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Testimonials have a big influence on farmers so I’m grateful to the many people who wrote these.
To increase the font size press Alt or Command + or - to decrease it. 1. Tony & Gwen Ashford, Ngatea, Waikato, wrote - We met Vaughan Jones in October 1990 when our farming had gone a little off the rails. Our peat was dead, and the cows had bad spring and facial eczema. On that first farm walk, Vaughan pointed out quite a number of things we could do to improve our lot. Liming, pasture mineral analysing, cessation of helicopter spraying for weeds and for facial eczema with a fungicide, cleaning the water troughs and supplying Solminix (now called DeLaval FeedTech soluble minerals) through an on-line dispenser, and using reactive phosphate fertiliser with other needed elements were a few of his suggestions. Our stressed cows that made milking unpleasant calmed down and we never looked back. When we phoned our vet in October 1991 to come and inoculate our calves, he thought we must have left the district because we had not called him that milking season (from June), whereas in the past we had him out every week. After three years our same number of cows could not fit in the yard because they had got bigger and production had increased by 22% from about the same number of cows, with no animal health problems and no milk fever. Production from our 53 hectare one metre deep peat with stumps & no bought feed - 89/90 40,000 kg MS from 140 cows, 286 per cow. Helicopter sprayed whole farm against FE and with 24-D for weeds causing the cows to get bad Spring Eczema and earthworm numbers to decrease. 90/91 43,000 kg, 139 cows, 309 per cow, 481/ha. Fixed shocks in troughs. No spraying. 91/92 47,000 kg, 135 cows, 348 per cow. Only five empties. No spring of facial eczema, no sprays or treatments had to be bought and used. No retained placentas. 92/93 52,000 kg, 138 cows, 377 per cow. Reared 96 calves, sold 45. This is a 30% increase in production per hectare and per cow in three years with animal health improving unbelievably - without weekly vet calls and medicines, and so much so that when our vet saw us later in town, he asked again, if we were still on the farm.” Did the vet ask what we were doing, and tell his clients? Not likely, because he would lose 90% of his business. Thank you, Vaughan. 2. The Japanese Gallagher electric fence importer distributor wrote - Dear Mr Vaughan Jones Two of your clients in Japan have won our Emperor’s Most Profitable Dairy Farmer Awards, and are very grateful to you. A third, Mr Imai, after you showed him controlled grazing, has reduced his costs, bought his neighbour's farm and doubled his cow numbers to 170, which is three times the national average. Thank you very much indeed. Yutaka Miyawaki Tokyo 3. Phil Taylor, a sheep and beef farmer on 260 ha in 160 paddocks at Ngaroma near the middle of New Zealand’s North Island wrote the following on graze-l, a world-wide Internet forum of 800 grazing farmers, when discussing soil versus herbage analyses. I had believed the fertiliser science’s "conventional wisdom" perpetrated by our major research establishments, agricultural universities and most fertiliser companies. Fertiliser science is very complex so not feeling competent in it I always took advice - from the most credible consultants, I might add. None of these consultants would give any advice without a soil test. So I have spent a lot of money over the years with laboratories. Invariably the advice was - more superphosphate, some K with N out of season to fill the pasture feed gaps. The pH was 5.8, so they said that there was no need for lime. Using their recommendations I have spent as much money in many soil tests each year and fertilisers in the last 12 years as would have bought the 400 hectares (1,000 acres) next door, and for little benefit on our farm. The results were almost no earthworms, 50 mm (2 inches) of root bound thatch on the soil surface, little to no growth in the winter and early spring, and areas of inert lifeless soil, evidenced by green urine patches running down the hill sides rather than soaking in. After application, pastures would give a boost then the farm would go into a lull which was as though the environment had been poisoned. Animal health problems frustrated me. I had nitrate poisoning in my cattle, ill thrift in the autumn, copper deficiency problems, not enough selenium absorption and poor sodium intake by the cattle in spite of the fact that sodium levels were shown to be OK in the soil. The cost of the fertiliser was bad enough but the loss from sub-clinical health problems in my cattle was probably a greatest cost. After being totally confused about fertilisers on my Taupo ash soils, at a chance meeting in 1992 with Vaughan Jones, I explained my problems. He visited our farm, saw the thatch, low-fertility Velvet grass (Yorkshire Fog - Holcus lanatus), small and few clovers, animal health problems and very few sick looking earthworms, took pasture samples and recommended lime. $15,000 dollars worth went on - half the usual cost of fertilisers. The fertiliser subsequently recommended was no more expensive than previously. After two years of the best reactive phosphate and trace elements calculated from pasture analysis, animal health problems almost ceased, earthworm activity increased causing dung patches to disappear quickly, grazing was much more even, thatch started disappearing, roots penetrated the soil to 22 cm (9 inches), green urine and dung patches in the early spring disappeared - without the use of artificial N. Clovers made more, giving the whole farm a green look which made it stand out in the area. During the three years of the beef downturn I applied no fertiliser, and yet I still had 17 sheep equivalents (17 NZ stock units) per hectare (7 per a) with everything going away prime, cattle in 18 months (except for a handful) and lambs at around 17 kg (37 lb) dressed weight. Feeding the soluble mineral mix from DeLaval through the drinking water helped with animal health, growth and finishing. All elements, including manganese, which used to be toxically high (385 ppm caused by low calcium and using Serpentine Super), are now in the medium to high level and balanced, according to recent soil tests I took out of interest. How can this be happening with no fertiliser for two years? The