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March was a typically busy month on farm and with A & P shows in full swing keeping many growers on the go along side day to day operations. Weather conditions have largely played ball, with a run of settled days allowing good progress. While soil moisture is on the drier side, there has been enough moisture to make paddocks a bit sticky for drilling and spraying.

This year’s harvest has been a tough one for many arable and seed growers. Weather delays, variable yields, and challenging conditions have tested both crops and planning. Taking time now to prepare for winter can help smooth the transition into next season, reduce risk, and ensure your next crop gets the best possible start. Starting the conversation early with your Ruralco representative can make planning easier and more effective.

When it comes to growing wheat, choosing the right variety can make a real difference. Yield potential, disease pressure, sowing timing, and how the crop fits into your rotation all come into play. While no two seasons are ever the same, having a variety that suits your conditions and management style can help set the crop up for a strong result.

We will look at the following this month: Fodder crops, crops, autumn sown crops, grass grub control in pasture and use of Gibberellic Acid.

An invitation to be part of the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) Catchment Showcase in early March provided Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective (MCCC) with a valuable opportunity to celebrate local leadership and acknowledge the importance of catchment-scale innovation, knowledge sharing and data collection.

Managing feed supply efficiently is a constant challenge on farm. Running short can impact production and animal performance, while over-ordering ties up capital and increases waste. GrainSure is proven technology designed to remove the guesswork from feed management by giving farmers and suppliers real-time visibility of grain and feed levels on farm.

Autumn-sown forage crops can play an important role in filling winter feed gaps and supporting livestock performance through the colder months. Choosing the right crop or crop mix and sowing at the right time can make a significant difference to the amount of feed available for winter grazing.

The Government has classified the past few months' of challenging weather conditions in Canterbury, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, as a medium-scale adverse event.

We will look at the following this month: Fodder crops, Crops, Autumn sown Crops, Grass grub control in Pasture and use of Gibberellic Acid.

February delivered a welcome run of settled weather, allowing harvest to push ahead across the district. With short spells but long fine days, most farmers have been able to wrap up their harvest or are well on top of their harvest schedules.