26. Flood damage; Part Two – Deciding what to do with flood damaged Crops

In this, our latest Rumen Room Podcast episode, we’re going to carry on with the topic of flood damage to ruminant feeds. Episode 25 was part one of this two-part flood themed topic, which covered a discussion around assessing and deciding what to do with supplementary feeds (specifically, silage, baleage, hay and straw) that may have been damaged by flood waters.

This latest podcast is part two of this two part flood-themed series, focusing more on the challenges and opportunities of flood damaged summer and winter crops, with an emphasis on forage brassica crops. To assist with your navigation through Episode 26, the following provides some guidance for those of you searching for specific aspects of managing flood-damaged forage crops – to save you having to listen to the whole podcast if you’re too busy just now. NOTE: There is however considerable overlap between sections of content within this particular podcast.

Content within this podcast is not intended to replace the advice of your qualified rural professionals and advisors.

1:32 Introduction, overview and scene set for this crop-specific, flood themed podcast.

6:53 Safety first – look after yourself, your friends, family, staff and animals before moving into forage crop assessment.

7:13 Beginning the assessment of forage crops, paddocks and infrastructure.

8:53 Stock water requirements – the irony in the midst of flooding.

9:45 Assessment of forage brassica crops and soil conditions.

11:20 What factors influence the survivability of your flooded brassica crops?

19:48 Flood water contaminants and your flooded forage crops.

22:43 What to do with flood damaged crops – some suggestions to consider.

24:38 Can we graze our flood damaged crops? Things to consider including potential nutritive (feed) value of damaged crops.

33:42 Do we need to retransition stock back onto forage brassicas after stock have been removed during flood events

35:20 The challenges of allocating breaks across ex flooded crop ground.

39:05 Animal wellbeing when flood affected crops are grazed.

45:42 The importance to update feed budgets after a flood event, including prioritisation of feed types to different stock classes.

DairyNZ Flood resources https://www.dairynz.co.nz/business/adverse-events/flood/

Beef and Lamb Flood resources https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/flood-support