N.Z. far behind

Press, 22 April 1977, Page 16

N.Z. far behind

A Waipara farmer who has recently been travelling overseas thinks that in use of modern machinery and technology New Zealand farmers are trailing a long way behind their European counterparts and he puts a lot of the blame for this on the politicians.

“In 1972 you headlined an article I sent home ‘New Zealand farmers not the best in the world’,” writes Mr John McCaskey. “Having just spent a week helping to put in spring crop in Kent and making a visit to the international agricultural machinery show in Paris I am more than ever convinced that that present Government policy in New Zealand, if maintained, as seems likely, will leave New Zealand farming in its present state — back in the 1960 s — as the rest of the world progresses into the 1980 s at a break-neck pace.

“Echoing in my ears from New Zealand have been comments made in ignorance by top politicians over the last two years — such as criticism of farmers being slow to take advantage of the available technology. The answer to this, in North Canterbury at any rate, is so very simple. Since 1970 at least we have all been committed to working practically seven days a week, firstly to survive through droughts and low prices, and since to repair the damage caused during that period. “Most farm machinery on New Zealand farms is a spin-off or reUc of the horse days — a Lincoln College lecturer on the 3YA farm session said ‘New Zealand farm drills have progressed little from the days of horses.’

“So I draw a direct contrast between the New Zealand and E.E.C. farmer. The farmer in this part of the world (Europe) has an income which allows him to keep his farm modern and up-to-date and producing as high as his ability allows, and because of this he has the time and encouragement to stay up with the technological advances. The New Zealand farmer I feel is, and mainly due to Government policy alone, actively discouraged from farming to the utmost of his ability, although thousands of New Zealand farmers are working to full capacity physically. . .

“The international agricultural machinery show in Paris makes the United Kingdom Royal at Kenilworth look a country week-ender and Smithfield a one-man show —that is

United Kingdom farmer Opinion and mine.

“Picture if you can eight hectares (20 acres) of exhibition sites and multistorey buildings crammed with more than 12,000 machines, which is only part of the show as there is a big livestock pavilion on the other side of the road showing top animals of most continental breeds of cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry, dogs, goats, horses, rabbits, pigeons and game birds, the products and by-products of these, and also international exhibits.

“I found a New Zealand electric fencer and ear tags. But no stand displaying New Zealand meat or dairy products. Here right in the middle of the E.E.C. the biggest agricultural fair in Europe and no New Zealand display to enlighten the public, who if they were aware of New Zealand and its products could create a demand for them. “I met E.E.C. meat importers who would give their eye teeth for New Zealand lamb and mutton at a meeting in the British Embassy in Paris, which I attended with a farmerexporter from Yorkshire. Our biggest lever to making sales is housewife demand and there was nothing for the visitors or Parisian housewives to see.

“The display in the machinery pavilion really defies description. How about a £40,000 14ft cut self-propelled forage harvester with built-in self unloading, aluminium forage box, and partly built in stainless steel. If nothing else this should convey to the New Zealand farmer something of the scale of some of the European farming operations. “More on a scale compatible with the New Zealand scene were thousands of machines we use everj' season and many we would like to work. Seed drills, fertiliser applicators, reversible ploughs (practically in common use here), some tillage and hay and silage making machinery have reached a degree of sophistication, which I know through the experience of trying to import some five years ago. will not be seen in New Zealad till well into the 1980 s.