conclusions I have come to are that soil tests are not to be believed and there has been a catalytic response from the Vaughan’s complete and correct fertiliser recommendations starting with lime and using reactive phosphate, elemental sulphur, salt and trace elements. Pastures used to be mostly Velvet grass. Now there is more ryegrass and clover. When it comes to making money in today's beef industry all the recommendations given must give a cost/benefit based on pasture testing and observation. I hadn't had value for money over the years until Vaughan arrived. The fertiliser mixes varied slightly each year depending on the pasture analyses, and were about 450 kg per ha in total, based on reactive phosphate - 0 N, 54 P, 0 K, 31 Elemental S, 1 Mg, 135 Calcium carbonate, 32 salt, 6 Ulexite boron, 0.4 kg cobalt, and 0.5 kg of Selcote Ultra selenium, all per ha. Vaughan Jones is a very well respected consultant. I know a number of farmers who have made large amounts of money using his advice. 4. Gary Wilson, now dairying in Canterbury, wrote, “While dairy farming near Matamata I suffered bad bloat for decades and was a Ruakura bloat monitoring farm; but after I changed from 30% potassic super to Vaughan’s recommendations of the best reactive phosphate, elemental sulphur, salt, trace elements and lime as needed based on pasture analyses, and feeding DeLaval FeedTech minerals in the drinking water, bloat disappeared completely, production increased, and pastures improved from being open and sparse with gaps, to being dense clover based. Ruakura gave up the farm because there was no more bloat to monitor, but didn't ask me or tell anyone why it had stopped! “My calves looked and grew better than ever, with much less worm drenching.” 5. Ian McDonald, Patetonga, Waikato, wrote, “Our farm is all peat, five to six metres deep. Vaughan Jones became our farm advisor in 1991. “I was most interested in Vaughan’s ‘complete picture approach’, using lime and fertiliser recommendations (based on his pasture tissue mineral analyses Spreadsheet) to give better soils, animal health, per-cow performance and farm profitability. “He took pasture samples each autumn. From the analysis of these, Vaughan made his recommendations for the fertiliser which we applied once a year. His recommendations are based around lime, Sechura or Gafsa reactive phosphate and trace elements - all slow-release products. “It was interesting to see the improving levels of the various elements in our pastures over the years. “Our animal health improved greatly with the aid of DeLaval Feedtech soluble minerals, Mag chloride, zinc sulphate and selenium added to the water, as well as Selcote-Ultra in the fertiliser. We only had to treat two or three mild cases of milk fever or grass staggers out of 360 cows (later only one out of 500). “Cow fertility improved, so we didn’t have to induce or use CIDR’s to encourage cycling. “Profitability improved greatly: we had lower vet bills, better cow fertility and per cow performance of 380 kg (836 lb) of milk solids (MS) per cow and 1050 per ha (945 lb per a) from peat, some of which flooded. “Soil condition improved, with greater numbers of earthworms. “Dry knobs, which are common on peat farms, disappeared. The peat became softer and more friable, which allowed better rain penetration in the autumn after summer droughts with fewer crickets.” Ian has since bought two neighbouring farms and built a beautiful retirement home and a holiday home for their family, on an elevated sections at Whitianga and bought a boat. His son Paul now milks 700 cows in a rotary on their farm with one helper. One milks all 700 in the morning and the other milks all in the afternoon. The other person brings in the two herds and feeds the calves. 6. Grant McGregor, sharemilker, Taupiri, Waikato, wrote, “Throughout my farming career I have been exposed to a wide variety of farm management strategies and practices. Those practices that have had the greatest impact for us are those that Vaughan Jones has promoted. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience to pass onto those who are willing to listen. His strong database and trial results help to endorse his views. Couple this with a peat farming background, contracting, and many years’ consulting and it rapidly becomes evident that he has a great deal of experience to draw from. “Farming in general does not have to be complicated, but hinges around doing the basics well. This is one issue that Vaughan pursues with passion. It is very easy for farmers to embrace new technologies and strategies, but unless you have a solid base to work from, the end result is disappointment and can, more often than not, create a great deal of unwanted expense. “We have had three sharemilking positions over 14 years on peat. One owner insisted on the establishment’s ideas, that set us back. Two of our positions were with Vaughan’s clients, wherein we improved the peat and pastures, increased production and profits significantly, and, if I may add, with far less stress. “To do well you must refine your operation on many levels. Soil vitality, animal health, pasture composition, etc. Neglect any one of these and you will not achieve optimum performance. This is where Vaughan's recommendations and knowledge are invaluable. Very quickly one finds that a proactive approach to management can be adopted rather than the reactive situation many farmers get into. “One industry issue that is gaining attention at present is a call for a 4% increase in farming performance. The answer is staring us in the face and operates under the guise of “common sense” and attention to detail. It is not about spending a fortune to increase productivity. Anyone reading through Vaughan's views is, I am sure, going to find useful items to adopt. Don't be frightened to put those ideas into practice - especially pasture herbage analysis before liming or fertilising to correct soil levels, and feeding balanced minerals to animals. Each time we applied the above we were more than satisfied with the results. “The satisfaction gained from seeing peat improve and allowing stock to perform to their optimum potential - without the current craze of high stocking - are the rewards we have attained from utilising Vaughan’s experience.” 