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Interview
Wrong advice is costing New Zealand and other countries millions of dollars annually, according to International Agricultural Consultant, Vaughan Jones of Hamilton. Over the years Jones has had to spend a lot of time contradicting advice from the ‘establishments’ on how grazing farmers can achieve maximum profits. At the age of 78, Vaughan Jones's frustration from not being able to cope with the demand for consulting has made him record his experiences in a web site at http://www.grazinginfo.com where there are 80 chapters on most aspects of animal farming and answers to many questions farmers ask, and some from home builders, gardeners and vegetable growers. His typical advice is firstly to read the Calcium chapter of 24 pages, and then to use the Number of Cows to Milk for Maximum Profit spreadsheet to ensure that their herd is being fully fed,and farm not over-stocked He has proved on dozens of farms that the recommendation from some not to apply lime to soils with pH 6 can be wrong. Some of his clients with a pH of 6.2 have had unbelievable clover and pasture growth from applying 3,000 kg of agricultural lime per hectare. Clover root weevil has been blamed for the decrease and even elimination of clovers, when it is not a problem on adequately limed and correctly fertilised farms. He has shown how to grow clovers again, by analysing pasture herbage rather than soil, in Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu and overseas. Analyses frequently show a need for the application of calcium, magnesium, cobalt and boron, while soil tests don’t. In 1959 Jones was chosen as the Waikato’s most improved dairy farmer and given a week in Wellington, with ones from the other provinces. Organised by The NZ Dairy Exporter and NZ Dairy Board consulting officers, they publicised how each one farmed. After this, MAF and consulting officers brought farmers to his farm to see how he grew so much weed-free pasture without spraying, and had the top production per hectare in the Gordonton peat discussion group. Farmers would also arrive or phone for advice on how to avoid growing rushes, pennyroyal, buttercup and gorse, so he had to start charging for his time, which was the beginning of his consulting. It spread to many countries, mostly North America, but also Yugoslavia and even Japan where two of his clients won the Japanese Emperor’s award for Most Profitable Dairy Farmers. He still does some overseas, now with photographs and emails, and through his highly successful GrazingInfo eBook on the Internet, which includes a question and answer service for those who buy the 50 spreadsheet that help make profits. Jones has also shown that so-called drench resistance is aggravated by mineral deficiencies, because wrong advice gets farmers drenching, rather than fertilising correctly, starting with lime to liven the soil and make it more receptive to fertilisers and trace elements. In the past he has had difficulty getting farmers to apply lime, but since the increase in the cost of phosphorus it has been easier. Most have then been amazed after they grew more pasture than ever, and clovers returned. End This was published and brought in many subscribers to GrazingInfo. Vaughan Jones |