Mixed Cropping, Sheep Farms

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 32

Mixed Cropping, Sheep Farms

Farming in the Prebbleton-Broadfield-Weedons-Temple-ton-Lincoln districts is now largely based on small, mediumfertility mixed cropping units growing cash crops and small seeds and running sheep.

Much of this district was in the original Springs station, as shown in the map of L. G. D. Acland’s “Early Canterbury Runs.” Springs station ran from Broadlands run, which ran above it along the higher Selwyn, to the mouth of the Selwyn river, and from there

through the present Ladbrooks railway station and across the main south road to join Coringa run and other stations on the Waimakariri river. In 1853, the Field brothers, Strickland and James, took up Run 111, part of the Springs station, which consisted of the country around Weedons and Rolleston. Perhaps the district named Broadfield gets its name from these early settlers. The old homestead of Springs farm adjoins Lincoln College. The two main soil types shown on the soil map of this area are (1) the moderately deep to deep soils of medium fertility known as the Templeton series and (2) the shallow and stony soils of lower fertilityknown as the Eyre series. It is perhaps appropriate that it is on the locallynamed “Templeton” soil, Templeton silt loam, that the World Ploughing Contest will be held. This soil is well drained with a depth of more than 30 inches over gravel, with 8 to 9 inches of topsoil. Generally, the Templeton and Eyre soils are associated on the same farms, but in

the Lincoln-Prebbleton-Tem-pleton country there is a bigger proportion of Templeton soils than in the Broadfield - Weedons - Rolleston country where Eyre soils tend to predominate. On the Eyre soils there is little cash cropping. They are generally used for the growing of sheep feed in the form of pastures or supplementary feed crops such as rape or turnips (few swedes are grown), or in a long term crop such as lucerne. The lucerne is used either entirely for grazing, or for hay and grazing. The lucerne may be sown alone or with cocksfoot or prairie grass. Pastures on the Eyre soils are usually subterranean clover dominant, with white clover, ryegrasses and cocksfoot. On the mixed cropping farms when Templeton soils predominate, at least a third of the total farm area will be under cultivation annually for cash crops and new grass. Wheat is the most important cash crop both in total area and in cash return. At one time in the early 1920 s oats was much the most Important crop grown, but this has

declined substantially to a point where barley Is at least of equal importance. Oats are grown here largely for the reason that there is still a large number of racehorses in the district. Potatoes also were once a very important crop but have declined to the point where in the Lincoln-Broadfield Potato Growers’ Association district there are now only 350 acres grown under certification. The district is, on the whole, not a favourable one for the production of virus-free seed potatoes. Crop yields vary considerably, but occasional yields of wheat of more than 100 bushels per acre have been obtained, while oats and barley have reached this figure more often. However, an average yield would be 55 bushels for wheat, and 60 bushels for oats and barley. For potatoes an average yield would be eight to nine tons per acre, largely grown for table consumption. Small seed crops are commonly grown in the area—largely the ryegrasses and white clover. Yields of ryegrass are usually in the range from 25 to 40 bushels of machine dressed seed and of white clover from one to two sacks to the acre. However, yields of up to 60 bushels of grass seed and four bags of white clover to the acre have been reached. Lucerne seed crops can be successfully grown in the area but the number of crops actually grown are very limited. Due to the importance of small seed production, pastures on this mixed cropping land are

largely the simple mixture of white clover with one variety of ryegrass. Most farms have one paddock or more of lucerne mainly for the production of hay, either for sale or use on the farm. Sheep on these mixed cropping farms are generally bought in annually as four or five-year-old ewes, or occasionally two-tooths, and used for the production of fat lambs. The type of sheep varies from Romneys to fine wools. There are only a few specialised stud flocks in the district.

Water on the farm is naturally of great importance. From the early 1900’s a very good water-race system has provided stock water for most of this area —a cheap and efficient scheme which is perhaps taken very much for granted by many of the present farming community. Irrigation water, if required, is readily available over most of the district from artesian bores. Town supply dairy farmers make good use of this supply for spray irrigation purposes. Only a few sheep and cropping farmers at present are using spray irrigation in this area. Changes in farming over the last 20 years in this area have not been very great. The country is farmed at quite a high level of production. There has been an increased use of lime and fertiliser, weed and insecticide sprays, which have been coupled with increased stock numbers. There may be some scope in the future for the use of more Irrigation water.