COLLEGE FARM YEAR

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 5

COLLEGE FARM YEAR

Difficulties With Weather

RECORD GROSS RETURN REPORTED

In spite of great difficulties, the production year on the Lincoln College farm was very successful, according to the annual report of the College, which has just been issued. The 1264 acre farm includes a wide range of soil types, and is thereiore in some part typical of the majority of Canterbury plains farms. The College had a particularly good year with clover.

Crops of all sorts occupied 435 J acres of the College farm during the year, and some excellent yields were obtained trom individual paddocks, such as 3821 b of white clover, 57 bushels of Partridge peas, 116 bushels of Garton oats, and 69 bushels of Cross 7 wheat. Total prdduction from the farm is most impressive. The main crops produced 2044 bushels of perennial ryegrass and Hl, 24,49310 of white clover, 2538 bushels of peas, and 5760 bushels of wheat. Beside, these, crops of Phalaris, cocksfoot, Timothy, ryecorn, barley, and potatoes were grown. Farming operations have been very difficult since January, 1951, the report says. Much of the agricultural programme, as at June 30, is seriously in arrears—but no amount of labour or machinery could have prevented this.

However, in spite of the rain, the year has seen a record gross return from the College farm. The state of the market for wool and stock has contributed substantially, of course, but crop and stocjc production has been good and there was a big harvest of white clover.

With the exception of one paddock of lucerne shut for seed and finally abandoned only a few days before this report was written, every crop intended to be saved was harvested, and there were few losses that could be definitely pin-pointed. It is probable that the unfavourable harvest weather reduced the total crop return by about 20 per cent, altogether. All sorts of difficulties and delays occurred. Most crops suffered damage after cutting and lay too long in the swath or stook with resultant losses. About 40 acres of the white clover would have produced a thousand bushels of ryegrass seed additionally, if the paddocks could have been taken at the correct time. There has been a big reduction in potato yields due to water-logging and blight, and half the area is still not dug. Eyespcit in Wheat Eyespot and lodging have been seriously lowering wheat yields on the heavy land of the E, S, and SE blocks during recent years. The trouble is getting progressively worse and is also making harvesting difficult. Since this is occurring on the very land where one most wishes and expects to grow wheat, it is a matter of grave concern. In the next few years we hope to have found suitable combative measures. Pasture growth throughout the period has been phenomenal. It was continuous from September, 1950, co May, 1951. All lucerne was cut for silage in October and produced approximately 280 tons. Half of this was “pitted” in a trench made-for the purpose. The buckrake system was employed, and the whole technique of silage making in this way was highly successful and of particular benefit as an encouraging demonstration to visiting farmers. A total of 310 tons of hay (lucerne and meadow) were baled. Owing to the weather, late autumn cuts were not taken off the lucerne. This has left all lucerne stands with much top growth and a poor appearance over the winter.

Crops of mangels, fodder beet, swedes, chou moellier. and turnips are all excellent. Some yields are: Calder tweed, 45 tons an> acre; giant chou moellier. 53 tony an acre; mangels, red, 62 tons an acre; and'fodder beet, 47 tons an acre.

Ryecorn for greenfeed has been disappointing in 1951. Apparently it is not favoured by a wet winter. The winter-feed position for 1951 is very satisfactory, and there is likely to be large carry-over of hay and chaff reserves.

The very wet conditions are tending to show the superiority of perennial ryegrass as opposed to short-rotation ryegrass in ability to withstand “pug-ging-up,” more particularly on the eavy land. '

Porina infestation has occurred in expected proportions and paddocks. Agrocide has been used as a control. The top-dressing programme has been badly delayed. All live stock wintered extremely well and the returns for the year in terms of production and income were easily the best of recent years. The five stud-sheep flocks have maintained their high reputation in both the show ring and the saleyard. The Corriedale flock particularly has attracted attention. Two Corriedale stud rams—a one-shear and a ram lamb—exported to Uruguay and sold at auction realised approximately £2BOO. Another ram hogget was selected and purchased by Dr. A. Gallinal Heber (Uruguay) during his visit to the college fqr 750 guineas. The sheep scored well at the Canterbury Royal Centennial Show and with the help of the cattle and pigs won for the college the highest Royal Show award —the Walker and Hall Shield for most points in purebred live stock. This is the first occasion on which the college has won this award. The following summary of ram sales for the season is very much a reflection of the times:—Romney Marsh. 55 rams sold at 24.6gns average; Corriedale. 89 sold. 75gns average: Southdown. 48 sold. lOgns average: Border Leicester. 31 sold, 15.3gns average: English Leicester, 14 sold, ■l4.lgns average. Lambing Figures

The lambing figures for the stud flocks compare favourably with past years. The continued high prolificacy of the Border Leicester flock is noteworthy. Percentages were:—Border Leicester 158, Romney Marsh 132, Corriedale 121. Southdown 102, and English Leicester 100. Despite the continued wet weather this year, the hoggets are thriving and promise to be up to standard' for the fairs next autumn. The ewe flocks have wintered well despite the incidence of wet-weather troubles.

The Milking Shorthorn dary herd continues to grow in numbers. The official production figures for the season are not yet available, but on the basis of the monthly testing returns it appears that the herd average for the season will be not less than 3201 b fat.. The highest cow produced 5121 b fat in' 305 days. Those who remember the Friesian cows in the dairy herd during the twenties will be pleased to learn that the black and white herd has been re-established. The purchase of a number of females from well known pedigree herds has been completed recently.

At the piggery the herds of Tamworth. Berkshire and Large White still cohtinue to produce breeding stock for general distribution and for Eork and bacon for the college The incoln Red is now widely distributed, and breeding reports received during the next few years will be of considerable interest.

As is usual the college pigs gained a fair share of the awards at the Canterbury Centennial Royal Show. Worthy of special mention was the Roval Champion Tamworth boar “Lincoln Esquire.’’ Although a noted show winner and the sire of many merit bacon-carcase pigs, it was his first “Royal” championship. As it was his last show-ring appearance it was a fitting conclusion to a very useful life.

Four bacon carcases were entered in the competition conducted by the Canterbury District Pig Council and all were successful in gaining merit certificates. The bacon pigs entered in the commercial classes at the Royal Show were not prominent in the hoof judging. However, when the carcases

were judged on the hooks by Mr J. Swain, of Smithfield, the Bledisloe Cup for the best bacon carcase was awarded to the college. Black Prince of Mangatoro is still at the head of the Aberdeen Angus herd. During the last four years numbers increased sufficiently to allow some selection of females, and the herd is now composed entirely of descendants of Pride of Turihaua. This worthy matron died recently at the age of 21 years. At the annual November sale, conducted bv the Aberdeen Angus breeders. college bulls scored well. In the unled class both first and second prize tickets were awarded to the college. These bulls later sold for 70 guineas and 60 guineas.