06 December 2023
Facility to amend nitrates banding submission now live
Dairy farmers who have a need to change the nitrogen excretion band for which their herd was placed earlier this year have been given the opportunity to do so.
The facility, which is now live on the ICBF website, will remain open for submission changes until December 31st, 2023.
Since the start of this year, the nitrogen (N) excretion rate from dairy cows is based on the herd’s average milk yield. This is called ‘banding’. Last year, every dairy cow in the country was assigned a figure of 89kg of nitrogen per head. In 2023, the nitrogen excretion rate per cow will be either 80, 92 or 106 kg of nitrogen, depending on your herd’s average milk yield.
The ICBF has said that most dairy farmers will not need to change their previous banding submission. However, the option to change any previous banding submission may suit dairy farmers looking to potentially reduce the milk kilogram band based on this year’s milk and animal data. This, it says, may suit situations where farm milk supply may have decreased due to more challenging weather encountered this year.
ICBF also advises farmers to review their 2023 milk and cow numbers of their ICBF Co-Op profile with their farm advisor before making any banding change.
For more detailed information on this facility, visit the ICBF webpage.