PRIMARY PRODUCTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 17

PRIMARY PRODUCTION.

STEADY INCREASE OF OUTPUT.

IMPROVED METHODS OF GRASS LAND FARMING.

WELLINGTON, September 17. The opinion that the general fall in values for all primary products the world over is more an indication that a period of comparatively low prices lies ahead of the farmer than of over-production having been reached, is expressed by the Director-general of Agriculture (Dr C. J. Reakes) in his annual report presented to Parliament to-day. The report reveals marked progress in production and the use of scientific method in primary industries.

The season of 1929-30, states the report, has been marked by a serious decline in values of export commodities, almost without exception, with a consequent shrinkage of national income. Had the lower price levels been confined entirely to those products from grassland—wool, meat, and butter-fat, the production of which is steadily expanding—it could be viewed that a temporary saturation point for these, our major exports, had been reached on our present overseas markets; but such is certainly not the case, and the general fall in values for all primary products the world over is more an indication that a period of comparatively low prices lies ahead of the farmer than of over-production having been reached. The policy of “ increased production on an economic basis ” still holds true, as New Zealand’s remedy for lowering prices, combined with ever-im-proving quality to enable the markets we have to be held and extended. So far as increased production of our grassland products is concerned —wool, meat, and . butter-fat, from which the major portion of our national income is primarily derived—the position is exceedingly satisfactory, and the past season marks a new high level. In the five-year period 1921-25 the average annual value of grassland products on a standard price basis was_ £34,626,000. During the five years 1925-30 the average annual value

amounted to £41,456,000. Even more significant is the yearly increase since 1925 (calculated on the same standard price basis) over the average of the previous five years, which indicates the upward movement that is taking place, and which is being more than maintained. The figures showing this increase are as follows:—

In no period of New Zealand’s history [V 19 Production increased to the extent that v- taking place at the present time, and this is a direct reflection of improving farm practices in which top-dressing, better stock, and better grassland management are all playing their parts. The essentials in grassland farming are pasture, livestock, and management. All these three factors are equally important. Improvement in livestock and improvement in management are generally recognised by farmers, while herd-testing and culling, animal hygiene, top-dressing, controlled grazing, and grassland manipulation generally are becoming standard practices. The significance of the actual improvement in the components of grassland itself, apart from that brought about by management, lias, however, up to the present, not been sufficiently recogni&ed In point of fact, strain in grasses and clovers is of equal importance to topdressing or any other of the factors of management. All our common grasses and clovers consist of a large number of types as essentially different from one another in performance and value as are livestock. Until such time as pasture species become graded and pedigreed, as is becoming the case with livestock, the full measure of scientific grassland farming cannot be realised. The report adds that the work of the plant research station at Palmerston Aorth has clearly shown the importance ot strain in ryegrass, cocksfoot, white and red clover, and has demonstrated that many pastures in New Zealand consist of strains of outstanding merit, showing high leat production, a long seasonal growth, and a high degree of permanence.

Approximate Amount per cent. Year. of increase of increase. 1925-26 .. £2,324,000 6.7 1926-27 4,804,000 13.9 1927-28 6,524,000 18.8 1928-29 8,624,000 24.9 1929-30 .. 11,874,000 34.3