LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 25306, 8 June 1935, Page 12

LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

(Conducted by

W. S. Allan,

M. Agr. Sc.)

SCIENCE CONGRESS ■

AGRICULTURAL SECTION

Wide Range Covered

FARM- MANAGEMENT PRESENT-DAY CONSIDERATIONS. LACK OF WORKING CAPITAL. In an interesting address on “Farm Management” Mr G. A. Holmes (technical adviser to the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand Ltd.) placed some significant facts and conclusions before the Science Congress last week. His subject was mainly agricultural economics as an applied science, and in a carefully reasoned discourse he touched on many important aspects of the modern system of farming in New Zealand. The “dismal science” of economics, he said, had come into its own. ' The history of the past 20 years chronicled events of unprecedented magnitude, and provided practical, personal and often unpalatable illustrations of the operations of economic ■. laws. Due in large measure to a liberal system of education, and to the copious circulation of printed matter, the man in the street to-day had become an economist, ever ready to discuss the causes of depression as affecting various classes and to prescribe remedies. The obvious imperfections of the monetary system, unemployment at the same time a cause and an effect of restricted purchasing power, political interference with production and exchange of commodities and so on, combined to produce a general disillusionment with “this sorry scheme of things entire,” and this led, in some quarters, to a desire to “shatter it to bits,” ignoring the basic facts of remoulding. The work of previous centuries, with all its imperfections, was no mean achievement, and the rate of progress to-day was unbelievably rapid. The chief aim of science was the raising of the standard of living of the whole people, and so successful had agricultural science been that it would appear to have resulted in enabling production to outstrip consumption—to have ushered in an age of plenty. From this point of view many of the weighty volumes written by the classical economists might be relegated to-day to the upper shelf of the library; their most carefully considered dictums required modification, if not total revision, in the light of recent events. The scientist was ever an optimist, and took for granted that the present difficulties were but a passing phase. He planned for development rather than limitation. In times of depression, economic considerations were constantly in mind, so that he might often be led to put aside those basic investigations which aimed at increasing fundamental knowledge, and to concentrate on applications of science to practical needs. This would explain the undoubted popularity of agricultural research in its various branches, as representing an obviously practical form of applied science. . Agricultural Economics. “Agricultural economics,” said Mr Holmes, “asa/branch of applied science presents many difficulties to the research worker, particularly in a country such as New Zealand with its extreme variations of soil types, climatic conditions, and management practices. Each farm, if intensively studied, becomes a thesis in itself. Farm production, however, cannot be costed, as can factory production, over a short period; a great deal of the work done and of the expenditure involved is for the future, and chargeable, therefore, to capital account; a great deal of the revenue of a particular season may be obtained at the expense of the future. The fundamental importance of agriculture demands an exact knowledge of its economic situation, and such knowledge can be gained only by systematic research. In this work England is recognized as a present day leader—the Oxford Institute being known throughout the world for its work on detailed farm costings. While this provides a considerable degree of exactness, the limited number of farms which can be costed seriously restricts the application of the results. In the United States the farm survey project is the most popular approach to farm management study, but that country possesses vast areas over which conditions are reasonably uniform. American economists are convinced of the value of such surveys in directing agricultural policy and legislation.” Costing and Accounting. In the solution of farm management problems Denmark had adopted the farm accounting method as a research implement, the accounts being kept by paid employees of local farm accounting societies, run somewhat on the lines of the New Zealand Association. Denmark had, in 1929, over 100 paid consultants engaged in farm bookkeeping, and the compilation of records. In New Zealand the detailed costing of farm enterprises had scarcely been attempted as yet, but financial records were available for thousands of ,farms and their study furnishes a base for broad generalization. Sometimes the information was not very illuminating —rather of the type “the average dairy farm employs 2.3 men and carries 27.29 cows.” Apart from considerations such as reducing the net income by those fortunate enough to be liable for payment of income tax, properly kept farm accounts should prove directly useful to the farmer in reviewing the financial results of his various enterprises in drawing up a budget for the forthcoming year, and in planning reorganization to meet changing conditions. The state of agriculture was at all times dynamic not static, and this applied particularly to the post-war years which had witnessed such wild fluctuations of prices. Expert analysis of financial records en masse could bring to light valuable generalizations concerning farm management methods, but the danger was that the expert might produce inferences which were not at all applicable to individual cases as they occurred in practice. The economist, as a scientist, would highly value definite results in figures, but he must sadly admit that such results would be definite only for a limited area and for a short space of time. The great difficulty was the elimination of variable factors and of these the personal factor was the most variable of. all. Professor O’Brien emphasized this by his statement that the farming industry must by its nature ever remain individualistic and unorganized. It was the farmer who made the farm by his knowledge and application, his energy and initiative. Give him reasonable stability of the price level and of

