Tips for Ruapehu region farmers & gardeners

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 283, 18 April 1989, Page 7

Tips for Ruapehu region farmers & gardeners

Agricultural scene Grass grub and porina pastoral control should be carried out now. Au-

tumn grass should have "down the sprout" control for grass grub. Rain is essential now, we are very

surface dry and pasture growth activity is behind normal, especially where lambs are being held in the hope of better prices. Watch that this is not detrimental to winter feed build up for other stock, particularly while we are still dry. Watch fodder and cereal winter feed crops in these conditions for nitrate build-up - which poisons livestock. Consult your merchant or vet if in doubt. Tupping Tupping time is here - time to ensure pre-tup drench wig and vaccinations are carried out, feet are sound, and the harnesses are out in good repair. The East Coast is the driest it has ever been at present. Farmers over there are desperate for hay and feed supplements and grazing - we are short also - so conservation is the flavour of the month. Cereals Cereals are in short supply especially oats and feed maize though local yields and quality have been excellent. May is the time to plan

for 89/90 harvest. There is still a couple of weeks left to get in

new grass (and tumips). It's time also to ensure new pasture is sprayed. Spring growth will be gained with phosphate and/or lime application now, this allows solubility of the nutrient to provide the spring vigor. Sulphur is an essential element (in fact the most important) for

optimum wool growth, cover colour and sizing. Apply granules (slower release) now. Sulphate of Ammonia application will boost without stress pastoral areas if applied now and allow winter activity and spring vigor. Its better all round than urea at this time. Drainage by subsoiling 1 should be considered where pans exist and coil-tubing into the really wet areas should have been completed or' in hand now. Lice control Still the most eco-

nomic and certainly time proven most Turn.pa.ge 14

Rural scene

From page 7 effective control of lice on adult sheep is plunging or secondly by shower dipping with Synthetic Pyrethoid dips. However, time of year of application must be given serious consideration - the stress effect on in-lamb ewes and as winter progresses the side effect of pneumonia in ewes must be weighed up. Synthetic Pyrethoid dips allow convenience whether you plunge, shower or pour-on because its resistance to reinfestation make them superior, so that you can dip each mob, paddock, etc when it is convenient. Lice on bastie - the recently released Ivamectin pour-on that controls both interval parasite and external

pest activity is certainly a progressive step. However you must consider the cost of convenience over other products both injection and oral drench Wool book The massey wool institute has published what is an excellent manual for the wool produce - four publications per year covering very essential advice in layman's terms and it costs only $14.50 per annum. Market gardens Leaf spot of carrot and parsnip is very prevalent and must be treated to ensure roots are not stressed and botrytis activity is controlled. Sprouts - ringspots, black spot and black rot are all prevalent and must be kept under control. Aphid activity will be high while these dry conditions prevail. Violet root rot is currently showing and appears to be on the increase in the area. Ground must be spelled to combat this. Generally produce is of an excellent quality, price averages are currently acceptable and colder conditions hopefully will show a lift in the average. Seed beds should be prepared with a sound programme to ensure disease free transplants. Treatment of seed is essential this coming year because of the amount of fungal activity that has been pre^ent which will carried over unless frosts are extremely hard.