has a significant impact on the level of wastage and future pasture
production. The AquaCheck probes will allow Tom to see how soil moisture is
tracking and can alert him to when soil moisture rises above the pasture damage
threshold.
With one eye always on efficiency at The Kowhais the use of
variable rate irrigation, EM soil surveying and AquaCheck soil moisture probes has
given Tom Macfarlane the tools to help improve efficiency and productivity.
Watch this space to see how things evolve at The Kowhais.
