RECENT DRY SPELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21111, 19 February 1932, Page 14

RECENT DRY SPELL.

EFFECT ON PASTURES.

FUTURE FEED PROSPECTS

SPECIAL PROVISION NEEDED

BY K.P.

The Auckland province, and particularly the Waikato, hns suffered severely from lack of moisture over the last few months. Pastures have burnt off past the stage where they could satisfy the requirements of dairy cows, and the neb result has already been noticed in the diminishing returns recorded by factories.

In their efforts to arrest the fnlling-ol'f in butter-fat yields, farmers in several districts have commenced to feed out ensilago and in sO doing have made serious inroads into their stocks of winter feed. The hopo is being expressed that good autumn rains will promote a pasture growth which will carry stock well into tho winter. This is not a time for farmers to sit down and trust to luck. Those who have adopted the very sound policy of sowing out a few acres of roots will find that tho recent rains have done a power of good in pushing on tho development of these crops, which now will almost cortainly yield well. Roots and Hay. In spite of all that has been said and written about the advantages of grassland farming, with its'dependence upon hay and ensilage for winter feed, one cannot get away from the fact that roots and hay make better winter rations for dairy cattle. However, it is now too late in the year to start making land ready for roots for the coming winter; but there is still time to put in a few acres of catch crops, which will servo very well as a substitute. Italian rye, Western Wolths, Dun oats or Black Skinless Barley are all suitable crops to sow at this time of the year., Put in now, any one of them will make good growth before winter and may even be depended upon to provide a certain amount of winter and early spring grazing. With a few acros of a decent crop of supplementary fodder at hand to relieve the pastures it is surprising how the latter will come away, especially if they have been well harrowed and topdressed , Bare Pastures.

Probably the worst feature of a shortage of winter feed is tho effect upon permanent pastures. These have to be grazed down harder than is good for them at a critical period of tho year, with the result that they never get a decent spell in which to make growth. It is not in the best interests of grassland to have stock standing- by waiting for each blade of grass as it grows. With a few acres of supplementary feed to work on, the pastures may be saved to tho extent that tlicy are ready to take up their burden in the early spring. Even two or three acres of good green feed have often saved tho situation for a dairy farmer, and, judging by present conditions, tho months ahead will thoroughly test that statement. Look to the Pastures.

Following on a good, soaking rain there should certainly be a good autumn growth of grass, and because of this it may be that many will hesitato to top-dress until it is too late again. Those who looked ahead and top-dressed some of their grass in December while there was still somo moisture in tho ground and plenty of feed about have not felt tho dry spell to any serious extent. Those who topdressed in December found that the fertilisers applied had time to do their work before the dry spell set in, but those who left their top-dressing until the grass was going off through lack of moisturo have had no benefit.

Tho same thing will probably happen again; thoso who get busy now and apply a good dressing will find themselves with not only a good autumn growth, but a good winter and early spring growth as well. Superphosphate, of course, is outstanding for uso at this time, as it is so quick in its action. The point to emphasise is tho necessity of putting the superphosphate on right away to securo the maximum benefit—that is, a continuation of tho early autumn growth right into tho winter. If a few months are permitted to elapje because tho autumn flush of grass gives' a sense of security, the growing season will have passed and th o to,p-dressing will bo restricted in its action.