7. Margaret Porteous, organic dairy farmer, west of Hamilton in the Waikato, wrote in the year 2000, “I can definitely see the benefits of having good organic fertiliser recommendations as prescribed by Vaughan Jones, our new consultant. “I’ve noticed that pastures are much more healthy looking and animal health has been very good this year and with only one case of milk fever and no penicillin used except on a few of the last cows to calve. I then had to treat some for mastitis and lameness. Although this spring pasture growth has been very sluggish due to colder and cloudier weather than normal, our pastures, although not with a great surplus of grass, look denser and greener compared to neighbouring properties. My neighbour commented on how healthy our pastures were. The cattle seem so much more contented.” 8. USA Brad Cowan, Astoria, Washington State, USA wrote in graze-l, “In 1999 we were milking 70 cows on a crappy farm, but I did have the good sense to know who knows way more than I do and to listen. Vaughan Jones gave us the direction we needed to map our future and helped us an incredible amount over the years. We now lease a lot of land and milk 900 cows seasonally in an NZ rotary on pasture. Cows that need huge amounts of energy supplements and last two lactations are losers here.” Austin Moore of North Whitfield, Maine, USA, came to one of my seminars in 1982, changed to grazing and seasonal milking in 1983 and loved it and started making higher profits. He found that he had time to watch his cows graze and drink and his heifers grow.” The Gallagher importer/distributor, Henry Swayze of Tunbridge, Vermont, invited me to USA in 1981. I got him to change from winter housing his ewes to 100% grazing. He was able to increase his flock size from 50 ewes with lambs (limited by barn size) to several hundred. His workload and costs dropped and his profits increased. His pastures and animal health improved. Pneumonia and feet problems almost vanished. Farming became a pleasure and more valuable.” 9. Canada Smith brothers in Vancouver Island were milking 600 cows and losing money. I got them to decrease to 300 cows to save having to buy so much grain and feed from the mainland, to improve their pastures and use one milker instead of two in their 12 a side herringbone parlor, and their net profit went right up. In New Zealand one milker handles 15 clusters or more. 10. Bill Gallagher, Managing Director, Gallagher Animal Group Ltd, wrote, “The Gallagher Group’s 20 hectare Gallagher Peat Farm, which Vaughan Jones, when our Group Marketing Manager, set up as a demonstration farm, is two metre deep peat and is part of the Rukuhia swamp. It was covered in manuka (Leptospermum scoparium), gorse, rushes and ragwort. “Vaughan organised the development and grazing. The gorse, rushes, buttercup and ragwort germinated profusely with the new grasses and clovers, but they didn’t have to be sprayed as is usually done, because the dairy calves and heifers under controlled grazing in 20 paddocks ate them with the lush pasture that grew under the correct draining, liming, fertilising and rotation. The few weeds that grew under the electric fences were grubbed. “Vaughan ran many cultivating, fertilising and pasture trials and field days on the Gallagher Demonstration Farm, which was admired by many. “We have no facial eczema or animal health problems thanks to adequate liming and correct fertilising, and DeLaval FeedTech minerals.” 11.Dr Koos Baars, ex Ruakura now a Private Farm Consultant & Journalist in Hamilton wrote the following. I have known Vaughan Jones since 1985 when I was at Ruakura Research Centre and tested the electronic PastureGauge© he helped develop. After I was made redundant in 1994 Vaughan helped me get started in agricultural consulting and article writing for the agricultural media. I found that his knowledge of soils (peat in particular), pastures, animals and how to profit from farming, was far in advance of most others. I later learned from his reports and newsletters to farmer clients that Vaughan led the field in many things - 1. At the Dairy Research Corporation field day in March 2000 at Ruakura, they, for the first time, recommended 17,000 kg per ha of agricultural lime when establishing pastures on peat. Vaughan had been applying and recommending this rate since 1958. 2. In 1958 he developed extinguishing peat fires by smothering them with repeated rotary hoeing. 3. In 1959 he installed the world’s first straight rump-rail herringbone with cows standing at about 60 degrees instead of 30 degrees to reduce the pit length which reduced milker walking distance and allowed cows to walk in and out much more quickly. Cups were then easier to apply between the back legs. 4. In 1984 he suggested to Dr Brian Wickham and the NZ Livestock Herd Improvement Corporation team that if the selection of high producing cows for bull selection (BI) was not done on a weight basis and without using more items of merit than at the time, cows would get bigger and end up like North American ones, i.e., large, inefficient and with bodies too big for their legs. Vaughan wrote a programme which sorts cows by profitable production and shows that New Zealand Jerseys are more efficient and profitable in producing milk solids even than the USA milk production record holding cows which have low solids figures. A breed production per cow per ha survey he did in 1987 through the Dairy Exporter found that Jerseys were the most profitable. LIC’s Breeding Worth (BW) and Production Worth (PW) also showed this. 5. In about 1985 he identified that black muck (from blood) around pin bones was a symptom of coccidiosis and a cause of many weaned calves not growing, as they should. Some veterinarians did tests and disputed that it was coccidiosis, but treatment cured them. Some Vets later acknowledged this. 6. He wrote and used 60 spreadsheet programs for consulting and sold them worldwide from 1990 to show - A complete and accurate Economic Farm Surplus (EFS or profit) allowing for all aspects, including deducting the farm home and section. Ruakura/Dexcel (NZ Agricultural Research) only started promoting profit budgeting in 2001. The optimum number of cows to milk based on the production per cow from the previous season. It showed that if a herd was not averaging at least 350 MS, it was losing money for the owner. The Dairy Research Corporation (DRC) only started promoting this concept in 1999. In pasture tissue analyses the causes, effects