MAIZE GROWING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21809, 4 September 1945, Page 4

MAIZE GROWING

EAST COAST SHARE 7000 ACRES IN DISTRICT OVER HALF N.I. TOTAL ‘Doubtless all farmers are conversant with the fact that the aftermath of nearly six years of war has brought the peoples of the world face to face with many serious problems. We are faced with the irrefutable statement of food economists that countless thousands will suffer semi-starvation in Europe this coming European winter unless primary production can be kept at its fullest possible pitch,” stated Mr. V. P. Boot, fields instructor to the Department of Agriculture, in an address in Gisborne last night. “The feeding of these people is one of the major problems of the Allied Nations food controllers. We in New Zealand have played a wonderful part in the maintenance of increased primary poduction during the war years. However, our job does not finish there. As we strove in war, so in peace must we exert every possible effort to maintain, and if possible, increase production. “To this end we must make every endeavour to grow our total requirements of maize to preclude the necessity for any importations for stock food.

12,000 Acres Wanted in North Island “In order to achieve this during the coming season the farmers in the maize-growing areas of the North Island have been asked to attain a goal of 12,000 acres. This figure has been based on the annual normal expected bushelage per acre in New Zealand. We in Gisborne and the East Coast districts have been asked to grow 7000 acres as our share, and I appeal to all farmers to resolve to grow an area of maize, no matter how big or small, to assist in reaching the required acreage,” Mr. Boot said. “During this last season approximately 3800 acres were grown, so that we have to grow a further 3200 acres if we are to do our share in this national effort to make our country completely independent of overseas maize importations. ‘Naturally, the farmer who has land under cultivation for spring-sown crops will ask himself, ‘Am I getting the best possible return from my land by sowing maize?’ It is possible that he may have contemplated sowing a pea, bean, or root crop. The point to remember is that maize is the safest cash crop to grow in this district, and in a normal season, with expert husbandry, yields from 80 and up to 120 bushels can be expected. New Season’s Price “With the new season’s price fixed at Cs 2d plus Is 6d, and taking into consideration the present production cost per acre, all bushelage over a yield of 45 bushels to the acre is clear profit. Thus a 90-bushel-per-acre crop would give the grower a profit of approximately £l7 3s per acre. In other words, successful maize-growing, apart from seasonal influence, is almost entirely dependent on careful seed selection, good post and anti-cultivation and, when possible, manuring. “Another point to remember is the £5 per acre subsidy which the Government pays to those who grow maize for supplementary feed for pigs,” he commented.

“I would point out that if we can achieve complete independence in the growing of our national maize requirements there will be no shortage of food for poultry-keepers, pig producers, and stock foods. The maintenance of this vital stock food supply will play a major part in enabling this country to assist materially in exporting primary pi'oducts to those people whose need is far greater than ours,” Mr. Boot concluded.