QLF Agronomy

QLF Agronomy is a division of Quality Liquid Feeds, the world’s number 1 liquid feed company, which has spent over 35 years developing liquid supplements for livestock and feeding rumen microbes. QLF Agronomy has now brought this technology into the arable sector by designing a range of liquid carbon based fertilisers to feed the soil microbes to improve the health and productivity of your soils.

QLF Agronomy’s L-CBF (Liquid Carbon Based Fertilisers) are a combination of complex carbon sources with balanced crop nutrients. They feed the soil biology and enhance plant nutrient availability to help improve plant performance, root growth, yields and crop quality. QLF’s L-CBF products supply readily available carbon as sucrose, whilst also providing a balanced nutritional package specific to the sustainability and longevity of highly productive soils.

Developed over 7 years through extensive farm, independent and university trials, QLF’s L-CBF products are supplied from 14 plants in the USA, and from 1 of QLF’s plants in the UK.

L-CBF BOOST™ – The No.1 Liquid Carbon Based Fertiliser

L-CBF BOOST™ is a revolutionary way of fertilising crops by improving soil fertility. It has been used on farms extensively over the last 7 years with independent and university trial work demonstrating significant yield responses across a variety of crops. L-CBF BOOST™ is a liquid carbon-based fertiliser, with balanced crop nutrients and beneficial biology designed to feed your soil microbes, increase the efficiency and performance of your applied fertiliser, build long term soil fertility, and increase crop yield potential.

How does it work?
L-CBF BOOST™ works by feeding the soil microbes which in turn increases the availability of key nutrients to the plant at critical times, improving rooting and speeding up nutrient cycling. The carbon is utilised by all aspects of the soil food web supporting the health and productivity of the soil. In particular L-CBF BOOST™ stimulates certain microbes to improve the stabilisation of nitrogen.

Which crops can L-CBF BOOST™ be applied to?
L-CBF BOOST™ has seen positive results on all crops trialled, including wheat, OSR, potatoes, grass and in particular maize. L-CBF BOOST™’s key benefits are stimulating the soil’s biology and improving efficiency of applied fertilisers. It also increases the benefits from any applied farm yard manure and slurry by reducing losses and improving availability of key nutrients.

How can L-CBF BOOST™ be applied?
L-CBF BOOST™ can be applied on its own, with pesticides or easily mixed with your liquid fertiliser. It is a versatile, convenient, consistent and cost effective product. It can be delivered in IBCs or in bulk, depending on requirements.

Many soil scientists are now recommending applying a carbon source with nitrogen fertilisers. L-CBF BOOST™ is a proven product with many years’ worth of independent trial results and on farm success. For more information on these trials, please click here.

To download the L-CBF BOOST™ information sheet, please click here.

 

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Make the most of FYM in maize crops this spring

Maize growers are being urged to make the most of high organic matter inputs to help bring down overhead costs while improving soil structure, plant health and maximising yields.

George Hepburn, biological soils expert at QLF Agronomy, explains why growers should not overlook naturally derived fertilisers such as farmyard manure (FYM).

“Many growers under-value FYM and see it as a bulky and heavy waste product. However, when managed and applied correctly it can be one of the best forms of fertiliser,” he says.

“What’s more, these types of fertiliser are generally free, making them very cost effective. And when you start to look at the nutritional value per tonne, you suddenly see it in a different way.

“For example, taking into account current fertiliser prices and assuming 25% dry matter (DM), cattle FYM can provide 6 kg/t of N, 3 kg/t P and 8 kg/t of K, coming in at a value of over£10/t*, of which half will be available to the next crop.

“This means that at a typical application rate of 25 t/ha, cattle FYM can provide up to £125 worth of available nutrients that don’t need to be paid for.”

George highlights that these amounts can vary depending on how well rotted the FYM is and how much DM it contains. “It’s therefore really important to get your inputs analysed to ensure you are not putting too much on and affecting the natural soil balance.”

As well as reducing input costs George also stresses the wider impacts that FYM can have on long-term plant and soil health.

“FYM not only provides N, P and K but is also high in organic matter, meaning that it helps to improve soil structure, and provides a food source for the soil biology.

“However, to unlock its full potential I’d recommend including a carbon source, such as molasses, pre and at planting. This really helps stimulate the soil biology by providing an energy source which aids the break down of the organic matter in FYM into a more readily available format for the plant in a shorter time period,” he says.

This has been shown in a recent maize trial where liquid carbon based fertiliser (L-CBF), BOOST, was used 20 l/ha pre and post emergence. The trial demonstrated up to 11% increase in yield and a significant increase in starch with quicker emergence and larger root mass, compared to a control group which had no L-CBF BOOST.

“This is mainly due to better availability of nutrients which meant that crops were able to get up and away from pests and diseases and build better root structures,” says George.

He explains that increasing root structure and quicker emergence will be even more important this season to reduce the impact of water logging and compaction.

