Donaghys launch LessN

Donaghys LessN offers a sustainable solution for farmers

An innovative breakthrough biotechnology product, which in trials has resulted in nearly equivalent pasture growth with half the level of urea application.

The Donaghys LessN System is a nitrogen-enhancer which improves the nutrient uptake ability of clover-based pasture. It promises to provide farmers with a more sustainable solution for maintaining productivity while reducing the level of nitrogen fertiliser application and its related environmental effects.

The Donaghys LessN System also reduces the overall cost to farmers of applying fertiliser to promote pasture growth. For example, the trials show that on an average dairy farm of 120 hectares, it reduces costs by around $1500 per application of urea (based on a ‘standard’ application of 80 kg of urea per hectare).

Donaghys has an ongoing robust trial and monitoring programme. To date there have been 21 fully replicated LessN trials throughout New Zealand, on a mixture of dry and irrigated land, over periods between 18 and 35 days: in total around 50,000 data points.

These trials show the Donaghys LessN System – which involves the spray application of 3 litres of LessN with 40 kg of urea per hectare – provides 97 percent of the pasture response compared with 80 kg of urea alone. The trial results provide us with the confidence to introduce the Donaghys LessN System to market, and call on farmers and others involved in the industry to work with us on further evaluation.

In all but one of the trials we have found that when nitrogen works – in promoting clover based pasture growth – the Donaghys LessN System works. The Donaghys LessN System enhances rather than inhibits – and enables pasture to more efficiently use applied fertiliser.

The trials to date have been very exciting and encouraging. While the Donaghys LessN System works in a wide range of circumstances we are also keen to determine situations where it may not work so well, so we can refine our research and trial programme and provide this information to farmers.

The trial results – which were conducted by Donaghys as well as independent research organisations – showed that the Donaghys LessN System provided an average nitrogen response of nearly 30, almost twice the nitrogen response of urea alone. All trials involved the spray-on application of urea.

What our trials also showed was that spray-on application of urea appears to improve nitrogen response compared with the traditional spread-on method. Urea sprayed-on at 80 kg per hectare resulted in an average nitrogen response of 16, compared with a reported industry average of spread on urea of between 10 and 12.

We believe the Donaghys LessN System is the first real nitrogen enhancer tool. It is a natural microbial-based product – developed after several years of research and followed by laboratory and field testing by Donaghys.

The average dairy farmer spends up to $35,000 a year on urea fertiliser – the Donaghys LessN System should help farmers reduce that cost while at the same time providing significant environmental benefits.

For more information on Donaghys LessN, click here

Arbor Ropes

Donaghys is proud to launch a new range of arbour ropes you can hang your life on...

Donaghys has learned a thing or two from manufacturing ropes for well over 130 years, like the need to always test and develop products with the people whose lives depend on them. The new Donaghys Arboriculture range has been developed over 18 months working closely alongside certified arborists and champion tree climbers.

Being a local Australasian manufacturer, buying Donaghys rope will leave you with spare change. Why pay extra for shipping, duty costs and middlemen taking margins on imported products?

Even with 130 years of experience, we prefer that our ropes are certified to high international standards. This range has been certified to both Australian and International standards, developed off US benchmarks.

The new range includes two climbing lines, Spark and NRG. Spark is a hard wearing cost effective climbing line while NRG is a high performance lightweight line for sports climbing and professional Arborist applications. The climbing lines were designed for easy handling and to reduce milking.

Along with these exciting new climbing lines, Donaghys have also released a full range of Prusik cords: Standard-Prus, Spectra-Prus and Armor-Prus, a heat resistant cord that acts like Armor over a core of light weight Spectra®900. It incorporates a world first safety feature of twin Kevlar strands preventing the core from being cut or melted completely in the unlikely event of a cover failure.

Donaghys Response XT access line, Rhino rigging/lowering line and Ocean12 HS rigging/crane line complete the range. We also have a full range of accessories to complement these ropes.

Testimonials

"I like the Donaghys Arborist ropes. They last longer, the outer sheath is harder wearing, it's designed tougher and has less milking"
Chris Walsh, Treetech

"I trust my life with Donaghys ropes and the lives of my emergency response teams"
Shayne O'Dwyer
Instructor & Rescue Technician, Holmesglen Institute of TAFE

"I have been using Spectra for a few years now as it has good diameter range, strength and splicability. With the new development of the Armor-Prus range I can see this as being a plus for the safety and piece of mind of climbers, as the prusik is a vital part of their system.

Having a Technora blend outer and Kevlar blend inner will meet the criteria of the working arborist with durability and strength and also on the competition climber with rapid descents. And best of all is having a local company manufacturing this product."
Chrissy Spence
2005, 2007 ITCC World Champion

Donaghys Arboriculture range is available in Australia and New Zealand. For more information on this range of products, click here