The results arrive from the lab for our hay. This is critical as the hay is now being used on a variety of farms and we are also in the process of trying to formulate a new supplement alpaca feed so need to know exactly what is in the hay we bought.

Everything looks good apart from Nitrate (NO3) whis is elevated at about 4500 ppm This gives us some cause for concern, the lab is closed now but first thing Monday I will get the lab to run the tests again just to make sure there is no error.

The debate begins between the farms who bought hay regarding the elevated nitrate levels. Irene Fuller who is the local and probably national guru on Nitrates says it is definately too high. Farmers who have used this grass year after year are convinced it will be safe..
Some literature relating to Livestock supports this position saying that even though the levels are raised they are fine...not sure if there is an answer to this riddle I will keep you posted.......

Still raining and everywhere is becoming water logged as the soil cannot absorbe anymore rain....forecast is for more rain....oh well it will fill up the reservoirs for next years irrigation I guess

By Adrian Stewart