MOST URGENT NEED OF FARMERS TO-DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7098, 21 December 1929, Page 9

MOST URGENT NEED OF FARMERS TO-DAY

Better Feeding

BRIGHTER PROSPECTS FOR COMING YEARS PREDICTED

At this season, the end of the year, it is somewhat natural on the part ot farmers to ask what arc the prospects for the coming years, and hence it will prove interesting to many to review those aspects of New Zealand farming which particularly concern the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture.

When ono begins to consider what is ahead of New Zealand farmers, there are certain past results which immediately force themselves into one’s thoughts. There are, for instance, dairy farms, the production of whicn works out at from 220 to 2801 b. but-ter-fat an acre, and these farms are in districts in which the average production is from 110 to 1401 b. butter-fat an acre. Again, there are sheep farms carrying from two to three ewes to the acre for each ewe carried on neighbouring farms of equal size, the farms all being similar except in respect to management. And again, fat lambs are being freoly produced now on farms on which it was difficult, if not impossible, to produce them until practices which are not —as yet —common in the districts were introduced.

Examination of such highly satisfactory results invariably shows that there is no essential reason why somewhat similar results should not become the general rather than tho exceptional feature of the farming in their respective districts. Examination further shows that tho chief reform in methods needed to bring tho general achievement of such results may be summed up in the words, "better feeding.” Indeed, there is abundant and conclusive evidence that the most potent and immediato means of bringing about not only higher production, but also lower cost of production, lies in what is implied by better feeding. This evidence goes to show that in many, many instances stock is capable of producing much more efficiently than methods of feeding allow it to produce; or, to put it more bluntly, that the inherent efficiency of stock is, at times, greater than the displayed efficiency of farmers. Quite an important aspect of tho position is that, within a single season, by better feeding of the stock we already have, a substantial increase in production and reduction of cost of production could bo brought about. In brief, the most urgent need of farming to-day lies not so much in certain spheres that have been receiving and that deserve attention, but in the sphere of feeding, which has beon relatively neglected. To bettor feeding farmers can look for immediate and substantial improvement. Fortunately, in this sphere, matters generally are developing along lines which give cause for congratulation and for confidence in the future. To obtain a properly balanced grasp of tho position it is necessary to keep in mind the fact that New Zealand’s grassland provides this country’s crop of outstanding importance, not merely because of the predominant acreage devoted to grassland, but also Because stock feed produced from grassland is, as a rule, cheaper than that produced from any other crop. Grassland is nationally Now Zealand’s greatest and cheapest source of stock feed. Leading farmers have demonstrated what improved methods mean in terms of increased production. Many otners, seeing what these have done, arm to do similarly themselves. With this spirit abroad, New Zealand promises to lead the Empire in grassland farming, and to make pointless the cynical assertion of a prominent visitor who, taking into account our climate anu soil, said that we were successful farmers not because of ourselves, But ir. spite of ourselves. In other related fields the prospects are bright. The system of seccr certification which has been introduced seems destined not only to put farmers in tho way of obtaining superior lines of certain important seeds, but also to lay the foundations of a valuable export seed business. It seems likely that more than 20,000 bushels of certified perennial ryegrass seed will be obtained during tho coming harvest in one district, and this should be but the forcrunnor of extensive supplies of certified ryegrass seed from all or sevoral of the districts which have provided supplies of ryegrass in the past. ltecent work in regard to manuring and to disease control of cereals and of forage crops gives promise of better results with these crops in the future. The successful growing of these crops and the proper utilising of them as auxiliaries to tho pastures often has an important bearing on tho returns from the whole farm. Henco greater success with such crops is likely to Pave far-reaching effects.