Roughage tour Grassland
Injector in progress, what to do with fertilizer poison?
After a changeable and wet month of February, the sun shows itself well in the first days of March. And that weather can last longer. For many dairy farmers, this is the signal to get started with the fertilization before the first cut on the grassland. This is also the case with the ten participants in the Boerenbusiness Roughage tour. What will be their strategy in applying fertilizer this year?
At Silvain Kusters, a dairy farmer in Guttecoven (L) in Limburg, most of the manure has already been applied. Already in the night of February 18, Kusters reported on the group app of the Roughage Tour that 813 cubic meters have already been spread. "A few more hectares from home, but luckily the cellars are no longer overflowing". Roel Assies, dairy farmer from Zeewolde (FL), says the next morning: "Fortunately, we also have some space again. All our second-year grassland (12,5 hectares) was also done with the drag hose yesterday." Assies gave 40 cubic meters of slurry for this gift. "The newly sown grassland does not receive fertilizer for the first cut".
After the first two dairy farmers were able to inject the slurry, storms Dudley and Eunice followed in the second half of last month. Sander Vijverberg from Strijen dairy farmer from Strijen, (ZH) reports on February 21: "49 mm fell here last weekend, that will certainly not be driving manure next week" Roel Assies sends a photo of his weather stations app that indicates that there have been 46 mm had fallen seven days, of which 27,1 mm had fallen the day before.
Slurry fertilization only starts up again a week after the storms. For example, Frank Rooker announced on Wednesday 1 March that the contractor's drag hose combination is running at full speed. "Started with drag hoses last night. Today a nice rain over it and if all goes well they will get everything ready today." Rooker adds that 35 cubic meters are fertilized for the mowing plots and 20 cubic meters for the meadow plots.
Many fertilizer strategies
A survey was held among the ten dairy farmers participating in the Roughage Tour about their approach to fertilization of the first cut. Two out of eight farmers indicate that they will not change anything in their fertilizer approach, because the protein and yield are simply needed in their grass. A loss of nutritional value has to be paid very dearly. The six other dairy farmers say they have adjusted their strategy. "Certainly, because of those backward prices," one of the farmers replied. What is striking is that the dairy farmers are looking for alternative fertilization methods. Such as a green pasture fertilizer to try or a mineral mixture that is added to the manure.
Hans Schoenmakers from Udenhout (NB) is trying the latter for the first time this year. "Mineral concentrate is actually processed pig manure, which you can sign up to buy. This mineral mixture contains 5,63 kilos of nitrogen and 8,3 kilos of potassium. I have this done by the contractor, who has had experience with this for a while." , says Schoenmakers. The mineral concentrate he receives is stored in a well. As soon as the contractor drives out, he takes a part with him in the tank each time, which is then pumped through during the drive to the country. After this fertilizer gift, another 100 kilos of Entec 26% will be sprinkled
The image above shows the method of fertilizer application among the dairy farmers of the Roughage Tour. A quarter of the participants plan to administer it in two doses, 37,5% say they will administer it all at once. The other livestock farmers are waiting to see what the season brings them.
Four dairy farmers use a solid fertilizer. So with a grain, because they themselves are not able to administer it in liquid form. A livestock farmer also says that he thinks the effectiveness of fertilizer granules is higher. Two dairy farmers use both liquid and solid fertilizers. One of these is a green pasture fertilizer and the other the mineral concentrate that Hans Schoenmakers administers.
Expensive fertilizer prices play the leading role
The participants of the Roughage Tour also notice the consequences of the high fertilizer prices. It could already be seen that many dairy farmers have already adjusted their strategy for this year.
It can also be seen that the participants are careful when purchasing the fertilizer. For example, 37,5% of the participants have not yet bought fertilizer, in the hope that prices will fall slightly.
Ronald Smit
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