“Maize growers really need to think about soil health this year, especially where maize is being grown continuously, as it struggles in compacted soils and often suffers yield losses. Robust tillage and the fact that it needs to be harvested with heavy machinery at time when conditions can be wet are the main causes for compaction.

“Therefore, including a naturally derived fertiliser which improves soil structure and maximising its availability with a carbon source could be extremely valuable this season to not only help the bottom line, but to mitigate the effects of poor weather conditions,” he says.

 

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Farmers urged to keep an eye on somatic cell counts

As we enter a high risk mastitis period, farmers are being urged to keep an eye on somatic cell counts to maintain herd health and maximise productivity.

Rob Fowkes, nutritional advisor at QLF, explains that when cows are out at grass, pathogens build-up and this can cause a spike in mastitis cases and therefore somatic cell counts (SCC).

“As turnout was delayed this year, until now we have seen low SCC counts due to low pathogen build up. But, as we enter a period of hot weather it will be critical to take action to protect herds against infection as the sun and flies will increase pathogen build up at grass.

“High SCC can be damaging to a producer’s bottom line as milk contract bonuses are likely to be compromised, and there will also be an increased need to treat with antibiotics,” says Rob.

“For this reason, it’s important to act preventatively to help maintain herd health and drive profitability,” he adds.

Mr Fowkes explains that ensuring dairy diets contain adequate levels of highly available zinc can help to minimise the risk of mastitis, reducing SCC and limiting the use of antibiotics.

“Zinc plays an important role in the production of keratin, which makes up the plug at the end of the teat. This keratin plug traps any bacteria preventing it from moving up into the udder and causing mastitis,” he says.

“As around 40% of keratin is stripped from the teat canal during milking every day, it needs continuous replacement, so ensuring you’re feeding adequate levels of zinc can help ensure it’s replaced.

“The mineral also helps to repair damaged cells in the teat, speeding up the rate at which wounds heal, reducing the time cows will be at risk of mastitis infection,” he says.

“It’s been found that feeding a liquid feed containing zinc, such as QLF Optimiser CF, can reduce SCC by up to 40%, because the keratin plug has been adequately replaced. And, because the mineral is suspended in liquid it’s easily dispersed throughout the ration, making sure that each cow receives the right amount.”

Mr Fowkes explains that alongside nutrition, it’s important to maintain a good milking routine and ensure that teats are cleaned and disinfected before and after the cluster is removed.

 

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Don’t underestimate the importance of dry cow management

Dairy farmers are being reminded of the important role of dry cow management, in particular nutrition, when looking to secure future herd health, fertility and productivity.

Nutritional advisor at Quality Liquid Feeds, Rob Fowkes, explains that 80% of problems, such as mastitis, hypocalcaemia (milk fever), retained foetal membranes, ketosis and displaced abomasums (DA), can usually be traced back to poor management during the dry period.

“Ultimately, looking after dry cows properly will lead to increased transition success with a higher milk yield, improved health and increased fertility,” he says.

Rob points out that dry cow management should start well ahead of drying off.

“Diets should be adjusted two to three months before the end of lactation to try and ensure that cows are dried off at a body condition score (BCS) of 3.

“The aim then is to try and maintain this level of condition through careful nutrition. This can be achieved by gradually increasing low D-Value forages, such as straw, to maintain rumen fill while reducing energy intakes,” says Rob.

He explains that merely adding straw to the ration is not enough.

“The ration needs to be formulated carefully to restrict energy, but also include adequate protein and essential vitamins and minerals.

“For example, a typical diet at eight to three weeks prior to calving should include, restricted grazing, or 7 to 8kg dry matter of forage, 4 to 5kg of straw, 2kg of a molasses-based supplement, such as Dry Cow Optimiser, and plenty of fresh clean water,” he adds.

“Including a supplement, such as Dry Cow Optimiser, which contains chelate of copper, zinc, selenium plus vitamin E and magnesium, will help the cows immunity at calving and reduce the risk of milk fever.”

Once the cow reaches three weeks pre-calving, it is vital to alter the ration in line with her energy demands.

“Nutritional requirements increases rapidly in the last few weeks prior to calving due to calf growth and the cow undergoing major physiological changes to help prepare herself for birth,” explains Rob.

“This means that her energy demands increase significantly. However, this is coupled with a reduced appetite as the rumen is restricted by the size of the calf,” he adds.

“Including a molasses-based supplement not only increases energy intakes, but it will also help to stick the ration together to reduce sorting, ensuring high intakes and good distribution of vitamins and minerals.”

Rob concludes that the overall health and wellbeing of the cow is also an important factor throughout the whole period.

“It’s important to create a comfortable environment for the cow including a deep bed with plenty of straw and access to water.

“The dry period is the time when you can control the future and optimise lactation performance for the next 305 days of milking. If you get this right, the cow will be healthier, milking performance and fertility will be increased, which all helps the bottom line.”