Soil quality tops the list
"The greatest resource is not high producing cows or high protein supplements, but healthy soils."
Fraser Storey
"We've been using TerraCare Dicalcic fertiliser for 10 years on our two dairy units with outstanding results. We've lifted and balanced our soil nutrient reserves significantly in order to increase capacity and achieve our production goals. Managing a high N regime requires serious focus on soil health, so we always pay attention to monitoring soil condition as much as cow health and nutrition, with a consistent eye on inputs and outputs along with soil composition, and cost."
Doug & Penny Storey
Woodstock Farms, Te Awamutu
1300 cows
Steady growth of quality, nutrient balanced dry-matter
"Our farm is producing 17 T/DM/ha consistently with only moderate dressings of slower release nitrogen. The key is knowing what the soil requires and using a balanced philosophy of fertiliser inputs. This is achieved by annually measuring soil and plant levels, monitoring animal health, aligning everything to our milk production goals in consultation with the farm owners and his TerraCare consultant. TerraCare Dicalcic Phosphate is the main nutrient driver behind our healthy high producing pasture and summer cropping programme."
Andrew & Michele McPherson
Waikato Sharemilkers of the Year, Te Awamutu
460 cows
"TerraCare Dicalcic Phosphate is the main nutrient driver behind our healthy high producing pasture and summer cropping programme."
Top liveweight targets, without using N
"TerraCare Dicalcic is one of the key reasons we can achieve our optimum liveweight targets without using artificial nitrogen."
"We fatten 380 bought in hill country Angus and cross bred heifers plus yearlings every year on our 160ha farm at Wharepuhunga without supplements. TerraCare Dicalcic is one of the key reasons we can achieve our optimum liveweight targets without using artificial nitrogen. We also cut 450 bales of rap silage per year to sell from surplus grass. Dicalcic helps to drought proof our farm. We advocate getting the soil balance right by using the best advice and the right fertiliser that soil biology welcomes."
Paul & Kathleen Symes
Wharepuhunga, Te Awamutu
380+ beef cattle
The difference is seen in the stock...
"We farm 300ha of medium to step hill country south west of Piopio. We moved away from acidic superphosphate when our fat stock buyer said there's something missing in the ground restricting these lambs from finishing. We switched to TerraCare Dicalcic Phosphate along with bulk liming the whole farm. Today 75% of our lambs reach target weights by late November. Lambing percentage is in excess of 160%. Our ewes and lambs stay clean throughout spring until shearing in January. The soil is friable, mineral rich, with a good colour and smell and with plenty of worms and deep rooting."
Terry & Lance Peterson
Pungarehu District, Piopio
Stock numbers
"Today 75% of our lambs reach target weights by late November. Lambing percentage is in excess of 160%."
Farming in the Waitahora Valley Tararua district
"The farm was looking in a fairly depleted state when we acquired the property in 20…
We put a plan in and more traditional fertilisers did not increase the production much. We got John Heald on board. John did a thorough analysis of the farm and came up with a nutrient plan.
The first soil test came out with a pH of 5.6 and a Resin p of 73 which was taken early Sept 2016. The first advice was to apply two tonnes per hectare of Brown’s super lime to lift the pH.
The spring nutrient application came to 300kg’s of Replenish MS and 1 kg of Ag Selenium Extra applied in February.
It is early days, but I am blown away by the early results. There is much more clover. Initially still fairly small, but I am expecting a solid change for the season to come. This will save me a lot on nitrogen fertiliser and will provide additional feed for my Angus stock."
Bob Henry
Tararua district, Waitahora Valley
"Soil life is just thriving and I can see that we should have a big increase in DM production for the time to come."
Slow Release Dicalcic fertiliser. Slower release for faster growth.
The phosphate in Slow Release Dicalcic granulated fertiliser is less water-soluble than traditional Superphosphate. This means it doesn’t break down as fast in the wet. The slower release means it supports optimum grass growth over longer periods after application than Superphosphate. The less acidic nature of the fertilisers support healthier soil life: supporting healthier grass growth and healthier farm animals
Talk to us about how Slow Release Dicalcic fertiliser can get your system working more efficiently.