REDUCING RYE-GRASS COSTS Header-Harvesting Should Have Future In Hawke’s Bay

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 65, 18 March 1936, Page 12

REDUCING RYE-GRASS COSTS Header-Harvesting Should Have Future In Hawke’s Bay

Reduced cost of production arc the aim of every farmer, just as with tbe industrialist, where lie wishes to compete successfully with others. In the grass-seed business as in other branches of farming, it is possible that, with greater use of header-harvesting, production costs in Hawke’s Bay' can be substantially reduced. Whereas South Island grass-seed growors are able to profitably market dressed grass-seed at 1/d a bushel, Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay farmers find that such a price is uneconomic. What is the reason? Only that in Canterbury use is made of the header harvester, and by direct heading tho costs of production are considerably reduced. Admittedly- the header harvester will not cope with matted grass that has been damaged by wind and rain, but, where pastures are properly- managed, and are not infested with plants like burr clover, then the results are most satisfactory.

Tho current issue of the “Dairy Exporter” contains a description of the management followed out on one Hawke’s Bay farm where it was intended to head-harvest the area. On

this particular farm, a niuefy-aere padclock was closed up during the first week in December. Por some time prior to the closing of the paddock, 1400 ewe hogets were grazed, and tho area not closed until the ry-e vfns actually commencing to run to seed-head. The hoggets kept the clover under excellent control, but, of course, checked the growth of the rvc to a certain extent. The result was an excellent stand of well-headed rye-grass, which, with the exception of five -acres which were heavily infested with Scotch thistle, was remarkably freo from weeds and undesirable annuals such as goose and hair grass. From 05 acres headed over lfi tons of seed were obtained. Proper sweating and drying i s the main feature to be considered in obtaining a satisfactory sample. Headed seed contains 100 much moisture to allow of immediate bagging, and tho seed therefore has to be allowed to sweat first. The seed can bo laid out on the floor of a shed, where it is turned as required to prevent heating. After a few days, depending on the amount of moisture originally- present, the seed will be dry and ready- for bagging.