THE FARMING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18763, 17 July 1924, Page 11

THE FARMING INDUSTRY.

DECLINE OF WHEAT GROWING

GRAZING A SOUNDER POLICY.

FBI TELEGRAPH,—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON Wednesday.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Council of Agriculture opened today, Mr. W. Perry presiding.

The Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, said the council during the whole of its existence had kept clear of party politics. He thought that was a good thing for all. He understood that the Royal Agricultural Society would take over the functions of the conference in future. That was a progressive step.

In his address, Mr. Perry said the past year had proved a record one as far as the total values of New Zealand' farm produce were concerned, But this had been obtained by high values rather than by an increase in quantity, with one noticeable exception, that of dairv produce. Another year of equal prices would put'many a farmer into a sound position again. He stressed the fact that farmers should improve their methods regarding the .land farmed. More intensive methods were required. Wheat growing was on the decline in V <nv Zealand and it was not much wonder when one look into account what ar» crop it was. Land that had grown a big crop or two of wheat would afterwards fail to give a good yield l of grass unless it was heavily dressed wH! manure. When one took into account the heavy cost_ of production and the depletion of soil fertility it was astonishing that anyone grew wheat, and It was easily understood that it required a very high price to compensate the farmer. As as sheep, cattle and dairying were making reasonable returns grazing was a much sounder policy. New Zealand was naturally more suited to pastoral pursoits than grain growing, and to put his land' into good permanent pasture with its lessened annual cost, was the only way the farmer could defend himself against the artificially high cost of everything he had to purchase.