general economic conditions and freedom from bureaucratic interference .and he would, in a majority of cases, come through with a profit. The laissezfaire school had much to commend it. Value of Research.

“The assistance which the farmer - can receive from the research worker is recognized to-day more widely than ever before, and there can be cited many examples of recent developments which are of direct economic value. These, like the seed falling on good ground, have usually taken time to mature, and frequently have been the result of team work by groups of scientists in Government departments, university colleges, or commercial firms. The foundation is laid by investigations in pure science, carried on by research in applied science and crowned by application to farm practice with the co-operation of the farmers themselves who in the ultimate analysis are the true economists. There are gaps to be bridged at all stages of this construction and more especially often between the demonstration of an improved practice and its general adoption. Conservatism is particularly strong in times of uncertainty as to prices, and agriculture cannot be progressive unless it is profitable. Returning sanity among the nations may bring us to this most desired haven. Average Otago Conditions. “Assuming a policy of development of agricultural production to be desirable or to become desirable, the knowledge of methods of improvement is not lacking,” said the speaker. Referring particularly to the farms of Otago and Southland, the writer would summarize a few general conclusions based on personal observation and probably without expounding anything novel, such conclusions being applicable to that unreality—the “average farm.” The average farm is underpowered, resulting in paddocks being run out years before they are broken up and in work getting behind and crops sown late if the spring is unfavourable. In this connection the use of the crude oil tractor, with its extremely low running cost, is one of the most promising of recent developments. (This is apart altogether from the long-standing arguI ment of tractor versus horses.) CultiI vation work could be more evenly I balanced throughout the year by sow--1 ing more autumn oats—that is, if a good white variety suitable for autumn I sowing were available here at present. “On the average farm the pastures ' have too short a life, running out into fog, brown top, or sweet vernal often in the third year after sowing. This can be avoided by the adoption of better methods of establishment, the use of improved pedigree strains of grasses and clovers, the maintenance of surface fertility and the control of grazing, all of which have received the careful attention of the research worker and the liberal publicity of the journalist. Grassland management, however, still remains the weakest feature of our farming; many farmers are suspicious of “artificial” fertilizers and adopt an attitude of anti-authoritarianism towards recommendations which would involve modification of their existing practice. On the other hand, the unqualified advocacy of the extreme type of grassland farming postulates an unrestricted and increasing demand for livestock products, conditions which do not appear to be held by the immediate future. “In the southern provinces there is urgent need for improved technique in the production of small seeds. To-day the securing of a good crop of grass or clover seed is looked on largely as a matter of chance—as good luck rather than good management. Some degree of specialization is required, as also a considerable amount of large-scale experimental work covering methods of establishment, of manuring (a very different matter compared with the manuring of grass for pasture), of harvesting, and of after-harvest treatment. For example, there is good reason to contend that under certain conditions it would pay to “farm” the despised brown top. In addition to the species commonly grown to-day, there is no valid reason why we could not grow all our own requirements of Alsike, Timothy, and Poa Trivialis, to mention only three of the most important. Prices of practically all grass and clover seeds are far too high for the man who has to purchase them, and as a result any possibility of improving our hill country by surface sowing has to be deferred in the meantime, and reversion to third-grade grasses, fem, tutu, and scrub goes on unchecked. At a much lower scale of prices the growing of grasses for seed could still prove a remunerative business if proportionately higher yields were secured by special methods. Nutrition and Lauour. On the average farm, he said, insufficient attention was paid to the nutrition of stock, a subject of paramount importance on English farms. Fortunately, New Zealand conditions did not necessitate the purchase of any large quantities of feeding stuffs, but, without undue additional expense, stock could, by better feeding methods, be maintained in better health and condition. A striking feature of the large scale research work with sheep carried out at Lincoln College had been the demonstration of the dietary origin of several common troubles. It was important to recognize that a mixed diet was preferable to a single diet and to apnly this by sowing mustard, oats, or linseed with rape; by feeding out clover, hay or chaff and meatmeal, with turnips and so on. The control of grazing and the - use of mineral supplements suited to the district were important subjects in their bearing on efficient pasture utilization. In former times the farm produced a wide variety of products for sale and provided almost the whole requirements of the family; the modem farm was often specialized along restricted lines, and produced sometimes only one commodity—milk—or two —fat lambs and wool. This led to the suggestion that the average farm was not employing sufficient labour to look after such lines as pigs and poultry, orchard and garden. This suggestion could be followed too easily into the province of the politician. Overhead expenses were out of proportion to direct costs of production, and became in slump times a serious burden to the landholder who had “gone in” at a period of high prices. Interest, rent, rates, and extra taxes accounted for from 35 per cent, to 60 per cent, of the farmer’s income in the comparatively good year 1933-34 Some relief in the scaling down of these charges was taking place and the re-

