Peter Weatherstone

No Super For 5 Years And Our Phosphorus Levels Are Increasing…

Product Range: NatraMin Hi-Phos

Region: Orana Park, Grafton, NSW

Our Phosphorus Levels Are Increasing…

Despite regular applications of Super Phosphate, Grafton Dairy Farmer, Peter Weatherstone struggled to get his Phosphorus levels over 20-30ppm Colwell. Since using NatraMin, soil tests have shown great improvement, and Phosphorus levels now range from 65 to 120ppm.

“Deregulation had a financial impact on us but because I wanted to maintain production, I decided not to skimp on fertiliser… however even though we were using increasing amounts, we weren’t moving forward in production or profitability. Our spreading contractor told me about the good results he had seen where NatraMin had been used on other properties and we made the change 5 years ago.”

Since using NatraMin, the soil is physically softer and pastures are responding and growing well. Clover germination and growth has been the best we have seen.”

Soil Testing…

AgSolutions assessed our soil management program and we now have more direction with where we are going. Our soil test results are more balanced since using NatraMin in our program, providing confirmation of the results we are seeing in our paddocks. We don’t have those huge deficiencies showing up and we are now simply fine tuning our program.”

5 years without Super…

We thought after five years without Super we may need to apply more Phosphorus but soil tests have shown that the levels of available Phosphorus have doubled despite not applying any Phosphatic fertiliser. I now understand that minerals are essential for the release of Phosphorus and I believe that since using NatraMin, we have released the locked up Phosphorus from all the previous years of Super.”

Breaking the Urea habit…

“We have a 30 day rotation on our Rye grass and pastures and we used to top dress with Urea after every grazing. Improved soil condition and good clover growth has allowed us to break the Urea habit. We now skip every second top dressing, which has reduced our chemical fertiliser costs. We milk 200 cows on 300 acres and could milk more cows here now. Yes we’ve had a good season recently but over the last 3 years this place has never looked better. Soil structure has improved, clovers have returned… and our production is up.”

Better conception and health…

Not only is the evidence in extra milk, but the improvement in our herd health is confirmation that we are moving in the right direction. Cows are cycling well and usually go back in calf on their first service. This certainly wasn’t the case when we used high rates of chemical fertiliser.”

Seeing is believing…

According to Peter,

you won’t know how good NatraMin is until you use it. NatraMin has certainly paid for itself and I’m more than happy with the results. I emphasize to other farmers that NatraMin is not a quick fix and that one application won’t do it. It is important to make NatraMin a part of your ongoing program.”