IRRIGATION YEAR

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25282, 6 September 1947, Page 6

IRRIGATION YEAR

Mixed Results In Wet Season NO FINALITY ON WATER PRICE Irrigators on the Ashburton-Lynd-hurst scheme still have had no indication of what price they will have to pay for water. The subject has been debated between the farmers and the Minister for more than two years, but Mr P. C. Curd, president of the Irrigation- Development Association, reported to the annua] meeting of the association last week that no finality has yet been reached. Mr Curd reported a year of varying Success with irrigation, the wet period having been the main influence. Two important facts have emerged, Mr Curd said. One was that' it appeared possible that grass grub attack might be controllable with irrigation, and the other was that it appeared that foot-rot trouble was no worse on irrigated land this year than on ordinary land. The wet seasons had prevented any accurate estimate of the carrying capacity of irrigated pastures. “A very cold and wet spring last year, followed by an unusual summer and autumn, with an absence of typical nor’-westers, brought about abnormal conditions for this part of Canterbury, and as a consequence intensive irrigation was unnecessary,” Mr. Curd reported. “Some border-dyked* areas were not watered at all, while others were watered only a few times. “The small seeds market tempted manv farmers to close the bordered paddocks for seed, and the results ranged between success and failure. Some paddocks have since been severely attacked by porina and grass grub, whilst others escaped. It did appear, however, that the effect of these pests was considerably lessened by irrigation, and it is possible that a certain system of management will be devised to control them almost entirely. i “The cold, showery conditions and the fact that the areas kept exclusively for grazing represent only a small portion of each farm, and are grazed in conjunction with the remainder, make it extremely difficult to assess the carrying capacity of irrigated paddocks. As more paddocks of different ages become available for grazing on each farm, a better estimate will be possible. Though the experimental area of one acre carried six ewes (and fattened their nine lambs) for another 12 months, large numbers have not as yet been grazed under similar conditions. Irrigation and Protest “Irrigation has been unjustly blamed for aggravating foot-rot in sheep, but the season demonstrated that foot-rot can be severe in this area without irrigation, and sheep grazing on irrigated paddocks did not appear to suffer more than others.

“Although results from irrigation will be most spectacular in a dry season. it is necessary, however, that an irrigation farm be successful in a year such as the one just experienced. “An increase in the rate an hour for levelling was largely offset by larger and more powerful machines, but a further increase is quoted for the coming year. It is satisfactory to record that the Public Works Department has sufficient men and machines to make border-dyking on a large scale possible.

“It is pleasing to note that the research station is now making progress. The dairy unit will soon be in a position to fully test the possibilities of dairying, and should soon have available much information for farmers. The mixed farm of 350 acres, which has first to overcome a mass of browntop, will in a little over two years from now have 275 acres in pasture, of which 240 acres will be border-dyked. When it reaches that state it will be seen what an irrigation farm looks like, and thence it shouldi be in a position to lead the way.’ On the actual research area (also a mass of browntop), a start has been made, but not until buildings and staff are available. and are in action will much be done. This is really most urgent,-for it is this block which will eventually create much interest. It is a most important object of this association to keep farmers in close contact with this station, and at least one inspection of the area should be made each year by the farmers. “It is regrettable that no finality has been reached regarding the terms governing the sale of water. Indeed it appears that little attempt has been made by the authorities to deal with this allimportant aspect. It is nearly two years since the Government upset the original price, and if no announcement is made shortly, the association must spare no effort to have some settlement made. As yet results of irrigation in this area are not such that the costs can be disregarded.” The report of Mr W. A. McKellar, Fields Instructor at Ashburton, said that the weather during the year had not been good for demonstrating the merits of irrigation. Rainfall during the six months irrigation season from October to March was 19.47 in, or five inches above average, and in September, the month before the season began, rainfall was three inches above normal, making it eight inches above normal for the seven months. Rainfall during December, January and February was almost four inches above average, and as it was well spread, and as there was an absence of drying nor’-westers, only limited use was made of water. Nevertheless, a considerable area of thaßscheme was watered during dry spells in December, late January, early February, and the first three weeks of March, and good results were obtained on pasture, seed crops and lucerne. Response from Pastures * “Many spring-sown pasture areas' that had made only comparatively small root development by mid-Janu-ary were quick to respond to an application of water, as th£ top soil was drying out rapidly at that time,” Mr McKellar’s report stated. “Worthy of mention is a two-year-old borderdyked pasture of 16 acres which was irrigated on December 9, and grazed until Christmas. As the area was not required for further grazing it was shut up for white clover seed, and irrigated on January 3 and again on January 25. Quite a payable seed crop was harvested from the field about mid-March.” Mr McKellar mentioned damage by grass grub to some of the older pastures, and said that the remedy appeared to be regular irrigation throughout dry seasons. Shutting up of areas for seed had resulted in damage, sometimes severe, from porina. The report of Mr O. D. D. Riddell said that the wet year had been disappointing for irrigation, but it had .been

a good one for development. The Public Works Department had borderdyked 1478 acres during the year at an average cost of £2 16s 9d an acre. The cost varied from £1 10s to £4 an acre. Total land developed in the scheme was now 3163 acres. “There are now 56 farms on the scheme with some portion of the farm prepared for irrigation, and each year sees new farmers commence operations,” said Mr Riddell. “This year it is expected that farmers will be preparing even more land in an effort to increase production to assist Great Britain. “During the last irrigation season, 34 farmers irrigated 1847 acres by the border dyke method, using an average of eight acre-inches for the year. Five irrigators used the border-ditch method of irrigating, watering 76 acres, while seven irrigators wild-flooded 81 acres. The Chinese market gardener at Allenton applied 107 cusecs by the furrow method to a portion of his farm.” Mr Riddell spoke of the assistance of irrigation with the new watering roster, and said that the association had assisted also with practical development, and in refuting “unfounded rumours and criticism.”