The Farm

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXI, Issue 3159, 20 April 1931, Page 3

The Farm

VALUE OF GRAZING MANAGE MENT. (Journal oi' Agriculture.) Alauy fanners' do not give much thoug-ht to possible means of improving" their grazing- management. They are somewhat apathetic merely because they have not yet realised to what extent production can be increased and cheapened by better grazing. They have not become awaic of the truth that skilful grazing- is often just as important for improving 1 grassland and keeping it improved as is correct manuring.

Especially at the present time ot low prices for farm produce should the potentialities of improved . gracing management make a succesful apreal. This is because improvement in grazing is often a matter more of the tise of the latest ideas than the use of money. Seldom can improved grazing be introduced successfully without careful preparation and planning—preparation and planning which may well be based on study of results obtained during the current season, while these results are still fresh in our memories. For instance, with a view to better control of pasture-gr. will during- next season, we might well a-k ourselves at this stage whether it would have appreciably cased the task of grazing management this season had certain fields been subdivided, or would it have helped had tnr ensilage programme been different. II" changes in such matters are desirable, then it is well to have Considered them in good time so as to be ready to proceed with them when the relatively slacl-4 season of the year arrives.

A point of great importance is : ■ i»t grazing- management is at time; the link that governs the results of. other practices which are efficient in themselves, but which do not stand or fall as economic propositions solely on their own merits. Top-dressing illustrates this point very well. It may be said safely that some of the disappointing results obtained are due not to incorrect practice, but to the fact that full use has not been made of the improved growth brought about bv the top-dressing. I n'derstockmg oi' top-dressed areas may lead to tho appearance of coarse woody herbage which is unsuited to the needs of tho grazing stock, to checking oi the clover which is so valuable a portion of the. herbage, and to undesirable opening up of the sward. • Hence top-dressing, which is efficient as a means of improving pasture production, may conceivably prove undesirable under unfavorable grazing management. All of which serves to emphasize the important role of grazing management, which in a general way probabM oilers more scope lor improvement than any other aspect of grassland farming. The need is to initiate preparations now for the improvements of next season. AN ECONOMIC ASPECT OI- TOP-

DRESSING. There is some evidence which seems to indicate that there will be a regrettable, falling-off in the consumption of fertilisers for top-dressing of grass. In some* instances this will be on the part of those who could finance the purchase of fertilizers if they wi:-hcd to do so, but who apparently are not definitely convinced of the profit-earn-ing nature of the use of manures on their grassland. To some of these it may not be absolutely made clear that a comparatively small increase in pioduction may have a relatively largo bearing on the profit or loss returned from a farm. For instance, a io-per-ccnt increase in production due to the use of fertilizer on grassland may represent much more than a io-pei-ceilt increase in profits. Indeed it may represent the difference between a loss and a profit. The mam or material items that require to be set against the returns from the increased production are the cost of the manure and the interest and depreciation on the extra stock utilized. The overhead charges for land, equipment, and labour would be substantially the same for the lower as fur the higher production. Hence. properly, such charges may often he omitted Fiom consideration when estimating the returns from top-dressing. To take a concrete case, if the carry-ing-enpacitv of a farm is increased from 40 to 44 cows by top-dressing, then the top-dressing may rightly be credited with the whole of the returns from the extra stock, less only the cost of the fertilizer and the cost of interest and depreciation of the stook. If " top-dressing were considered carefully in this way as often as it should lie, then some who are proposing to dispense with its aid during the coming season would assuredly find reasons for changing their minds. In view of the fact that in many districts autumn top-dressing- is productive of markedly good results, this is a matter that calls for attention without further delay. It is well to remember that, it wilfbe the exception rather than the rule for reduction of expenditure on top-dressing to prove true economy. It may be instructive to recall that when there was a serious slump in prices some years ago there was an immediately corresponding fall in fertilizer sales. The significant*feature connected with this was in what happened later —fertilizer sales soared to a higher point than ever previously when it was'roalised that top-dressing was a. considerable aid in facing a period of low juices. In "general the value of phosphatic manures has been established definitely. Of these superphosphate is most largely used . The popular preference for super seems to be justified by Field observations; it will give superior results under low rainfall conditions, and where the rainfall is high ft will generally at least hold its own with other phosphatic manures. Of the phosphatic manures it most quickly

makes its influence felt in the form of increased growth, it usually continues to exert considerable stimulating- effect on growth for twelve months or more after its, application, and practically, the sourness of the soil is unaffected by it. But on certain farms splendid ro suits have been obtained from the use of basic slag. In such cases the use of slag should not as a rule be departed from except in a trial way, until the superiority of that which is to bo substituted has been established. When the immediate influence of the topdressing- is not a matter of moment, then African and similar phosphates are at times worthy of consideration in districts of good rainfall. Under a wide range of conditions a mixture of equal weights of one of these phosphates and of 44 per cent superphosphate can reasonably be expected to give good results in pastures. In the case of young pastures the fertility of thb land being grassed has a considerable influence on the nature of the herbage which establishes itself durijuj; the first few months. Hence, top-dressing is at times advisable for enabling desired species to successfully establish themselves rather than to disappear, leaving an unduly open and inferior sward. !

On many pastures mature woody growth has been left over from the summer. As a rule such mature growth should be removed in the autumn ; its presence is unfavorable to the ready development of the fresh leafy "bite"' which at this season characterises holds which have been well grazed throughout the year. If it is not practicable to employ store stock for the removal of the tall mature growth, then it becomes advisable to effect its removal by topping with the mower.

liarrowing of pastures is rightly receiving more attention now than at any earlier period. Harrowing may be expected to prove particularly valuable for the purpose of loosening up a matted compact sward, which is at times the result of many years gradual 1 , deterioration. Drastic treatment of such sward is usually well justified. ~ Harrowing is also at times specially desirable on fields on which droppings have been allowed to accumulate undisturbed during the summer and autumn.