Running the Farm

Endophytes - what are they and what can you do about them?

Learn what endophytes are, why they are important and what you can do about them.

Nitrogen fertilisers

Nitrogen acts as a growth promoter in plants. It’s the easiest and usually the cheapest way to grow more feed.

Look after your clover

Clover is in the legume family along with plants like lucerne, Lotus species, lupins and gorse.

Endophytes working for farmers

You’ve probably heard about endophyte in pasture grasses.

Pasture management - the 3-leaf principle

Ryegrass plants are a collection of ‘tillers’ or new shoots that grow from the ‘growth point’ in their base.

Managing pasture properly

Most farmers think they know how to manage pastures by moving stock around the paddocks, but there’s more to it than that.

Managing pastures properly #2 - Some Pasture Basics

Pasture is a living community - intertwining plants of grass, clovers, herbs, weeds and bare ground.

Pasture Feed Problems

The farm is constantly covered in tall grass, and weeds, especially docks and thistles, are always rampant.

Grazing Systems

The main tool for pasture managemet is the grazing animal.

Managing pasture properly #6 - More pasture pointers

Keep pastures at the green leafy stage as long as possible - this is when plants provide the highest quality feed.

Pasture renovation - basics

The what, why, how and when of pasture renovation.

Pasture renovation - preparation

This is the second in a series of four articles on pasture renovation by Dr Deric Charlton.

Pasture renovation - sowing

This is the third in a series of four articles on pasture renovation by Dr Deric Charlton.

Pasture Renovation Tips

Tips on managing new pasture.

Feed budgets

Feed budgets are needed to make sure there is enough feed on the farm to meet the needs of the stock.

Buy silage with care

The horror of drought iives in the memory of anyone who had to buy silage - when prices quadruple without any question about feed quality.

Try some fodder crops

If you farm livestock then you now have a range of forage plants to grow for feed as well as good pastures.

Willows work for me

Willows are already well known for supplying timber that makes excellent cricket bats, and as a source of aspirin (along with poplars), but they are also very useful on the land.

How to keep your hay contractor happy

A guest contribution and pearls of wisdom from Lois Mundell after a lifetime in the business.

Hay - key points to ponder

Hay is the oldest form of conserved feed. But you need to be careful before you part with your money, especially if you are buying when there is a shortage.