Grasslands conference proceedings available

Press, 11 March 1983, Page 25

Grasslands conference proceedings available

With much of New Zealand’s pasture lands in the grip of drought for several months, farmers, advisers and those involved with grasslands should find the latest volume of Proceedings from New Zealand Grassland Association of considerable interest. The association held its 1982 conference in Blenheim and concentrated mainly on grassland farming under dryland conditions. All the papers presented at the conference are now published in Volume 44, with major sections on: • Cultivars for dryland

farming - breeding, establishing and managing new varieties of grass and clover. • Lucerne oversowing and management. • Potential of dry hill country. • Dryland pasture establishment by oversowing and overdrilling. • Fertilisers for dryland, including latest information on sodium. • Use of silage in dryland. • Management of dryland pastures, including grassgrub control without chemicals.

A separate session was held on herbage seed cropping with papers on Maku lotus, Wana cocksfoot and lucerne seed production, and also bumble-bees and insect pests.

The volume includes a three-page photographic coverage of the conference and a report on the field-day tour which covered grasslands of Marlborough, including an infrared aerial colour photograph of erosion control on the Wither Hills. Volume 44 is available, together with membership details, from the Secretary, N.Z. Grassland Association, c D.5.1.R., Private Bag, Palmerston North at only $l3 per copy, post free.