[Kate Tarrant]

Admittedly I have destocked to the point that mob grazing is challenging .. but this is the best I could get in terms of utilisation after a 2 day graze with our sheep – they are not very interested in eating much beyond the top third of the grass with more trampled than eaten. So should I force them by keeping them in the cell for longer or do I need to mob them even more tightly and move them daily to get better utilisation.. the mob are currently in good condition with reasonably firm & shiny dung pellets.

[Kate Tarrant]

Hi Will, We have had some red legs in some of the paddocks we seeded to multi species.. in particular they were hammering the legumes & brassicas. Mark Tupman @mark suggested spraying out Magnesium Suplhate at a rate of 5 to 7kg/ha along with some molasses… our soils are quite deficient in magnesium & I think if my understanding is correct, magnesium is essential for protein synthesis (converting nitrate to ammonia to proteins) & molasses helps to provide energy for the process, and RELM love high nitrate conditions.. but I’ll leave Mark to explain further &/or correct me.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by  Kate Tarrant.
• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by  Kate Tarrant.
• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by  Kate Tarrant.
• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by  Kate Tarrant.

[Kate Tarrant]

Hi Michael, Dr Judi Earl recommends the percentages shown in the photo attached to this reply. You’ll also get some really good information in this content hub… https://lower-blackwood.shorthandstories.com/online-guide-to-pasture-biodiversity-in-the-lower-blackwood/index.html

lower-blackwood.shorthandstories.com

Online Guide to Pasture Biodiversity in the Lower Blackwood

Biodiversity - the root of soil health and resilience

[Kate Tarrant]

Hi Will, you’ll find some useful information in this article…https://lowerblackwood.com.au/targeting-plant-nutrition/.

My understanding is that the volume of potassium required generally can’t all be addressed through foliars, improving soil biology will assist making what you have in the soil more available, helpful to know your totals as Max says, but you may still need to add via soil amendments (granular or liquid).. how much depends on your production goals. There are some general rules of thumb mentioned in the article on biology friendly fertilization worth noting.

lowerblackwood.com.au

Targeting Plant Nutrition - Lower Blackwood LCDC

The application of nutrients, or fertilisers, that plants require is an important component in primary production operations. For numerous reasons, crops or

[Kate Tarrant]

Hi Robbie, there are so many but here are some of my go to’s:

For the Love of Soil – Nicole Masters

The Farm as Ecosystem – Jerry Brunetti

Holistic Management – Allan Savory

Fertility Pastures – Newman Turner

Natural Sheep Care – Pat Coleby

Natural Farming – Pat Coleby

The Ecological Farm – Helen Atthowe

[Kate Tarrant]

Cheers Mark, I will probably move them onto the stockpile feed when they finish in this current paddock at the end of the week .. in the meantime will try for a higher density stocking rate in the cells.

[Kate Tarrant]

Thanks Eric, that’s what I thought .. & yes the ewes are a bit chubby I know!

[Kate Tarrant]

I think she means a second bite of new growth, grazing the stemmy older stuff no problem but happy to be corrected!

[Kate Tarrant]

Certainly has! After my last post I decided to put the mob back into the sacrifice paddock with some oaten hay I bought.. just moved them into the first strip this morning.. much more grass now!😊 Put some hay in a mobile feeder to help with the adjustment.

[Kate Tarrant]

Looks like getting those foliars out earlier gave the plants a good head start & stave off RELM, I got some out on a couple of paddocks at the same time as you and no sign of them whereas the other paddocks all have some to varying degrees, only got foliars on them last week – plants looking like they are going to grow through the damage though so hope that’s the case.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by  Kate Tarrant.

[Kate Tarrant]

Ended up just extending the sacrifice paddock a bit and have bought some Oaten Hay to keep the mob going. Means I can give the rest of the paddocks a bit more time…

[Kate Tarrant]

And to you also Eric, hope you get a good dousing! We seeded 10ha with multi species and are also keeping it locked up to go to seed this year. Will have plenty of standing feed for summer/autumn next year 😃. Having a year off lambing.. happy days!

• This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by  Kate Tarrant.

[Kate Tarrant]

Sounds very similar to what’s happening at ours. Got some foliars on some of the paddocks last week but got foiled by the rain so will be pulling out all stops as soon as this front has gone .. with very similar mix to what you are putting on ( except I had to buy the fish hydrosylate & seaweed tonic .. maybe I’ll make my own this spring.

[Kate Tarrant]

Will be watching but strip size should mean moving on after 2 grazing days.

[Kate Tarrant]

👍