and symptoms of low and high element levels in pasture tissue. The financial benefits of off-farm investments, to my knowledge still not promoted by anyone else. 7. From 1990 he encouraged researchers to do their work on a farm profit basis, not solely on maximum production. Dexcel now sometimes does this. From my first meeting with him I found that I could ask him questions on a wide variety of agricultural topics and get answers that he had thoroughly researched and usually tested and proved on his farm and/or many of his several hundred clients’ farms. One example was in 1993 when I asked him from whence came his information on leaching caused by the high amount of sulphur in single Superphosphate (0 N, 9 P, 0 K, 11 S) and NZ Potassic Supers. He faxed the following to me. In 1964 Hogg and Cooper found that mixing superphosphate and potassium (Potassic Super) markedly increased potassium leaching. Vaughan added, “Don’t ask me why this was not publicised then and frequently since”. Most fertiliser companies just promoted applying more K. In 1984 Steele and others found increased losses of nitrates after applying nitrogen, associated with increased losses of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. In 1991 Heng and others from Massey University found much the same. Their Department of Soil Science measured the leaching of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, sulphur, magnesium, sodium and chlorine in two trials. They used field tiles so they could measure the drainage water before it entered the main drain. In a two-year trial, on a low fixation sulphur soil, they found that leaching of these elements was 38% higher with Superphosphate than with reactive phosphate (RP) and elemental sulphur. The application in early winter of the 50 kg (55 lb per acre) of sulphate that is in 450 kg per ha of single Superphosphate gave a five times increase in leaching. These results agree with the field observations of Gregg and Goh in 1978 and with Smith in 1983, all of whom found an increase in leaching after applying single Superphosphate. The first autumn rains gave the greatest increase in nitrate leaching, because levels of nitrogen (N) had built up over the dry weather. The scientists recommended that, where soils were acid enough and sulphur (S) was needed, elemental sulphur and RP be used. Going by the many phone calls Vaughan received during farming downturns, it takes pain before farmers seek help and this many did from him. I sometimes heard the phone conversations that would start, “My production is not increasing”, or “My perennial ryegrass is pulling”, or “Bloat is a nightmare”, or “Your client next door has no animal health problems”, or “I have 10% empties, but your client down the road has only 3%, can you help me.” When he ran field days on his clients’ farms or on the 20 ha Gallagher Demonstration Peat Farm on Kahikatea Drive, Hamilton, that he developed and ran, he would get up to a hundred attend, with a minimum or no advertising - just from his newsletters and word of mouth. Vaughan spent his working life farming and in its industries, and since 1960 helped farmers to improve their peat. He has always been sure of his information and when necessary to get the message across, is forceful. With his thorough knowledge, wide reading, lateral thinking and hundreds of on farm trials, he was often well ahead of his time. For decades he has been recognised as an expert in developing, managing and fertilising peat. He has addressed thousands of farmers, consultants and university tutors in New Zealand and overseas. He is well aware that any farm is a system with many interactions dependent on each other, so he realised the importance of pasture tissue analyses and balanced fertiliser mixes with all necessary major and trace elements for the health of soil, plants and animals. In this he was years ahead of his time when most farmers only applied Potassic Super to their farms. He helped many farmers change their fertiliser policies - with tremendous success - during more than 30 years of consulting. His messages were spread through the many farming articles published in New Zealand and overseas. During the 80’s he was a regular speaker at Stockman Grass Farmer conferences across America, each attended by up to 500 farmers, and at agricultural universities in many countries. He introduced New Zealand farm equipment to North America and other countries and arranged ongoing sales, earning large amounts of overseas exchange annually, and is still doing so. More recently Vaughan has contributed to international internet discussion groups. Grazing farmers will benefit tremendously from this eBook. 12. An organic dairy farmer in the Waikato wrote - "You have been so generous with your advice. Using your methods is saving us heaps of money and obviously benefits the planet." 13. Dear Vaughan, After reading your statements in GrazingInfo, I have a clearer idea about why acidosis happens. We are having good milk production now, and I think the low we had was because of the transition to winter food. I now know how to prevent acidosis. Thank you very much. Santiago B, Argentina 14. Thanks for graze-l postings. It is nice to get details and reasoning behind your decisions explained like you do. I don’t know why you do it, but do appreciate comparing my farm with those you quote. A cheque for A$180 for your 50 spreadsheets has been sent. Pat D Gault, Australia. 15. Daniel J. Stoltzpus of Pennsylvania phoned and got around to talking about advice he had received in the past and mentioned a conference he went to several years ago where a lot of people were on a panel. After the conferance he went around to each of them and they all gave him a piece of advice, but when he got to you, you answered each question thoroughly and really cared that he understood. He said it was the best consulting experience he had ever had and that your advice still works. Jon Alan Gammon, Texas. 16. Dave (Wisconsin), you are crying about not making profit because of the corporate milk conspiracy against you! Seven years ago we were milking 70 cows taking 7 hours a day on a crappy farm and Vaughan Jones, who has helped us an incredible amount over the years, said to move to the NW coast. I’m now milking 700 cows in a New Zealand rotary on pasture and paying the bills. I do know that the closer we can get to a total NZ system the more profiable we will be. Our cattle broker told us that one of the largest dairies in Idaho is losing money fast. Brad in Oregon. 