NECESSARY SEASONAL WORK

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 94, 14 January 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

NECESSARY SEASONAL WORK

Calls Of A “Green Summer”

RESULTANT GAINS AND LOSSES

summer was one of exceptional heat and dryness, but the two before were “green summers” and now we are experiencing another of them. A summer of this type has several, points of superiority over that of a year ago, but at the same time it has disabilities also. There js no seed shortage, growth has indeed been lavish, but the damp, moist weather.does produce a harvest o. “germs and bugs” to afflict both stock and crop. As an example of this, the Manawatu perennial rye seed crop has been largely spoilt by a fungoid infection. Potato crops are liable to be spoilt by blight in this weather, but fortunately the general low temperatures have acted as a brake to this infection. Pasture conditions may be broadly stated as excellent for cattle and not desirable for sheep.

Fodder crops for next winter’s feeding supply are making excellent growth. They escape two disabilities of a year ago, excessive dryness, and severe white butterfly attack. On that latter point I know many well-qualified practical men who consider that the butterfly has been over-blamed for crop damage, and that the diamond-back moth has much to answer for. I see a Canterbury farmers’ meeting has passed a resolution of congratulation to the Cawthron Institute upon its results with the parasite controlling white butterfly. The situation in the Manawatu and Wairarapa, from my observations recently, appears as good as that described in. the south.

The prospects for a good supply of winter feed from crops of chou mollier, swedes, kale, turnips, and mangels, are excellent.

It is as well, for hay will not be in over-supply. Stocks were absolutely cleaned, out last spring, and much of this summer’s prospective heavy yield has been ruined Iby long weathering. As crops grow well, so do weeds. Mangels, carrots, and “rowed” swedes and turnips should be given a thorough weeding now, if this has not already been done, That given, Jhey will be set up for the rest of their growth. A Feilding farmer’s advertisement seen this week was of interest. He called for tenders for the weeding of nine acres of mangels. Extensive weeding is often beyond the capacity of a regular farm staff, and the use of outside labour for the job is sound policy. If the cash outgoing be regretted, it is wise to contemplate the improved yield that will result. That will many times repay the cost. Those with rape crops and with grain to harvest will be now looking to a tak-ing-up in the weather. A ripening of the rape is desirable, and good harvesting weather is wanted iby grain growers. Pasture Control.

Pasture growth these past 21 months has .been extremely strong. The November 1 start was, however, from rather bare fields, after a late, poor-growing spring that extended, to the end of October. Feed .is now plentiful, and, indeed, over-plentiful on many farms. (Much that was shut up for hay was unfortunately largely lost. Grass that grows now can only be of benefit. But fast growth, that up to Christmas, that stands unconsumed or uncut, is a liability. To clear this is a problem of farm management. One method advocated. - on highly-developed farms is that of topping. For long I have been, doubtful of the economic soundness of this policy, but, pn consideration, possibilities are seen in it. A good farm will be producing, say, £7 an acre yearly, in grazing value. That represents five ewes an acre to fat lambs, plus cattle, or a matter of 1151 b. only of butterfat an acre.

Meal to Pigs.

A farmer with his own plant can tup a paddock at, say, 4/6 an acre. That sum represents just 12 days’ grazing value, or 3 per cent, of the annual grazing return. I feel sure that a .paddock badly in need of topping would repay the cost twice or thrice over. Any areas mown should be cut fairly deeply; the term topping does tend to.indicate an over-high cutting. Best results follow cutting at little above ordinary levels, as for hay or ensilage, say two inches higher, but not more than that.

Paddocks mown for hay or ensilage are, of course, rendered perfect by their regrowth. As crops have been so heavy this season, soil depletion must'Eave been consequently great. For. that reason, the advised practice of topdreesin.g after the grass .harvest, becomes particularly advisable. On Dairy Farms.

