Prevent or cure drought damage? This question about the drought is topical for the third year in a row. The precipitation deficit may have been slightly corrected last month, but nationally we are still struggling with an average deficit of 150 mm. As a farmer, do you opt for an operational or more strategic solution?
longest day
For the longest day, the most grass grows; it's old peasant wisdom. Exceptions confirm the rule. Let's hope that applies this year and that there is still a lot of grass growing this summer and into the fall. The roughage stocks have completely disappeared.
It could be… In 2017 we at Countus paid ample attention to valuing our own roughage during our client evenings. The reason was the piling up stock of roughage. With a few years of growth, the situation can therefore quickly recover. Even when we consider the trend of extensification and the decrease in the number of young stock present.
What to do?
A frequently asked question is whether to sprinkle can out. An operational solution to continue grazing, to avoid unnecessary reseeding and to remain eligible for premiums in quality programs. But correcting stocks with irrigation is virtually impossible and an expensive solution. In most cases you can buy more feed from the irrigation costs than additional feed grows.
Take a look at this calculation example: with 100 mm of irrigation per year per ha, the costs are approximately € 700 per ha, calculated with a fairly sober installation. The cost level is strongly determined by the frequency of use and the option of electrically irrigating or not. For a kilo of dry matter price of 15 cents you also buy 4 to 5 tons of dry matter roughage.
Strategic long-term solutions
When the weather – and especially the drought – has an increasing influence on your company, it is wise to look for structural strategic solutions. Solutions that fit the industry-wide challenges. Because can we continue to irrigate if the water actually becomes scarce more often? And does it fit in with the CO2 tasking?
Consider converting the operational costs of irrigation into investment costs, such as strengthening land-relatedness, increasing feed storage, incorporating biodiversity and increasing the water storage capacity of the soil and in the landscape.
No better advice than stock
Strengthening soil-relatedness and increasing feed storage enable feed buffering in growing years. Like the dry years, these will continue to occur in the multi-year series.
Maize is a great dual-purpose crop and can also be used as a concentrate substitute such as CCM or MKS when there is an abundance of roughage. By incorporating the crop residues, you also invest in soil fertility and water storage capacity. Clovers, the easiest herbs, have a deeper root and are therefore more drought resistant. Biodiversity is also increasing. Increasing the water storage capacity is one of the long haul and requires an area-oriented approach. But it makes your company more resilient to climate change.
In short, the choice palette is somewhat broader than whether or not a reel. Smartly combine the options at your company. This strengthens your company in the longer term. Take this into consideration the umpteenth time pulling out the rain reel or considering purchasing one.
Want to know more?
Would you like to know more about the impact of the drought or about structural solutions for this? Contact your advisor.