17. “Graziers, I had the good fortune of hearing Vaughan when in New Zealand on an SGF tour in 1992. He has more pasture and grazing knowledge than 20 University professors put together. Frank Rhinehart, Phillipsburg 18. Re: Clover nodulation All I can say about your reply to this man is: WOW!!! If only I knew as much as you do, oh, oh, oh, how happy I should be. I don't know how you can be so constantly kind by answering graze-l questions. They must all know you are an authority. People like xx are no doubt young and haven't had time to learn all the millions of things you know, or probably she could never learn it, but just cannot stand to acknowledge an authority outside themselves. Bargyle Rateaver, Ca, USA. 19. Thank you for your comments on healthy animals and organic farming as a tool. I agree with you 100% and am glad that someone so eloquent could 'take the words right out of my mouth'. I enjoy reading all your contributions to the graze-l. Lisa McCrory Vermont, USA. 20. You deserve a really big pat on the back for your recent graze-l notes. Your organic notes have been right on, your technical notes on minerals, etc., have furthered your legend. Wow. Jon Alan Gammon, Texas. 21. I agree with your comments about academics. Often it is the research dollar that gives direction rather than profit per acre. The "publish or perish" syndrome has a lot to answer for! Thank you for your very generous support of graze-l Noel Bridgeman Research Co-ordinator graze-l List Manager Taranaki Polytechnic New Zealand 22. I learned a great deal from our trip to NZ and you with SGF. My wife and I would love to do it again. I read your messages in graze-l with great interest. Frank Rhinehart, Brush Creek Farm, USA 23. You must get a lot of messages from all over. I just hope this one caught your eye and you have time to reply. Also just want to say your info given on graze-l has greatly improved my technical know-how on grazing management. Its fair to say your info as well as other gleanings from graze-l are defineately going to be a great help in keeping feed costs down so my dairy can thrive. So I want to thank you, you are to a large degree selflessly doing US dairying a great service, though some parties many be presently put off by you challenging the status quo. Andy Lyon, PA, USA 24. The following shows how many in USA don’t have vet contact or information. I have followed your many postings to graze-l with much interest. You seem to have very good "cow side" knowledge, so I thought that I would take this opportunity to ask some questions of you. What are the symptoms of coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis in dairy cattle of all ages. What are the causes? Are there any treatments, if so what would you recommend. We have a herd of Holsteins which are fed mostly stored feeds and are located in the state of Maryland in the USA. Jason Campbell, Clear Spring, Maryland, USA. 25. Wow, you presented a whole semester in this post from the "Jones School of Advanced Grazing". I may be able to pass your second grade this spring. So much yet to learn. Again congrats on a super post. Dave Gneiser, Berlin, WI. 26. I just love the way you reply to critics. Wish I could be so sweet to everyone!!! B Rateaver, Ca, USA 27. Vaughan keep up the posts. If I had half your knowledge I would be awful smart. Greg Gunthorp, USA 28. Just wanted to thank Vaughan Jones for reposting his comments on the above for the newbies on the list. Wow...just what I've been looking for! Great stuff! I've never met Vaughan but have read a good deal about his methods on SGF and his tapes. Just hope that he will continue to share his insights with many who wish to incorporate those methods into their pasture operations. Frank’s Farm, USA 29. After one year of your consulting I sure wish you had been consulting for us 10 years ago. I suspect our cashflow would be a whole lot healthier than it is right now, and I know our animal health would be. Tania F. Walton, Waikato. 30. Thank you for all that and the separate file you sent: Very, very interesting indeed. Rupert Jones (no relation), Natal, South Africa. 31. Thankyou very much once again. You are a wealth of knowledge. Ian Buckingham, Maungatawhiri, New Zealand 32. I have read your long and very interesting postings on Graze L several times and got a lot from the material. Thank you for taking the time to compose all of that extensive material into something very informative, and sharing it with all of us. Your efforts are appreciated. Jake in Tennessee 33. To: Graze-l From: Robert O. Gjerdingen Subject: Civil Discourse I smiled when I recently saw someone on the list refer to Vaughan as a "primo huomo". What else would be a better title for one of the greatest grazing consultants in the last 40 years? In my opinion, this list has been fortunate to have his input, and I have saved many of his postings, which represent a lifetime of experience on several continents. I have a similar respect for many of the other agricultural specialists who have contributed to the conversations. Bob Gjerdingen, USA. 34. To: Graze-l MIME-Version: 1.0 From: Bill Douglass Subject: planting annual rye After reading this months Stockman Grassfarmer I would like to plant some annual ryegrass. When is the best time to plant? Late winter before greenup or after first rotation. I plan to broadcast and let cattle work in. I also appreciate Vaughan Jones article on cleaning up the farm. We are currently trying to dairy and clean up 30 years worth. California Grazed Dairy Oakdale, Ca, USA. 35. Most folks actually read what you write rather than key in on certain lines. What you wrote was right on the mark and appreciated by many. In this world of artificial courtesy and not disagreeing with anything, it is refreshing to see someone have a realistic and well founded thought. Jon Gammon, Texas. 