Fertiliser in the Waikato

17 March 2015

Our TSR in the Hauraki Plains is former dairy farmer and former Ballance Rep, Dusty Hulley. We caught up with him recently for his take on the state of bio-fertility in the Waikato region.

As someone who has grown up farming, Dusty knows that great relationships mean everything, so he's always up for a cuppa and a chat with his farmers. They know they can come to him any time to share a problem: "I'm there whenever they need me. Building that trust first of all and then getting the information required to give them the best advice."

Dusty works closely with his local Ballance Rep, taking soil tests to ensure he's recommending the correct nutrient requirements for each farm's unique soil environment. "The Hauraki Plains is generally a pretty fertile area. It's about finding the most cost-effective solution ... not just about pumping out fert and hoping for the best. It's important to take a soil test so that we have a base to work from when recommending nutrients, after consultation with the local Ballance Rep. We're about using the expertise of the Ballance team to guide us."

Being more efficient in some areas of the farm will help to reduce costs with minimal impact on pasture production, says Dusty. If you're a system one farmer, pasture can be 80-90% of your feed and a grass-based system is still your cheapest option: "Fertiliser application is one of the fundamental cornerstones for optimum grass growth that you've got to be very careful not to adjust too much. That’s because after an extended dry period, microbial activity will still be active in breaking down elemental Sulphur to Sulphate. Preparation is important to get the fertility and nutrients in the optimum range so that when it starts to rain, the pasture growth will respond quicker."

Get in touch with your local TSR, or drop us a line on 0800 731 266.