Knotty Problems in Farming

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 14, 5 January 1934, Page 2

Knotty Problems in Farming

Where Research Comes In

The problems of grassland investigations in relation to the Dominion's farming industry were reviewed by Mr. F. R. Callaghan, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, during the course of' an address to the Grassland Conference held in Christchurch. The purpose of his paper, he said, might be defined as an attempt at an economic consideration of the present and future Course of sheep and cattle farming in the Dominion, in the light of the various factors influencing these sections of our farming industry, and at the same time an examination of what course of grassland investigations is best designed to fit in with the sound development of these two branches of farming. Reviewing the land resources of the Dominion the speaker said that the total area of the Dominion which is in occupation is some 42,728,000 acres. Of this total approximately 17,000,000 acres comprise sown pastures, 14,000,000 acres are in native tussock grasses, and a further 4,000,000 acres are in fern and scrub. Approximately 5,000,000 acres are devoted to dairying, all of which will be on sown pastures, so that at least 12,000,000 acres of sown pasture, and 14,000,000 acres of native tussock lands are available for sheep and cattle grazing, quite apart from that not inconsiderable area of agricultural land which is also similarly used. The problems, then, of some 26,000,000 acres are those to which I consideration must be given by the pasture research worker who is concerned with the sheep and cattle industries. In this class of farming there are probably about 22,000 holdings. It will at once be realised that these holdings comprise all classes of land from the rich lowland flats, to almost barren mountain tops. These classes of land present to the research worker an extensive range of problems, and with him up until very recent years, the urge has continually been the need for more production, and cheaper production. When prices were rising the firstnamed predominated; when prices declined the latter exerted the greater influence. With the advent cf quantitive restrictions through proposed quota impositions in a time of acute falling prices, the whole outlook became changed. The sheep farmer is interested in the price received for wool, mutton and lamb. At the present time all of these are at a remarkably low level, and with the exception of wool none shows any sign cf improving. : Lamb and mutton, in addition, are 1 i

threatened with quota restrictions, which, though designed for the pur- ‘ pose of raising prices, may result in 1 an aggregate lessening of returns to the farmer, and certainly will negative any attempt he may make to offset the effect of low prices by in--1 creased production. Adequate Pastoral Resources After going into detail about sheep and cattle farming and as to how these industries were affected by recent trends in grassland research, Mr. Callaghan went on to remark that, assuming that quota control will be applied to mutton and lamb in a manner similar to that which now prevails in the terms of the general agreement, it would seem evident that New Zealand’s pastoral resources at the present time are adequate to provide all that Great Britain is prepared to take. There has been a gradual increase in the per head consumption of mutton and lamb in Great Britain 'since 1923, totalling about 41b per head. In view of the encouragement which is at- present being given to British farming, it seems likely that this rate of increase will be provided for by British farmers, and there will be no need to call on Dominion supplies. It is obvious that New Zealand can maintain her present export without any great effort. Reference has already been made to the increase displayed in the trend of mutton and lamb production. It would therefore seem that under a rigid quota scheme the application of even part of our new grassland knowledge would only serve to aggravate the position. Any quota scheme which makes no provision for taking additional amounts of mutton and lamb approximately in accordance with natural increasing production trends means stagnation, particularly in New Zealand, a youngcountry whose resources offer such scope for development. In a country which is approximating its maximum potential production, a quota restriction is much less felt, and causes much less disturbance of agricultural progress. While quotas are at present designed expressly to raise prices, this has dangerous consequences wherever alternative products are available. It is difficult to see what will be the consequences where prices as well as quantities enter into quota bargaining. Presumably there will be few, if any, mutton and lamb producing countries which could compete in the Britih markets on a price basis. In the event of free marketing continuing, then there is every reason to assume a keen competitive war on a price and quality basis. Leavingout of the consideration all matters other than pasture utilisation, which influence the price of mutton and lamb, then the position confronting grassland research is clear. Costs of production then become most im-

portant, and research should be di- ’ rected into those channels which pro- , duce at the lowest possible costs the , highest amount of feed units per acre. - In such circumstances the present range of activities should be intensified and increased attention devoted to the association of such research, more particularly with the animals themselves. Nothing probably could help the grassland research worker more at the present time than the knowledge of how his endeavours react on sheep and cattle beasts themselves. 11l meat production particular attention is necessary, and probably a good deal could be done to enhance New Zealand's already high reputation for quality lamb, and make it still more sought after in Great Britain by devoting some research to the influence of feeds on quality.

Reduction of Costs With a view to reducing costs of production of fat sheep and iambs it would seem advisable at the present time to devote more attention to the pasture problems of the better second class hill country. A great deal of this is at present carrying indifferent swards, and its proximity to more highly fertile fattening land gives it in many cases real value as a reservoir of store stock for farmers growing feed crops. Establishment factors and strains of grass and clover would appear to offer most scope in this class of land. In the case of wool, which for the time being may be regarded as being not subject to quota, it is obvious that all pasture research should be devoted towards reduction in costs of production and improvement in wool quality, as far as this is affected by feeding. The question is not a simple one, and something remains to be done to ascertain which avenue of grassland research is likely to provide best results, whether, for example, the adoption of better strains of grass, or fodder conservation is likely to reduce costs. If it is a question of increasing stock numbers, then particular attention must be devoted to the problem of providing at the cheapest rate, feed during those lean periods of the year which serve as distinctly limiting factors to flock growth.

Deteriorated Lands In the event of a quota being imposed, there will be naturally a tendency to let submarginal land go out of use. This will mean that large areas of the poorer North Island hill country will revert to fern and scrub. The cost of subsequently reclaiming this land whenever the position improves will be very heavy, and in many cases in excess of the cost of removing the original bush. The question of pasture deterioration will loom large everywhere in New Zealand. There is here a field for the research worker to devise means whereby this deterioration may be checked. The use of assertive strains of pasture plants, the adoption of different systems of stock management, may be very effective in this respect. While the quota system seems most discouraging to grassland research in regard to sheep and cattle production it should be borne in mind that tariffs, trade barriers, and quotas all have a pronounced non-permanent chaiacter. A new set of circumstances may do away with all types of restrictions, and this is what should be anticipated in New Zealand. Every use should be made of the present organisations for research to accumulate knowledge in such a way, as will be very readily put into practice, once restriction is removed, and thus enable New Zealand grassland products to be in a position to capture and supply whatever market is offering.