Pasture control on dairy farms is, in general, easier to carry out than on sheep farms. A greater proportion of the farm is cut for hay and ensilage, and the dry stock provide a fine service for that purpose. Then, too, dairy stock naturally thrive oh longer feed than sheep will enjoy. An added gain in really dry weather is that cow pastures do not dry out; they maintain their growth wonderfully well. The weather experienced to date does not necessarily indicate that we shall have no summer. At any date now a truly hot spell may come, and it might last for weeks on end, right into April Rough weather over Christmas and New Year is not so very unusual. Ou dairy farms at this time of the year many seasonable matters are now disposed of; such as calving, rearing calves, the putting in of crops, and mating the herd. The milk flush, too. is over, and the herd should be now “running smoothly.’’ Apart from an average amount of shed

work, feeding pigs, and keeping an eye on weaned calves, animals do not now demand the attention they have done over the spring period from July.to the end of November. One exception to this worthy of mention is the care of cows that have failed to get in calf. A close watch should be kept for these. But that is no big job and so there is now some opportunity to consider the farm itself, apart from the animals upon it. Certain matters that may require attention are to be noted. Reference has already been made to weeding crop. That is really urgent. So, too, is hay and/or ensilage making. These must have first call.

Other minor but quite important matters are the cleaning-out of water troughs and any connected tanks or wells. There should be inspections to see that there is no wastage of water if this is scarce.

The cleaning away of any accumulation of manure that may be about the cowyard is another task, also the same clean-up to the pigs’ quarters. Then give the milking plant, separator and other equipment a mid-season inspection. This machinery has had a heavy run these past five months. Drenches and Licks. A sunless season does raise risks of infection from parasites and so weaned stock require particular care. The first need is short, sweet feed. Next comes good, clean water. But beyond those two natural first things come other attentions of quite definite importance. These include the drenching of weaned stock, right away. Calves, lambs and piglets all benefit from this precautionary treatment. To wait till they show signs of infection is false policy. Drench the lot, well or ill.

The provision of rock salt is always advisable, and lick is useful on most farms. If the stock don’t need it, they won’t eat it. It is best to put lick before them and let the animals judge their own requirements.

Weeds, of harmless species, are “good medicine.” A run-out pasture, full of weeds is generally preferable for young growing stock to “the ‘finest ever’ stand of rye-white.”

Valuable, though weedy, grazing may be often found in odd corners of the farm, perhaps bn the margins of a potato crop, in an old orchard, and so on. On. the subject of weeds, an. interesting idea has been seriously proposed in England. This is that a two or three yards wide strip should be sown in “weeds” right. across, newly-sown, high quality pasture, the weeds being to provide “medicine” for stock health. Such a proposal is certainly novel, and it gives one to think, coming from responsible sources.

Alost certainly the dairy farms of New Zealand have ibeen, as a whole, understocked with pigs this season. In conse-' quence the trend to baconer production has been strong. But now, as the milkflush is past, there may seem a need to swing back to pork. It is suggested that it would be a payable proposition to keep on with baeoners, using meal as a means to eke out the food supply. Meal-feeding is really little practised, yet almost all “tip-top” pig-ikeepers are Meal-feeders. The rank and file would foe soundly advised to follow the leaders in this. There is no question that meal feeding pays. All evidence proves this as a fact. If uncertain how to go about it, see your district pig club. During warm weather there.are certain points in pig-management that require notice. Pigs benefit from water to drink, quite apart from their milk. Keeping their feeding. troughs as clean as possible is; too, of extra importance at this season. Oiling against skin parasites is also to be recommended. For internal parasites, drenching is good practice. This is all too little followed ; yet pigs' are very liable to -worm infestation. Many “bad-doers” are simply worm-stricken, and could be readily and profitably cured. Another factor in fattening is frequency of feeding. Two feeds a day are unsound, three are better, and four should be attempted. Little and often is the best policy. Sheep Attention. The present is a very busy time on sheep farms, quite apart from any delayed shearing there may be; and, contrary to dairy farms, the current period is one of definite stock work on sheep places. There is drafting and weaning of lambs, attention to feet of all sheep, flagging of many or most, and the sorting up of the flocks generally. A very busy time is present, and will be. so for the next nine weekq. The works programme is influenced twofold, by ,the calendar and by the weather. The season being one of long grass and dampness, foot troubles and internal parasites must be guarded against. The feed conditions also promote scouring, and flagging of all sheep js more necessary than usual. Sheep going into sale should be attended to this way. as a lot of dirty-tailed sheep or lambs do not attract keen bidding. Goodness knows, it is difficult enough to get good bidding on fop-lines these days. The gradually growing _ practice m drenching Jambs at weaning time is heartily to be recommended. Their need of short, sweet feed is generally recognized, but the advantage of giving them frequent shifts is not so realized. This pays. even , though it means their entering some paddocks that are not ideal.