INCREASED ACREAGE IN WHEAT

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25269, 22 August 1947, Page 6

INCREASED ACREAGE IN WHEAT

New Zealand, in addition to making an all-out effort to increase the production of meat and dairy produce should endeavour to secure a greater degree of self-sufficiency in cereals,” said Mr Walsh. “It is unsatisfactory that New Zealand should make excessive claims on the meagre wheat pool and limited shipping available for feeding a hungry world,” he added. The production and trade committee recommended that in 1947-48, New Zealand should aim to grow 200,000 acres of wheat and extend that to 250,000 acres in the next season. Other objectives of farmers should be the production of 50,000 acres of malting barley, 15,000 acres of feed barley, 12,000 acres of maize, 25,000 acres or potatoes, 60,000 acres of threshing oats, 3000 acres of tobacco (preparing for 4000 acres in 1948-49), 20,000 acres of peas, and 30,000 acres of linseed. Mr Walsh said that with present flocks and herds it should be possible to produce 565,000 tons of meat of all classes (including pig meat). The present ewe flocks numbered 20,500,000 and the beef herds were at a slightly higher level than before. Any appreciable increase in meat export could only be secured by the sacrifice of breeding stock and in the long-term view this would reduce the ability to produce in subsequent years.

The committee recommended that breeding stock be not cut into. Farmers should aim to restore the number of breeding sows to 80,000 by 1948, to grow 25,000 acres of special crops for pig breeding, and to produce at least 44,000 tons of pig meat. With an increased fertiliser allocation it should be possible to reach a total butter-fat production of 190,000 ions, provided sufficient provision was made for summer, autumn, and winter supplementary feeding. It was necessary to provide from two-thirds of a ton to ope ton. of hay or its equivalent in silage or annual fodder crops for adequate supplementary feeding. The most satisfactory provision for 1947-48 could be made by expanding •he area under green and root fodder crops to provide sufficient heifers for an expanding dairy industry, especially in view of the need to provide nerds for the settlement of former servicemen. Dairy farmers should increase the number of heifer calves I cared by about 10 per cent. Shortages of the following materials are likely to hinder production: fencre ’ u fen £ing posts, building materials, hay baling wire, and jute goods. The committee considered it \vas essential that all steps possible be taken by the Government to ensure mat esseitfial requirements for primary. production were obtained.