IRRIGATION IN AUSTRALIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 139, 24 March 1948, Page 4

IRRIGATION IN AUSTRALIA

Rapid Development of

Pastures COUNTRY’S MAIN CROP ‘■Jonathan.Swift lias rated very highly among man’s endeavours; liis! ability to make two blades of grass grow where only one grew , before. Judged by his standards, therefore, how great is the achievement of producing thick succulent pastures from soil which, in times of drought, produced not oven one blade of grass.” So writes Miss Marjorie Braae, winner of the Robert Bell travelling scholarship, in. the fourth of a series of special articles for the ‘•Guardian” on irrigation apd farming in Australia. “It has been said that pasture is Australia’s most important crop, and, when one considers the vast grazing areas of the country, in comparison with the areas devoted to oilier crops, and the possibilities for further pastoral development, one realises the truth of the statement,” she adds. “During the last 20 years in Victoria, rapid strides have been made in the development of pastures, and the flourishing dairying industry and fat lamb production bear witness tt> the importance of pastures in this state. The area of sown pasture (mixed grasses and clover) in Victoria is 300,000 acres, and it is the most important agricultural crop grown in the state. This pasture will grow in areas which are unsuitable for lucerne, which, previously, was the chief fodder crop grown under irrigation • it is more adaptable to changing conditions, being less exacting in its requirements, and offers greater variety to stock.

Great Pride Shown

“In Northern Victoria, the conditions for growing pasture under irrigation are almost those of hotjiouse culture, witli the resultant rapid luxuriant growth, whicjti, however, is not erratic, but gives sustained and stable productivity and conservation of fertility. A mixture of perennial rye grass, cocksfoot, white clover and strawberry clover is grown in Northern Victoria, with paspaium and other species as ‘volunteer’ components. “Great pride is shown by the fanners in their thick green pastures. ‘Look,’ they cry, parting the forest of grass with loving hands, ‘this is as good as any New Zealand pasture!’ Practically the only fertiliser required is superphosphate, to the extent of 4cwt to the acre. In Victoria the amount of superphosphate used equals half the available, supply for the whole of Australia, and, in the district round Shepparton, a. ‘volunteer’ strain of clover has appeared which is known as Tongala or Native clover, and it liaS been found that where lucerne plots are deteriorating and dying out, the application of superphosphate will bring to life the Tongala clover which is a valuable pasture grass and which by thus springing to life on worn out lucerne plots, lias, made a valuable contribution to dairying in Victoria. “During the last 20 years in Victoria dairying producton has increased by 500 per cent, owing mainly to the Improvement in pastures and dairy Aerds. Jerseys appear.to be the most, popular breed, and the pride in dairying which was everywhere apparent in this district, and the care with which the cattle are tended, have as their motive and their reward the high price of butter fat, which is now 2s sid a pound, making the gross return for a farm of 60 to 70 acres over £2OOO per annum. One property of 38 acres, owing to the careful cultivation and conservation of fodder, was able to carry 93 head.

Fat Lamb Raising

“ ‘Fat lamb raising on irrigation is just as sure as milking cows,’ is a statement by a farmer who has 1 bad many years’ experience of this type of farming in Northern Victoria. Early lambs should he horn in April so that they can be sold in August and September. With irrigation, ewes will have plenty of feed, and when the lambs have been sold there will he time to make hay. However, in some cases it has been found that it is more profitable to have lambs born in August as they can be sold within fliree to four months. On an area of 176 acres 900 ewes and lambs were, carried, of which 200 odd ewes were culled and fattened every year and their lambs fattened also. Often, too. 100 to 200 lambs were bought and fattened and grass seed produced, and every dry year, there was hay to sell, all of which bears out the fact that fat lamb raising on small irrigated areas is a paying proposition. “There is a type of pasture known as winter pasture on which fat lambs are raised successfully, particularly in the area round Finley, in New South Wales. This is an area to which irrigation is comparatively new, having had no sure water until 1941. At the present'time it has a. one in ten water right, acting as a drought insurance and providing extensive rather than intensive irrigation over an area of 1000 square miles. It has been the first scheme in Australia for the safeguarding and the promotion of the pastors! industry. The main pasture grown in this district is ‘winter pasture,’ composed of a, mixture of rye grass and sjubterranian clover which is very suitable for raising fat lambs, the breed held in the highest esteem being a cross between a merino ewe and a Romney ram.

Growing of Lucerne

“The subterranean clover and rye grass die off about November, and the seeds drop to the ground, and, in order to ensure their sprouting, water is required in late February or early March. If no rain falls during that period, irrigation suplies the moisture. Since the lambs are born in April or May they require winter feed which this type of pasture supplies, and, then, during the off season, when the ewes need dry feed it is provided for them by the same pasture “Irrigation water, in tin* district, is used extensively for growing lucerne, patches of which stand out in vivid relief and attract the plague grasshoppers which have grown in alarm-

ing proportions since irrigation lias provided green fodder for them to devour. They sweep across the country in sickening hordes, stripping the land of all green growth and pass on leaving only bare stalks to mark their passage. ”