Protecting your soil

Resources are available to help farmers with winter management practices.¹,² Remember to tailor your plan to incorporate the needs and regulations of your specific region.

Soil compaction and erosion can occur when high numbers of animals are grazed on saturated soils. Sloping paddocks elevate the risk, particularly those without ground cover. With nothing to slow the water flow, there is an increase of surface runoff. The steeper the gradient, the greater the risk. The top layer of soil, rich in nutrients and organic matter, is the first to be washed away. Surface runoff into waterways can create water pollution and negatively impact aquatic ecosystems.

To mitigate these risks, consider implementing strategic grazing practices such as ‘top-down’ grazing: livestock start grazing from the top of a slope and move downwards. Use temporary electric fences, or electric collars, to restrict their grazing activity and prevent back tracking. Mobile troughs within the break  provides animals water where the feed is located. Establishing buffer zones around waterways, swales, and gullies is essential to preventing nutrient and sediment runoff. Buffer zones act as filters, trapping sediments and nutrients before they reach water bodies. The use of ‘catch crops,‘ such as oats or rye, can absorb residual nutrients, particularly nitrogen, left in the soil after grazing. This reduces the risk of nutrient leaching and provides additional feed.

Grazing wet soils, whether forage crops or pasture, can cause soil compaction and pugging which damages soil structure. Research conducted on a Waikato dairy farm showed one pugging event on pasture decreased pasture production 21 percent (for moderate pugging) and 45 percent (for severe pugging) in the
following 12 months. Annual clover production (kg DM / ha) decreased 15 percent to 65 percent under moderate and severe pugging, respectively.

Good soil management practices ensure your land remains productive for future use. A winter grazing plan considering paddock selection and preparation, grazing direction, buffer zones, and nutrient management will minimise environmental damage and can significantly reduce long-term soil damage. Regular monitoring and adjusting as needed to address any emerging issues, such as adverse weather events, will protect your soil this winter and beyond.

For help creating a plan to reduce soil damage over winter, contact your local PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative.

¹ Beef and Lamb: Preparing for winter | Beef + Lamb New Zealand 

² Dairy New Zealand: Winter grazing - Information to assist with wintering -DairyNZ | DairyNZ