CAUTION OF N.Z. FARMERS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27488, 23 October 1954, Page 5

CAUTION OF N.Z. FARMERS

Acceptance Of New Ideas I DR. MCMEEKAN’S COMMENT Farmers take 10 years to hear about something new, then 10 years to think about it, and then after still another 10 years of cautious try-out they accept a new method as worthwhile, said Dr. C. P. McMeekan, superintendent of the Ruakura Animal Research Station, speaking to a Rotary Club town and country forum at the research station, which was attended by 90 businessmen and farmers from all. parts of New Zealand. The purpose of the discussions was to create a better understanding between leaders in city and rural life. A delegate asked Dr. McMeekan how the average New Zealand farmers’ reaction to new ideas compared with that of farmers overseas. “I have often said,” replied Dr. McMeekan, “that I believe our farmers to be the most progressive in the world. I believe that to be true—but,’’ he said, and the gathering laughed, “it is a terrific indictment of the rest!” A delegate said he believed there was a need for more publicity if the results of experiments at Ruakura were to take effect in greater production on farms. Dr. McMeekan replied: “There has been plenty of publicity. The farmers have been told in a hundred and one ways what we want to teach them— by the daily newspapers, the radio, farm schools and the Department of Agriculture’s journal. “Does Not Make Sense”

“I believe the farmers do know the facts—but nothing, or very little, happens.” In answer to a question as to what was the “greatest single thing” a farmer could do to increase his production, Dr. McMeekan replied, “Fencing.” Additional fences on the average farm would enable the farmer to introduce controlled grazing. Mr S. Hopwood (Auckland): It seems there is a simple means available of increasing farm production, but it is not used. To a business man that does not make sense. Does the root of the trouble lie in the fact that the farmer is not keenly competing against the fellow next door as a business man has to do? “Once a farmer has paid for his land and his stock he can more or less sit back,” Mr Hopwood said. “But a business man, even if he has £lO,OOO worth of assets in his business, has to be right on his toes or he will be cleaned out in* a year or two. It is happening to inefficient business men all over the country today, but there are very few bankruptcies among farmers.” Using Their Own Money Mr Arthur Baker (Cambridge) said farmers had been criticised for their plans to maintain minimum market prices for wool and meat. He pointed out that it was the farmers’ own money they were using, and the fixed prices were below present rates. A delegate defended the farmers’ attitude toward science. He said they applied the new techniques if they had a direct bearing on the problems met with on their own farms, but they did not have time to absorb all the new ideas because there were so many of them. Dr. McMeekan replied: “At the present time many farmers do not have to worry about striving for high efficiency. I am convinced that when there is a great need to step up production the farmers will do it. If I did not believe so, then I would not feel I was justified in carrying on with my work here. But I am prepared to press ahead because I believe —and my colleagues here do also—that when the day comes when greater production is urgently needed we will be able to provide the tools that will do the job.”