PROBLEMS OF DAIRYING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3444, 17 March 1932, Page 7

PROBLEMS OF DAIRYING.

PROVISION OF GRASS FOR THE WINTER. Farming is necessarily a slow business and one which does 'not lend itself to sudden change, but, nevertheless, adaptability is one of the most valuable qualities a 1 farmer can have.

There are many factors which militate against drastic change—the character of the soil and its productive limitations, the farming traditions of the district which are the results of many years of experience, and the adopted rotation of crops which fit in well with one another and show the most economic return for expenditure. But, in spite of all these, says a leaflet issued by the British Ministry of Agriculture, a careful observer will note certain ' gradual modifications of farming practice in almost every part of the country, and, although the progress to better things is inevitably slowthere is, as a rule, sound reason f'.i any alteration that may be effected Grazing is one of the various phases of farming that are suitable subjects for modification, and in many cases farmers may, with advantage, consider the possibility of certain alterations in their methods. For example, temporary leys ...are often recommended in some districts as a means of conserving labour and increasing the fertility of the soil. The farmer may begin by laying down land to lucerne, thus effecting the enrichment of the soil and a higher degree of insurance against drought. He may experiment with intense rotational grazing. He is not normally short of grass in summer, and he knows that in a drought water and not fertiliser, is the determining factor.

He may not, therefore, wholeheartedly adopted new methods, but at least he may try the system which gives him an extension of the grazing season at both ends by the aid of artificial manures, and he will be aware of the excellent effect of nitrogen on Italian ryegrass in promoting early spring feed. He knows that the great thing is to secure a supply of grass as long as possible through the winter, for he must look to outwintering more and more for reasons both of health of stock and farming economy. Usually he has to rely on a pasture left rough in autumn. One that is eaten down bare in autumn and grazed intermittently throughout the winter has little stock-carry-ing capacity in the "dead" season and begins growth late in the spring. On the other hand, a pasture that has been manured in early autumn and left unstocked for a month or two will usually produce an abundance of fresh green feed at a time when succulent herbage is scarce. The farmer knows that it is impracticable to manure all his winter grass, and he can best serve himself with a judicious blend of various treatments rough pasture, bare pasture manured early and left for a month or two, and Italian ryegrass helped along by nitrogen for earliest spring feed. Closely related to the question of grazing and out-wintering is that of I the provision of shelter for stock. The wise farmer who increases his; winter grass will also plant shelter belts; that is, of course, in cases where the cheaper, home-made shelters are not sufficient for his needs.