36. Thanks for the prompt reply. Paul Mueller is doing very well. He has shifted his work more toward sustainable agriculture, as well as pasture. I remember your first seminar here. I also remember doubting your comment on "the number of paddocks" on a farm determines how well one uses the forage, etc. Thanks so much for prompting me to question many things. Jim Green University of North Carolina lecturer 37. Thank you very much for your suitable advices and kindness during my visit with you. I was very impressed with the discussion we had and the first-hand study tour of NZ pasture farming. As a result, I gained several insights that will surely be helpful in furthering my job helping Japanese farmers. Please give my kind regards to your wife. Hidefumi Tsuji, Japan 38. Vaughan, just wanted to say thanks for your posting. Don't know whether people paid attention. But you hit the bull's-eye on so many things. Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager. Center for Integrated Ag Systems UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences 39. I can definitely see the benefits of having good organic fertiliser recommendations as this year (1999), we have Vaughan Jones as our consultant. I’ve noticed that pastures are much more healthy looking and animal health has been very good this year and with only one case of milk fever and no penicillin used until the last 10 cows calved - I then had to treat some for mastitis and lameness. Although this spring grass growth has been very sluggish due to colder and cloudier weather than normal, our pastures, although not a great surplus of grass, look denser and greener compared to neighbouring properties. My neighbour has even commented on how healthy our pastures are looking. The cattle too seem so much more contented. Margaret Porteous Whatawhata Waikato 40. I just think it's great that you would advise Dave F. and the rest of us about the Foremost Farms encroachment on grazing profitability. Should your travels ever take you to the USA again, you would be most welcome here, if time would permit. Dennis Lindell Full-time Dad Grass Dairy Farmer RR2, Box 89B, Harmony, MN, USA. 41. Dear David Buxton, If you are a friend of Vaughan Jones you must be 'allright.' :-) I've forwarded you a number of contacts with years of experience in ag video and ag TV experience. I'm sure they will all be excellent contacts for you. I would ask that you keep me informed about how your conversations and plans with them develop. Warren E Clark Clark Consulting International, Inc. 42. Vaughan, thanks for offering a knowledgeable point of view from someone with experience and not being a (whatever) as some others are. Darrin & Jenny Drake Hickman, Tennessee, USA 43. Vaughan, thanks for the great post. Right on. Jere Mann Junction City, WI, USA. 44. I have read your replies to many a question since subscribing to graze-l, I have a lot of respect for your answers as you seem to have experience on a wide front! I asked the question on graze-l concerning the use of Urea or DAP to help spring growth, I was impressed by your answer, I was a learning NZ Herd manager in '95 with a farmer who used a lot of Sulpher and Super, as well as Urea and DAP, but he also suffered at the hands of bloat. I look forward to at least a meeting, if not to use your services when I get to New Zealand. Nick Speirs, Scotland 45. Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your advice. It's a real keeper. I've been a learnin' and a searchin' for quite sometime now so many of your remarks are top of mind. Franks Farm, Long Island, NY, USA 46. Again I am flabbergasted at all you know. I just can't wait for your eBook GrazingInfo. Money no object - I don't care, I just want to learn. Brassica toxicity. That ties in with what I said I had read, that the cabbage family eaten raw will cause thyroid (iodine metabolism) trouble.--true apparently for animals as for people. I had not thought of Mr. Jones' remedy--to give iodine, but I should have, since that is what human remedy is. I once read an account in Reader's Digest, by a man, who said the same thing--goitrogens from cole plants. I was surprised to read that, since most MDs and vets seem to not know it. Then another man, in response to my remark, said that yes, it was true for animals too. But leave it to Vaughan Jones's know-how I wish I had his knowledge, so vast. Bargyla Rateaver, Ca, USA. 47. The main thing I enjoy is the practical approach you have. It is a great improvement on the Ag Dept rubbish. I would like to be able to use some of your info and possibly in return give you some that may be of value. Norm Cooper, Farming Focus, Soil & Organic Consultant, Victoria, Australia 3282 48. I am enjoying your GrazingInfo site very much. Thankyou. Rob Flynn New Zealand 49. I owe you a huge apology for doubting your information on needing 6,000 kg of 97% agricultural LimeMag per hectare (5,400 lb per acre) on our volcanic loam soil. As usual, you and http://www.grazinginfo.com were right! We have just dug in that paddock, and the adjacent 3,000 kg paddock, and the roots of the clover and ryegrass in the 6,000 kg paddock were miles healthier, longer and more prolific than in the 3,000 kg paddock. The attached photos show it. The plants dug in the two paddocks were within 10 metres of each other. Earthworms have increased amazingly. I am totally converted to 6,000 kg of lime per hectare on land that needs it! The clover in the 6 tonne paddock is astounding, and very good in most of the 3 tonne paddocks, compared to almost none before. Thanks so much again, without your advice we'd have not much at all that was encouraging happening on our farm - when the milk payout is so low. Our maize is the best ever, thanks to chisel ploughing in 6,000 kg of lime per hectare and Tri-Fix, so thanks again. Tania F, Walton, New Zealand. 50. Thanks so much for your reply. We are really keen on making some changes, and Don is reading your articles, he is well read already, but some of this information we have never been told, by all the hundreds of Fert Guys who all want our business!! (they are all nice guys). Your articles are just brilliant! Amanda Withers d_awithers@actrix.co.nz 51. Hi Vaughan, just a quick email to say thanks for your advice not to make eye contact with cows. I’ve been doing this in the herringbone and on the feed pad and have found a big difference in the way they come in to the herringbone. They seem to be a lot quieter so makes them easier to sort and a lot fewer heifers wanting to jump the breast rail. Thanks heaps Vaughan, cheers Brendan, Waikato, New Zealand. 