18 May

Otago’s Big Dry Has More Farmers Applying Lime-Based Fertilisers

The big dry in Otago has more hill country farmers turning to lime-based fertilisers to remedy the pH levels in their soils.

Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate Field Representative, Geoff Booth says much of the region has historically had low pH levels and farmers are now more aware of this, especially with the recent dry conditions.

“In the past farmers thought that putting on lime wasn’t cost effective because of the weight that needed to be transported big distances into remote areas. But now with pH-friendly products like Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate farmers can apply lime and phosphate in one safe application and meet a similar budget to what they have always done in the past with conventional fertiliser products.

“Farmers are getting dual benefit and also being cost effective which is a vital component of any successful farm. The whole farming industry has acknowledged in recent years that vast areas of potentially productive hill and high country has seen little or no input for many years.

“Farmers are realising that they can make significant progress by using lighter rates of lime but they can still add essential nutrients like phosphate and sulphur to the soil with a product like Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate. High country farmers intrinsically understand the light and often undeveloped structure of these soils and how they differ to down land properties, so it’s important farmers keep up regular maintenance applications of a liming product to address it.”

Mr Booth says the challenges brought by low pH and nutrient lock up is always on discussion for farmers in these regions. That discussion is now turning to how a neutral pH application of key nutrients and the flow on benefits sets the stage for more resilient farming.

Mr Booth says the recent dry conditions and westerly winds have hammered many farmers.

“Many farmers have been destocking. But farmers who use Hatuma Dicalcic have noticed a quicker bounce back after a bit of rain. Knowing this gives farmers considerably more confidence to manage their way through on hard years such as this and it often means faster return to production.”

Mick O’Callaghan faces many challenges on his sheep and beef farm in the Central Otago High Country. At 500 metres altitude his property faces all the southern extremes of weather and is often very dry over summer.

During a year like this retaining capital stock is important, so farmers like Mick can still get through comfortably. The region was lucky to get some rain in January, which helped but with the last two months of strong westerlies, he is worried about heading into winter without rain.

“We think it’s important to get fertiliser on in the Autumn. This will help us heading into winter. We used to apply the super and lime separately but now we are putting one application on with Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate.

“Our wettest period is the winter, so we find the timing is great because coming out of the spring, the grass is just leaping out of the ground.

Mr O’Callaghan grows winter feed crops including kale, rape and swedes and a Hatuma blend is tailored to his soil test results.

“Our crops are hungry for nutrients and we find the Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate gives them a good boost, helping us to feed our stock through the winter.

“As a high country farmer we need to get lime into the soil. In one cost effective application we can now do that with Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate and have healthier grasses and ground cover, lower input and better production.”

Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate® is manufactured in Oamaru at Parkside Quarries, which means Mick can save on transport costs, but mainly because the fertiliser is applied with one application.

“Our fertiliser bill has halved and the main saving is due to the one application. We used to apply the super and lime separately but now we are putting one application on, so it’s quite a bit cheaper.”

ENDS

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