TO THE north-west of Wagga Wagga, one mixed farmer has gone against the grain in his quest to improve his farm.
Andrew Nelson runs “Myrhree”, at Currawarna, a 270-hectare property on which he runs ewes, lambs and cattle to supply his retail butcher shop, as well as cropping.
In essence, Mr Nelson’s search was spurred by a change in philosophy, from one where decisions were based mainly around production, to a view of being productive while also improving his farm. Through a growing interest in what organics offered, he came across Converte Liquid Plant Food, and decided to give it a try.
“For a few years I’ve been finding out more about becoming organic and not using any superphosphates or insecticides, but wasn’t sure how to make that change,” he said.
His confidence in the product got a boost in the first year he used it, during which he applied it to clover/lucerne pastures, with the stock health being the standout change for him.
“There wasn’t a single case of pregnancy toxaemia in the lambing ewes, nor did I have to pull any lambs. In previous years I’d lose ewes and have to pull quite a few lambs. I put this down to the sheep having a wider source of minerals,” he said.
This year, he used Converte on 12ha of dryland lucerne. He said the first cut yielded 83 bales totalling 37.35 tonnes. The fertiliser was applied at a rate of 2.5 litres a hectare in April. Following that, two separate mobs of 100 then 250 lambs were finished on the paddock by August.
Single superphosphate was then applied at 100kg/ha, and, combined with the rain, Mr Nelson said the results had been satisfying. He expected two more cuts by autumn. Along with the change in fertiliser regime, Mr Nelson has a preference to under stock to retain spare feed if stock need to be finished quickly.
“There is hardly any run-off and moisture retention is higher as evaporation is reduced, there’s a wider range of plants available for the sheep and fresh feed is available most of the year”, Mr Nelson said.
He also grows 12ha of grain to have on hand, plus bales lucerne or oaten hay as bulk dry feed.
As for the plunge to introduce an organic fertiliser and reduce his use of synthetics, he feels it’s been worth it so far. One improvement he says has been an unintended spin-off, has been the increase in wildlife, including the recent appearance of yabbies in his farm dams and a greater prevalence of birdlife.