TOPICS OF THE WEEK

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 7

TOPICS OF THE WEEK

ENGLISH PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Some impressions gained by Mr L. J. Fechney, of the Darfield Young Farmers’ Club, in the course of a visit to Britain under the United Kingdom exchange scheme, are j noted here. With reference to pasture management in England. Mr Fechney said that it was not easy for the New Zealand farmer to apply the principles of his own grassland farming techniques under English conditions. Before he visited England he had had the impression that British farmers did not know how to grow a good pasture, but had found that this was not entirely correct. He thought that there was quite a sprinkling of farmers who did know how to grow pastures, but very few of them seem to know how to manage them: while even fewer appreciate the great value of white clover. Farm rotations .in England did not. in general, give white clover much chance, said Mr Fechney. Pastures which looked very well-established and likely to provide good grazing for many years were often ploughed up to make way for the rotation of root and g"ain crops.