WHEAT YIELD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1926, Page 6

WHEAT YIELD

HOW CAN IT BE IMPROVED ?

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION URGED

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAITS ON MINISTER.

That a committee of experts from the Department of Agriculture should be appointed to inquire as to how this country could, through scientific research, be made self-supporting in the production of wheat, was advanced by a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce which waited on the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. 0. J. Hawken) to-day. la bit reply, the Minister said that he bad had this idea in his mind for some time, and had discussed it with bis departmental officers. He pointed out, however, that Lincoln College was doing a very valuable work in the middle of a wheat-growing area. He also said that a good price for wheat was the best incentive to give a farmer to grow wheat. Mr. A. L. Hunt urged that investigation should be made of the scientific side in regard to the growing of wheat. Valuable information in regard to developments in this matter had been ascertained by Sir Frank Heath iii other countries, and there was also important data available regarding productionincreases in certain European countries. The average New Zealand yield of wheat was SO bushels per acre, but crops of 70 and 80 bushels were known. The question was'of such importance that they believed a commit-' tee of experts should be set up by the Agricultural Department to investigate.', the scientific possibilities of increased wheat production in this country. They hoped that the expressions and opinions of Sir Frank Heath would not be lost sight of after he left these shores. NOT IN CEITiOAL MOOD. Mr. H; D. Vickerman said that the. deputation did not coma in a critical mood, but it desired to be of assistance to the Government. Last year'swheat yield had been affected to some extent by the bad sowing season, and that led to the thought that advantage might be gained from later sowing. Mr. J. T. Martin said that the Chambers of Commerce throughout New Zealand- stood firmly against any furtherinterference by the Government in the fixation of prices and control, and theybelieved that the Government's present. attitude was the right one. In the past farmers had not produced enough wheat for the requirements of the Dominion. That could be rectified in two ways. One way was as Mr. Hunt had suggested, and the other was freedom from control. Farmers might now be.inclined to turn further attention to wheatsNew Zealand's yield of wheat was one of the best in the world, but it was possible to increase it still further. InAmerica, experimental farms had been. set up, and farmers had been able to., study the problem. The yield had been greatly increased as a result of expcn : ments which had been carried out on the farms in intensified cultivation. They desired to urge upon the Government the advisability of helping the farmers in the production of wheat by the introduction of the best type of seed, and also investigating the use of certain manures. WOBTHY OF CONBEDEBATIOMr. Beplying to the deputation, the Minister said, that what had been sfiid;, was quite worthy of consideration. He had not yet seen Sir Frank Heath's report, but probably would have it in a day or two. A wet spring was respon-v sible for the poor production of wheat, last year. He referred to what was. done in years gone by in the growing of wheat on new land in the Dominion. This land had become infested with weed, and "couch" had reduced the crop by half. The smaller men found it very difficult to get rid of this weed as it meant that they had to wait two | years before the land could be cleared. To make it payable a small man had. to get a good price for wheat when he was able to grow it. Valuable research work had been done by Professor Hil: gendorff at Lincoln College. More could be done, no doubt, but he did not think we could add to our knowledge of what wheat to grow in New Zealand. - The financial difficulty facing the small man was the chief point to get over,. In the North Island the Marton area was about the only district where wheat could be grown. The position had been reached that in clearing land for wheat growing the costs had gone up very ■ considerably, and the small men' were thus very much handicapped. It was possible that a shorter period wheatmight suit Southland, which could grow move wheat than it had been doing. ' • , . : His policy would be to try to in-; crease production. Demonstration areas were the beat means of showing farmers how to grow crops, and if the money could be found that policy would be pursued. He would make every effort to put Si- Frank Heath's recommendations into effect; always provided money was available. Mr. Hunt asked if the Minister would : consider setting up a small committee: of officers to consider tho question. ■■'■ The Minister said that he had already had that in mind, and had discussed it with" the officers of his Department. Of course, Lincoln College... was doing a very valuable work in the middle of a wheat-growing area.