RESERVE SUPPLIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 276, 4 November 1933, Page 4

RESERVE SUPPLIES

PREPARING FOR WINTER HAY AND ENSILAGE MAKING I SEASONAL ACTIVITY IN H.B. Now that pastures are producing more feed than is necessary and lucerne stands have sufficient gorwth, the wise farmer is considering his fodder supplies for the next season. There is a story that once upon a time an ass broke into speech when goaded by the folly of a man. The man considered himself wise, but according to the story the ass for once had more sense. This story may—or may not —be true, but there is no doubt that in some respects the animal is able to teach the man. During the spring and summer bees store honey, squirrels store nuts and bears put on flesh. For what purpose? So that when the winter comes round they may draw on these reserve supplies for their maintenance. Tho farmer in common with others can draw a useful conclusion from this. Food that is not needed now will bo needed when the winter months come around, and the conservation of surplus plant growth in the form of hay or ensilage is sound farm economies. At tho present time there is surplus food going to waste in sonic parts of tho Hawke's Bay district, although this is admittedly not general. A visit to farming districts surrounding Hastings indicates the provision that some farmers are already making for next year. First cuts have been taken of lucerne in many instances and a number of pastures have already been cut. FIRST CUT IMPURITIES. A considerable amount of this forage is being made into ensilage, which is growing in favour every year in Hawke’s Bay. With the first cut of lucerne it is sound practice to utilise tho green fodder as ensilage on account of the greater percentage of impurities in the first cut than in the succeeding cuts. The best lucerne hay is made from stands which are free, or comparatively so, from weeds and other plants. The first cut of lucerne usually contains a fair proportion of weeds, and for this reason it is better converted into ensilage. For the successful making of ensilage the main points to remember are to harvest the crop when green and succulent to get the fodder ensiled as soon as possible before it has time to dry and to exclude as much air as posible.

Besides affording the best method of utilising the first cut of lucerne, ensilage has several advantages over hay. Surplus feed can be ensiled as it becomes available no matter what weather conditions are being experienced, and it can bo flitted into the farming programme without excluding other important farm operations. Thin is virtually impossible with haymaking, which is a whole-time job. Pastures benefit through the surplus feed being removed at the right time. Tho hay crop has already started, although a number of more cautious farmers are chary of commencing hay making until weather conditions aro definitely favourable and less liable to change. Those farmers who are holding off their haymaking should not hold off too long, as quality will suffer owing to the grass becoming over-ripe and steming. Rather than this occurring the feed should be turned into ensilage. TIME FOR CUTTING. Satisfactory hay depends very largely upon the time of cutting, weather conditions and tho proper curing and stacking of the raw material. Unfortunately, too many stacks are badly built and this spoils the chances of good hay being produced. The best time to cut grass for hay is when the majority of the plants aro in the early flowering stage. At this period the grass is most nutritious. Clovers should be cut at full bloom, and lucerne for hay should be cut when the young shoots have started from the crowns. It is because of this that the pasture I'm which one species of grass is dominant is the best, as all the plants reach the same stage of growth at the same time. There is no doubt that the best hay can be spoiled by too much turning, so if the weather breaks and cut grass becomes soaked, it is probably best to leave the grass undisturbed. The use of the haysweep and elevator is yet another way in which handling can be reduced to a minimum. Hay which has suffered through ram will improve if about 151bs of agricultural salt is sprinkled over the hay for each ton of tho crop.