52. We have an abundance of clover now yet when we first came there was none. Over the last three years we have applied lime, reactive phosphate, and chook poo we are even seeing a lot of sub-clover coming which is great. Earthworm population has increased and we seem to hold on longer when it starts to get dry. Thanks. Brian and Michelle Moore, Kiwi now in Victoria, Australia. 53. “I went for a walk to the back of the farm today. The pastures that had hardly a single clover plant, are now full of clovers covering bare patches where there were weeds. It's such a fantastic sight. Thank you so much for encouraging us to apply two 3,000 kg of LimeMag per hectare twice, and to oversow with the best clovers and plantain. It has worked wonders after having applied none for decades because the pH was 6 to 6.2. “You have done more for us in six months than anyone else has done for this farm in at least the past 10 years I have been here, in truth more than anyone has done for at least the past 20 years that the family has owned it.” 350 cow dairy farmer, Walton, Waikato. 54. 10 August 2009. We now have over 55 calved and NO MILK FEVER, you don't know how great that feels. As you know, last year we had 12 milk fevers from the first 30 calved, when you took over consulting and stopped them in one week. You wouldn't believe how the grass has taken off, it's amazing how the grass has grown all winter, despite the dismal weather. I would say that the two lots of 3 tonnes of LimeMag per hectare within a year has done it? We now have our dries, milkers and colostrum on all grass, and the springers are only having 4.5kg DM of maize and 1kg of hay, as we don't want to give them lots of high K+ grass. So that is all fantastic, too. This time last year we were feeding goodness knows what, and were nearly out of maize. At the moment we still have about 240 tonnes of maize silage left. I’m so relaxed, it's like night and day compared with last year. The calves we have all look so strong and good. They start getting FeedTech as of today. Thanks a million for all your help and advice and for GrazingInfo. TF, New Zealand 55. Wayne Rumsey rwrumsey@xnet.co.nz Thank you very much I have recieved the document titled Analysing tissue versus soils. I would just like to add the information on your web site is amazing, answers to questions I have been looking for answers to for years. It's just what I need. Your findings make sense.Thank you 56. Good morning Vaughan We have been keeping up to date with the various emails that have been floating around the ODPG discussion forum. We are horrified by the constant bickering and ongoing belittling of other members. We wish to congratulate you on your valued information that you so readily pass on to so many farmers. It is a great service that you perform. When we first converted, we felt that we were left to our own devices, and would've greatly benefitted of knowing you and having your assistance. What you have on offer to today, is invaluable. What is not, is the constant negativity that some members insist on. We are embarrassed by it as a member of the ODPG. Unfortunately due to this, we are reconsidering our membership. This is unfortunate as we have been members for a long time now. The reports that we have been receiving back about the organic dairy industry, are that it is very fragmented, and unorganised, with no cohesion to take the industry forward. This is because nobody will agree on anything, and cannot look at the big picture. As an industry trying to gain financial support to move forward, it would not surprise me, if the funding was reduced. Everyone has their own ideas, and each is valuable to them and someone else. For someone to say that it isn't, shows that they are not willing to take off their blinkers. We know that we do not live in a perfect world, but to have a group of people, like the organic farmers in New Zealand, who are supposed to have similar ideals, it's a tragedy that we can't ALL be out there for the good. We have decided not to put this through the ODPG forum, as it starts to perhaps put us in a position we do not want to be in. We are very careful in what we say in public forum, due to the fact we receive a lot of flack from the same people as you do. We wish you and your business, all the best. We have to survive and through your help, I'm sure others are surviving very well. Well done and thank you. Anon 57. Hi Vaughan. Thankyou for all your advice on fert and animal health. I put 30 tons of the LimeMag mix on end of June. Great looking lime. Need to wait now till approx October or when dry. I have read your recommended books - More Food--Tiedjens, Pleasant Valley and now into Malabar Farm. I am looking forward to putting the rest of the lime mix on as it makes sense after reading these books and what you have said. All the best Bruce D. 58. My vegetable garden is flourishing with VJ's fertiliser. R Jackson, Hamilton. 59. Brian Moore, a New Zealander now dairying in Victoria, Australia, phoned me and asked if I was the one who consulted for his neighbour in the Waikato. I was, told him about GrazingInfo and he joined. Later he emailed me, “We have a high percentage of cows holding their milk. We have had this problem for seven years now. We have ruled out EVERYTHING stress related, electricity, machines, human, etc., and cannot understand why they are doing it. In the first three years these cows would be dry and fat within the first six weeks after calving. This was happening too much, so we have had to inject these cows with Oxytocin to get them to let down their milk, which works. Would like your thoughts and really hope you can help. I asked Brian many questions and made suggestions without success. I then asked Peter Dewes, the shocks in sheds expert, who answered, “It sounds like the cows are getting a shock between their udders and their hooves while they are letting down their milk. If the shed is around 10 yrs old, has an on-off milk lift pump next to the recieving can, then it could be a batch of faulty float probes that were sold around that time. These probes leak up to 13 volts constantly into the milk and spike up to 50 volts on switching. It could be the steel reinforcing (or a lack of it) under the cow's hooves that is not connected to the electrical earthing system of the cowshed. I'd expect the somatic cell count to also be elevated. I don't know of anyone who can help in Australia, but it would be interesting to talk to Brian on the phone. I know the brand of controllers those probes came with so I could easily identify it. The problem is easily fixed.” Peter phoned and fixed it. Michelle Moore then emailed me, “Your friend Peter was extremely helpful. We followed his instructions with the milk pump and electric fence unit, and in a few days we saw an improvement. It took a couple of weeks for most of the cows to let down properly. So thank you for the contact.” 