Bill Webb Feed Solutions Outlook

Some farmers could have avoided the anguish of not having supplementary feed during last summer's drought, if they had committed early on to buy feed from growers.

To some degree, the feed shortages were created by lack of forward planning. It was a tough season but despite the warning signs some farmers would not place orders for supplements, no doubt hoping prices would drop. What happened during the previous spring was that many growers, ourselves included, committed a fair portion of their maize to grain because farmers weren't prepared to enter agreements for maize silage.
By February, when the drought was really biting, we had farmers wanting maize silage but we had none to sell. The same may happen this year because maize silage is an expensive crop to grow and we can't afford to do so without knowing for sure we have buyers.
Successful farming is all about planning ahead; and every client who contracted feed from us last year received exactly what they ordered, and in some cases, more. They made a commitment to us and we looked after them in return. Having feed on farm is like money in the bank, because being able to feed your cows well is rewarded by milk in the vat.
New Zealand-grown supplements have many advantages over imports such as palm kernel, including no bio-security risks, worries over what's in it and surety of price and supply.
The cheapest supplements are those ordered and delivered early in the season, especially if they are trucked straight from the paddock to the farm as that reduces handling costs. Even though there's plenty of grass growing now, feeding fibre in the form of supplements rewards the farmer with improved milk production. Combining fibre with the high energy grass means you are not milking off the cows' backs, they are getting the best out of the grass and high energy feeds, will milk better and should get in calf easier. Federated Farmers is warning there could be a shortage of grain this season, and is urging livestock farmers is to secure feed grains sooner rather than later.
The increasing trend to in-shed feeding of grains is also having an impact on the availability of maize silage. It's much easier to grow maize for grain than for silage, and we will be deciding in the next couple of weeks what varieties we will be planting and how much we commit to silage and grain, based on the orders we receive.
Like prudent farmers, we have to plan ahead and have already ordered much of our maize seed and will start planting near September 25, continuing right through until late November.
My advice to farmers is don't beat about the bush – get your feed orders in early and be assured you can feed your cows well whatever the season delivers weather-wise.