duction of interest rates promised considerable relief. Faced with lower overhead charges the farmer could reinvest more of his income in goods and services for the improvement - of his property. Under-Capitalized Land.

“All this will go to show that the average farm is under-capitalized in respect of working capital—too high a proportion of the farmer’s capital (whether borrowed or otherwise) having gone into high-priced land. The chronic shortage of credit is often blamed on the lending institutions and State aid is invoked to distribute with a larger hand. The doling out of credit ad lib. could transform an area of manuka scrub into a garden, that is if one man got his own share and that of some hundreds of others. The supply of credit, under our present system must be made to go round fairly, and the demand for credit must be consistent with existing price levels for the products of the land and for the supplies we purchase. Easy credit provides an easy way of getting into debt. The questions of agricultural credits, security, land values, interest rates and price levels are inter-related and form a considerable part of the subject of agricultural conomics. “Of the farms below the average there are not a few which may be described as sub-marginal, and it would be no loss to the community as a whole if these were allowed to go out of cultivation, some areas being maintained as good, clean grazing country and some afforested. Among the farms above the average are many outstanding examples of well-managed farms where everything has an appearance of efficiency, where crops -and pastures are virtually free of weeds and where an ailing sheep is a rarity. It is possible through the co-operation of the scientist and the economist with the man on the land to raise the standard of the average farm towards this level.” CLUB-ROOT IN TURNIPS CONTROL OF DISEASE. ADDRESS TO SCIENCE CONGRESS. “Some Aspects of Club-root Control” formed the basis of a paper read by Mr J. T. Gibbs, of the Plant Research Station, Palmerston North, before the agricultural section of the Science Congress of the Royal Society. It was pointed out by the speaker that club-root was a most serious disease affecting particularly turnips and swedes, and methods were outlined as to the practical application of the research work conducted by the Department of Agriculture in an endeavour to control the disease. Information in regard to the life habit of the organism causing the trouble was detailed, and it was asserted that by the use of lime and non-acid fertilizers, such as basic slag or basic super a moderate amount of control of the disease could be obtained. The importance of using clubroot resistant varieties such as “Bruce” turnip and “Whilemsburger” swede, which withstood the ravages of the disease, was of considerable importance, and these varieties were specially recommended when the trouble was likely to be found. Summarizing his paper, Mr Gibbs had the following to say:—“From _a brief review of farming practices in New Zealand it is concluded that the severity of club-root in this country is due largely to the unwitting dissemination of spores, the failure of long rotations to eradicate the disease, the use of acid manures with the seed and the failure to use club-resistant varieties while the soil is reasonably clean. A recognition of the methods of spore distribution and the significance of lime and basic manures together with the substitution .of standard varieties by the hieh yielding resistant strains would, at little additional cost, rapidly reduce the present losses due to clubroot.” WEIGHT IN THE CLYDESDALE On various occasions during the last few years the question has been raised whether there is not a tendency in the modem Clydesdales to go to undesirable lightness. In an address given in Scotland recently, Mr J. S. Murray, of Dalgig. New Cumnock, said:— Soundness of body and limb are again the principal things to try for in the breeding of Clydesdales. Breed for weight, strength and substance, as well as quality. The Shire horse in England is holding its own against the. Clydesdale, because he has more weight, and though his legs are a bit rough he has more bone and he has a grand knack of shifting a heavy load. The best Clydesdales of to-day are wonderful, but is the breed weighty enough? Is too much attention not being devoted to straight, long hair around the pasterns and down the back of the legs? Has the average Clydesdale plenty of bone? Does the average Clydesdale represent and denote the purpose for which it is here? I leave Clydesdale men to answer that question.