60. I find the info on your website very useful. I'm only in my first season on a dairy farm but am keen to learn as much as possible so I can progress quickly. Keep up the good work. Glen Blakwell, Opunake. Taranaki, NZ. 61. This site is just what I have been looking for. Have been farming Raw Rukuhia Peat and Hamilton clay for 19 years. Have to boom spray every year to control pennyroyal and buttercup. Really want to find a sustainable no spray solution to these weeds problems and how to grow pasture with no artificial N. Pasture is riddled with newly germinated pennyroyal set for next spring. Your advice is well received. Thanks. Matt W. 62. Thanks very much for all your advice on graze-l. We have really benefited from it here on our farm in Vermont. Emily 63. From client Barry Brunton, Hamilton, NZ. Vaughan, my stock buyer paid you a nice compliment a few days ago. The occasion was drafting off 16 heifers for Affco. He remarked that he had seldom seen a mob of cattle in such a clean condition (none with dirty tails ) and very fine coats. Take a bow Vaughan. See Beef for more on this. 64. From client Tania Fernyhough. Thank you Vaughan, as I have said many times before, it is thanks in such a large part to you that we have hung on as well as we have. I still shudder to think of where we would be right now if not for your massive input into us and our farm. 65. 24 December 2009 I just have to email you to say a huge THANK YOU for once again encouraging us to plant the summer forage crop, and to put a bigger area in than last season. The cows are going so well on it, a couple of days after starting they increased in litres by almost 1.5 litres per cow, and although the pasture is petering out a bit with the dry weather, the crop and a bit of Palm Kernel Extract (less than 2 kg per cow) are holding their MS up at about 1.67 kg per cow. Brendan and I are so pleased, and the best thing of course is that the crop of Shirohie Millet and Pasja are totally natural and the cows graze it and spread their manure themselves, meaning less time on the feed pad and less tractor work. The fat and protein %'s are a bit lower at 4.8% and 3.45% respectively, but that could be because the PKE has been cut back. If only we had not had such a wet October, we would be having an even better season. Thanks again, and a very merry Christmas to you and Auriel. Tania and Brendan Fernyhough, Walton, Waikato. 66. My dairy feed wedge adapted to sheep is going very well and producing 25% more grass just by changing our behaviour. Learnt a lot thank you. I have encouraged 20 odd people to join GrazingInfo. Many thanks. Rick. New Zealand. 67. Vaughan, You have been my only link with sanity in all of this. For that and your support I thank you. Your message is getting out there. At a field day yesterday they had said they had started a liming programme because of you and during discussion I brought up the article on chelated minerals that you showed me. Discussion ended up with general agreement that straight minerals would be as effective and cheaper. John 68. I think its great the work your doing to raise awareness of poor soil health. Ben Troughton 69. Subject: Re: New Pastures, when to graze? Thankyou again Mr Jones. As usual your reply has been right on the mark for my often asked beginners questions. Warren, Cmfarm2 70. Dear Vaughan, After reading your statements in GrazingInfo, I have a clearer idea about why acidosis happens. We are having good milk production now, and I think the low we had was because of the transition to winter food. I now know how to prevent acidosis. Thank you very much. Santiago B, Argentina 71. Thanks for graze-l postings. It is nice to get details and reasoning behind your decisions explained like you do. I don’t know why you do it, but do appreciate comparing my farm with those you quote. A cheque for A$180 for your 50 spreadsheets has been sent. Pat D Gault, Australia. 72. Dave (Wisconsin), you are crying about not making profit because of the corporate milk conspiracy against you! Seven years ago we were milking 70 cows taking 7 hours a day on a crappy farm and Vaughan Jones, who has helped us an incredible amount over the years, said to move to the NW coast. I’m now milking 700 cows in a New Zealand rotary on pasture and paying the bills. I do know that the closer we can get to a total NZ system the more profiable we will be. Our cattle broker told us that one of the largest dairies in Idaho is losing money fast. Brad in Oregon. 73. “Graziers, I had the good fortune of hearing Vaughan when in New Zealand on an SGF tour in 1992. He has more pasture and grazing knowledge than 20 University professors put together. Frank Rhinehart, Phillipsburg 74. Re: Clover nodulation All I can say about your reply to this man is: WOW!!! If only I knew as much as you do, oh, oh, oh, how happy I should be. I don't know how you can be so constantly kind by answering graze-l questions. They must all know you are an authority. People like xx are no doubt young and haven't had time to learn all the millions of things you know, or probably she could never learn it, but just cannot stand to acknowledge an authority outside themselves. Bargyle Rateaver, Ca, USA. 75. Thank you for your comments on healthy animals and organic farming as a tool. I agree with you 100% and am glad that someone so eloquent could 'take the words right out of my mouth'. I enjoy reading all your contributions to the Graze-l. Lisa McCrory Vermont, USA. 76. You deserve a really big pat on the back for your recent graze-l notes. Your organic notes have been right on, your technical notes on minerals, etc., have furthered your legend. Wow. Jon Alan Gammon, Texas. 77. I agree with your comments about academics. Often it is the research dollar that gives direction rather than profit per acre. The "publish or perish" syndrome has a lot to answer for! Thank you for your very generous support of graze-l Noel Bridgeman Research Co-ordinator graze-l List Manager Taranaki Polytechnic New Zealand |