GRASSLAND FARMING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 May 1930, Page 7

GRASSLAND FARMING

DOUBLING OUR PRODUCTION LIKELY TO RE REALISED Mr A. JT. Cockayne, formerly in direct charge of I he" Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture and now Assistant. Director-General, has expressed the opinion that predictions of the doubling of our production from grasslands within a comparatively short space, of lime is likely to be a. reality, lie has made a very complete survey of the progress being made in grassland farming, and in these depressed times it is a message of hope. FEATURES OF DEVELOPMENT At the present time, states Mr Cockane, New Zealand grassland-farming practices are. largely centred on the development of the three following phases:— (1) The production of better conditions for pasture growth. (Z) The provision, for bettor management, ami belter facilities for better utilisation.

(3) The provision of stock bettor suited (o influence directly the economic efficiency of better conditions and better utilisation.

All these three phases of grasslandmanagement are being developed, intensified, and standardised in certain instances with a rapidity that savours of the magical, but in'others quite slowly, indicating clearly the complexity of the whole, general problem and that of the "unknown" emerging with every forward step taken. The main features that rapidly pass through one's mind in considering these three phases of grassland-farming practice; are clear enough, even though the list be long. They comprise drainage, fertilising, liming, surface cultivation, hay and ensilage making, mowing of surplus growth, smaller paddock subdivision, more adequate watering, shelter, diseasecontrol, and breeding under tested control.

GREATEST SINGLE FACTOR

The greatest, single factor at the present time that is commencing to greatly stimulate production from grassland is fop-dressing. The area lop-dressed is being increased at the rate of many hundreds of thousands of acres annually, and well over 300,000 tons of fertilisers, almost all of a phosphatic nature, are being used on grassland in lengthening both the growth-period and increasing the actual production of highprotein grass. In addition, about onequarter of that quantity of lime is being used, mainly in the shape of ground limestone. Even though topHlressing has increased greatly of recent years, the. total area annually dealt with is still well under 3,000,000 acres. I forecast 'that within the next decade—provided expanding and payable markets are maintained—our top-dressing tonnage will reach the million mark. The fact that most New Zealand soils aro naturally low in phosphates makes phosphatic fertilisers of first consideration, but the change from single to more complete manuring, where lime, nitrogen, and potash steadily gain in importance, is not far distant.' So far as lime and nitrogen are concerned, future requirements need give us no concern, but the safeguarding of adequate phosphate and potash supplies is of the very first importance.

PEDIGREE GRASS

Of perhaps more real significance than any other feature of grassland forming, and at present barely recognised, is thequestion of strain so far as the actual grass crop is concerned. Along this line work somewhat similar to that being conducted at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station is being carried out by the New Zealand Plaih Research Station. It has clearly shown that the runmng-out of pastures is due very largely to. the tvpes sown being of a bad or non-per-manent character, and that when leafy persistent, tvpes are used all those methods of modern management leading to higher production arc rendered far more economical and efficient. So far as perennial ryegrass is concerned the work is well advanced, and other grasses and clovers are being brought under study. The pedigree grass, capable of maximum returns under the hard stocking conditions contemplated by what has been termed rotational grazing, is really as essential as pedigree stock if anything like full utilisation of grass-growth is to be realised. Recognition of this fact and the application of that recognition is destined to play an even more important role in New Zealand 'rrasslandmanagement than any of the milestones which have been passed in the history of New Zealand farming.

DOUBLING OUR PRODUCTION

Improvement in grass ami clover strain, improvement in growth conditions, improvement in utilisation, and improvement in stock attuned to grass-land-management conditions—all of which are being rapidly developed and applied—make it clear that grassland products will enormously increase in the near future, and the estimate of a doubling of our production in a comparatively short space of time is likely (o become a reality. It may bring in its train several grave difficulties, particularly those of marketing. Another weakness is that grassland farming offers only a limited variety of output, and in seasons when prices for both cow and ewe products are depressed the farmer's financial position may become embarrassed. Nevertheless, the future, destiny of New Zealand, to my mind, is grassland farming developed to its very highest stage. Many other features of land-utilisation will no doubt develop and extend, biit they are unlikely to ever overshadow in any way New Zealand's capabilities for growing" milkproducing grass.