If there was introduced more weight in body and bone, with deep, sound feet, and less attention paid to silky hair and fine bones, the demand for Clydesdales would still increase. In America, Canada, Australia, in every country, they want weight. A Clydesdale horse should be a good, springy It is amusing at some shows to see some of the leaders of Clydesdales showing their horses. They hold the animal close by the head and walk up and down before the judge as if they were walking over a precipice on a six-inch plank. The exhibitor should be made to give the animal at least half a yard of halter and let it walk with a brisk, jaunty step.

SOIL SURVEYS IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS. In a paper entitled “Soil Survey in Relation to Irrigation,” Mr L. 1. Grange, of the Department oi Scientific ana industrial Research, stated that the purpose of the paper was to show the method of maxing soil surveys tor irrigation, to demonstrate tneir value, and to describe briefly the surveys which had already been done. The soil series were basea on the profile and types on the texture of the soil. Particular attention had to be paid to texture, for upon it depended the water holding capacity of the soil. Soil surveys were useful in determining whether a project was sound. There might be excessive salts brought near tne surface by irrigation or leached from sloping ground and carried to low flats, there to cause trouble. Impervious subsoils might be disadvantageous even if there were no salts on account of a high water table.

The soil types gave a sound foundation for observations as to the amount of water required for each farm. The plant food status was helpful for arriving at a fertilizer programme. Quantitative measurements on pasture were the only means of arriving at the optimum dressings of fertilizers, but, as few of these could be undertaken in a district, the plant food status of the soils could be used to apply the results of quantitative experiments on one type of soil to other types. Mr A. H. Flay, of the Lincoln Agricultural College, contributed a paper on “Irrigation On the Canterbury Fann, with Special Reference to Farm Management.” He stated that the Canterbury Plains extended over a vast area, three-quarters of which, it was estimated, was capable of being irrigated. The abundance of water available, coupled with favourable topographical, engineering, soil and climatic conditions, would appear to make for the successful launching of irrigation schemes on these plains. The estimates made by the Public Works Department for special areas to date showed that an annual charge of 5/- per irrigated acre would meet interest and sinking fund, repairs, and maintenance charges for an annual supply of 24 inches of water to farms. If the final success of irrigation depended on these considerations ' that success would be assured now. It was, however, the object of the paper to discuss the utilization of water on the farm and the farm management aspects of irrigation, and an endeavour would be made to show that the success of irrigation in Canterbury depended primarily on these considerations.

The paper went on to draw attention to the danger of mismanagement, and stated that the financial success of any irrigated farm in the province depended scarcely at all on the low water charge, but almost exclusively on the proper utilization of the water, on the management and on the policy under the new conditions. The achievement of these increased net returns was dependent upon many details and efficient organization. Failure in any one aspect, but particularly in that of establishing and maintaining first class pastures, was sufficient to cause the failure of an irrigation scheme. In conclusion, Mr Flay stated that irrigation was coming in Canterbury. It could be a success, mediocrity or failure. If successful it could lead to more profitable farming, and all the subsequent benefits that a prosperous rural community bestowed on its general public. Tiffs success could be assured in Canterbury provided that adequate attention was given to the farm managem snt aspects by the farmer himself and by those competent to instruct and investigate.

The final paper was “Irrigation Investigations in Mid-Canterbury,” by Mr R. L. James, of the Lincoln College. The paper gave a concise account of the writer’s work since 1931 on the possibilities of irrigation in Mid-Can-terbury, and dealt with temperature, evaporation, and drought cycles on the plains, with soil irrigability, methods of watering and the available water supply. The agricultural prospects were estimated from trials at Oxford, Hororata, Motukarara, Southbridge, and Rangiora from a total of 26 plots and attention was drawn to some of the difficulties for which the province must be prepared.