Planning for winter farm advice

Farm advice: Planning for Winter

As we head into winter, DairyNZ is encouraging farmers nationwide to consider what they should be doing now to set up well for the cold months

Over the past two years, we’ve seen farmers significantly improve their wintering preparedness and practices on-farm to protect the environment and look after their animals.

As we head into this winter, we’re encouraging farmers nationwide to keep up the momentum and consider what they should be doing now, to set up well for the cold months.

No matter where you farm, the key to success for you and your team is to begin planning and setting up months ahead.

National wintering rules

This year is the first year the new regulations are in effect. These regulations outline the practices you need to do to allow your activity to be permitted, if using winter forage crop.

Requirements under the new rules are available online at dairynz.co.nz/wintering. Regional councils may have other localised wintering rules that farmers need to comply with.

Some requirements (such as buffer widths) should’ve already been implemented, as they will have been actioned when crop establishment occurred. Now the focus is on minimising pugging and contingency planning for periods of wet weather.

Setting up paddocks

Paddock set-up is a key thing to consider and setting them up early while the soil is drier will help save time and reduce sediment loss and movement in winter.

Portable trough

Access to fresh, clean water is essential. as cows are known to drink approximately 45 litres each every day over the winter period.

Having a portable trough means that this can be moved with the animals every day or two and can be used with back fencing. This will minimise stock movement to reduce excess pugging and mud, and your cows will reduce their energy output by walking less.

Back fences

Generally, ground conditions closest to the feed face are the driest and in the best condition for cows to lie down on. By using back femud and surface water pooling, which, in turn, improves cow lying time.

Grazing directions

Strategically choosing grazing direction is important for two reasons: reducing run-off and creating drier areas for animals.

Firstly, by grazing towards a waterway, good soil conditions can be maintained closer to the waterway for longer. This allows more rainfall to be soaked up, reducing the amount of soil run-off compared to a paddock that has been pugged.

Secondly, you can protect the area closest to the feeding face by grazing animals into prevailing weather conditions, which provides more suitable conditions for cows to lie down.

We can’t predict what the season ahead will be like, but setting up your paddocks now and having a plan will allow your team and animals to winter in the best conditions possible.

For more information and resources, visit dairynz.co.nz/wintering.

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