TOPICAL SUBJECTS FOR LINCOLN CONFERENCE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28802, 24 January 1959, Page 9

TOPICAL SUBJECTS FOR LINCOLN CONFERENCE

A highly topical programme ia being arranged for the Lincoln College farmers’ conference which will be held this year from May 20 to 22. Gram grub and porina, stock health, cutting costs, diversification of farming and wheat handling, are some of the subjects which will be dealt with by expert panels of speakers, including a good proportion of practical farmers. A glance at the programme shows that it has every promise of being “down to earth.’* It is hoped that the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Skinner) will be able to open proceedings and as guest speaker there will be the New Zealand farming leader, Mr John Andrew, of Hyde, who is scheduled to speak on “Some international aspects of agriculture.” The problem of porina and grass grub in the hill country will be handled by Mr J. M. Kelsey, of the entomological sub-station of the Entomology Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He will bring together the latest knowledge on this subject. Giving their practical experience with this problem will be several speakers, including Messrs D. McLeod (Grasmere), L. P. Chapman (Mount Somers), and lan Menzies (Banks Peninsula). Mr A. W. Riddolls,' head of the agricultural engineering department at Lincoln, will lay down the basic principles for farm water supply on the flats and in the hills, and Mr D. K. Mackenzie, of Ealing, will give a layout for a plains farm water supply. Sheep management in the North Island hill country will be described by Mr E. A. Clarke, of the Ruakura Animal Research Station. Fencing for the South Island hill country is also on the programme, and Mr W. R. Hewitt, shoep farm supervisor at Massey College, is listed to speak on hill country fencing in the North Island. Stock Health The whole of the second morning will be devoted to papers on the vital subject of stock health. Mr W. J. Hartley, a pathologist of the Wallaceville Animal Research Station, will lead a discussion on white muscle disease. Other speakers at this session will be Dr. W. J. McLean, head of the college’s veterinary department, Mr M. C. Armstrong, Government veterinarian at Timaru, who has done some important work on stock unthriftiness in South Canterbury, Mr A. N. Bruere, a private veterinarian of Waikari, Mr C. B. Hercus, of the Hakataramea estate, who has had personal experience of stock troubles on a big scale, and Mr Lindsay Morris, of Mount Barker, Wanaka. On the afternoon of the same day there will be a visit to the new sheep research farm at the college and to Ashley Dene, where research on animal breeding and management will be demonstrated and explained. On the final day some attention will be given to the crucial issue of cutting costs in the face of the more difficult economic conditions facing the farming industry. Mr George Holmes, superintendent of the Department of Agriculture’s research station at Invermay, will deal with economic ways of developing new pastures and managing existing pastures, Mr W. R. Lobb, assistant fields superintendent of the department in Christchurch, will review the position in the South Island in the light of the more efficient use of fertilisers, and Mr W. C. Stafford, of Timaru, a farmer and a former departmental officer, has been given a free

hand in his handling of this issue. It is hoped that the new DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, Mr P. W. Smallfield, will be able to speak about diversification in farming. The final session will be devoted to wheat when Mr L. G. Copp, senior cereal breeder at the Crop Besearch Division, will speak about varieties. Dr. I. D. Blair, head of the microbiology department at the college, will discuss Crop failures; Mr E. W. Hullett, Director of the Wheat Research Institute, will discuss moisture in wheat; Mr C. J. Crosbie, machinery instructor of the Department of Agriculture, will introduce wheat storage on the farm and it is hoped that his talk will be followed by the personal experiences of possibly three farmers. Numbers Limited The maximum number which can be handled at the conference is 400 and admission will be by ticket only. Members qf Federated Farmers wishing to attend should apply not later than April 17 to their provincial secretary enclosing £2, which includes the cost of lunch, morning and afternoon tea, and a copy of the printed proceedings. A. limited amount of residential accommodation is available at the college at a cost of £3 5s for the three days and when applying to attend the conference farmers should state whether they wish to stay at the college and where necessary include the fee. A few tickets for the conference are being held for allocation to other than members of Federated Farmers and application for these should be made to the conference secretary, care of the college.