BEST GRASSED FARMS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27191, 7 November 1953, Page 5

BEST GRASSED FARMS

NORTH CANTERBURY COMPETITION SURVEY BY JUDGES After the district contests in the North Canterbury pasture competition, the winning falms from each district have again been judged to select the best grassed farms in the area between the Rakaia and Conway rivers.' The judges were Messrs C. C. Leitch, fields superintendent of the Department of Agrictulture in Christchurch, and R. H. Bevin, executive officer of the New Zealand Meat and Wool Boards’ Economic Service, who made a thorough examination of each farm, awarding points on the following basis: (1) condition and suitability of crops, and balance of crops to pasture (possible 100 points); (2) pastures (250 points divided as follows: composition 150, density 60, control 40); (3) suitability of pastures (50 points); (4) condition and suitability of stock (100 points); making a possible total of 500 points.

The results are: Unimproved value up to £l2 an acre: W. F. Bell (Kirwee), 454 points, 1; Ron Croft (Amberley), 449 points, 2; A. W. Amor (Rotherham) and F. J. Bain (Waipara), 428 points, equal 3. Unimproved value from £l2 an acre to £22 an acre: N. J. Mowatt (Waipara), 452 points, 1; Cry sell Farm (Cust), 442 points, 2; D. H. Butcher (Broadfields), 427 points, 3. Unimproved value over £22 per acre: J. H. Belton (Waiau), 1.

“The number of farms entered in the competition this year was a little disappointing,” say the judges, “but the quality of those entered was particularly good. ♦‘The striking feature of the competition was that on the farms inspected of soil types represented practically all those farmed in Canterbury, especially the problem soils of past years—the clay downs and the light shingle. The high quality of the pastures demonstrated convincingly that any or all types of soil in Canterbury are capable of maintaining swards of high production. Would be Staggering

“It is the considered opinion of the judges that there is no reason why what the few are doing should not be done by the many. “The use of DiD.T. has eliminated the menace of grassgrub and porina. It is now possible to plan a long-term rotation as a basis of grass farming, and as the various contestants demonstrated Canterbury farms can support a high standard of pastures over the whole area. In the past it was so often necessary to plough up even the relatively new pastures, which had suffered attack. On the lighter land, good pastures of any age were relatively unknown as reversion to sweet vernal and brown top followed the ravages of grassgrub and porina. When high production is reached it is essential to plan ahead, and on the farms visited it was evident that confidence in the persistance of the pastures was building up a sense of confidence in-future organisation of the farming scheme. “With the growing interest in cattle in Canterbury, red clover and cocksfoot are being exploited more and more, because of their ability to carry over well into the autumn. “On some farms, which are in the process of being developed, the practice is to sow a pasture in Short Rotation ryegrass and red clover, leave it for three years, take a crop, then sow down again, this time with Perennial ryegrass and white clover. Lime at the rate of one ton to the acre is usually spread before each sowing of grass, and this, together with superphosphate and the relatively heavy concentration of stock on the ‘Short Rotation pasture, plays an important part in fertility raising.

Former Poor State “A particularly interesting feature of the competition is that in many cases the farms have been brought back from an impoverished state to one of extremely high production in a matter of a few years, by the adoption of the simple sound methods of pasture establishment and management which are now so well known-. In this respect each is an example to its district and to Canterbury as a whole. “A continuing process of pasture improvement on arable farms by annual topdressingAwas noticeable—this being in contrast to the ‘limited’ policy of a few years ago, when it was considered uneconomic to topdress pasture which was to be ploughed up in a few years’ time.

“Lucerne for grazing and for supplementary hay or silage was grown on all the farms entered for the competition. This is another of the revolutionary advances in our farming practice, and one which continues to expand as the adaptability of this valuable crop is appreciated. The adoption of the policy ‘lO per cent, of the farm in lucerne’ has everything to commend it and as the practice extends so, too, will our confident balancing of our stock numbers to our grass production throughout the years. “The problems of pasture management on the high-producing farms, and the methods of meeting them were a feature of this year’s competition. With the constant maintenance of fertility by annual topdressing, and the increased vigour of the swards under intensive heavy stocking, the spring flush is remarkable. Staridard sheep numbers cannot cope with it, so cattle are being introduced to the farming scheme. Considerable areas are being reserved for hay, and the small seeds harvest is being exploited. “The cattle story is as yet in its early stages, but it is apparent that in the future of our grass farm management, the introduction of cattle will loom large in the scheme of things. “Figures of stock carrying are worth recording. On several farms the number of sheep carried has been doubled, the wool clip a head has increased, and the quality of the fat stock sold contrasts with the indifferent nature of the stock disposed of, before improvement began. The purity of the swards—the almost entire absence of weeds and inferior grasses—was most marked, and, on the paddocks, up to 10 ewes and their lambs were required to control the growth at the time of judging.

“The quality and condition of the flocks were the most variable features, and it is apparent that in some cases the knowledge of sheep husbandry does not yet match the marked ability in crop and pasture husbandry, which were so clearly demonstrated. “This is readily understandable for throughout the province this move from low to high intensive grazing brings a new approach to stock management. Past experience is but a limited guide to the stocking practices which the new development demands, but a few years of ‘high farming’ will provide the necessary ‘know how.’ “Encourage Experience” “Altogether, the examination of the farms and the appreciation of their performance was a most encouraging experience in>. these days when a demand is being made for increased production on a national scale. We are just beginning to get results of the last 15 years of investigation, and demonstration. No district in New Zealand has the same available area of land capable of highly increased production as has Canterbury with 2,000,000 acres of plains and over 500,000 acres of foothills, which as yet has probably not reached 2 per cent, of its productive capacity. If anyone doubts the capability of fiur land far to surpass our present performance, inspection of the competition farms will provide convincing proof that, given the energy and ability of these farmers, shere is no limit to what future production may be.”