A Farmer's Notebook HAY FOR WINTER FEED

Southland Times, Issue 24575, 25 October 1941, Page 10

A Farmer's Notebook HAY FOR WINTER FEED

PROBLEMS FACING FARMERS HEAVY STOCKING OF FARMS IN SOUTHLAND The quantity of hay saved annually in Southland is lamentably low in comparison with the total amount needed to provide a reasonably well-balanced ration for stock during the winter and spring months when swedes and turnips are usually the basic fodder. In the past the tendency has been to rely upon supplementary stock food in the form of roots, almost entirely in some cases, and in others to an extent that is also not conducive to the best state of nutrition and health in animals. Although these remarks do apply generally throughout the province, there has been a gradual improvement in the amount of hay saved in recent years. Last season, in particular, was especially notable for that. A number of farmers has become hay-conscious with the result that plans to secure the necessary acreage for hay crops have become standard practice in the system of farm management each year. To do this successfully is not at all an easy matter, particularly in such a season as the present. Some of the main factors affecting the problem are, first, that because of shipping difficulties last season sheep farmers in many cases retained more animals than usual. Also the call for increased production early in the year led to an increase in the use of Romney rams, and more ewe lambs to build up flocks have been the result.

The increase in the numbers of stock has naturally called for a correspondingly larger amount of fodder, and had it not been for the fortunate occurrence of a really fine open winter and early spring season, the feed position would have been a very serious one on many farms. As it is the succession of late frosts retarded pasture growth later than usual in the spring, and ewe flocks in many cases have been on short rations until about ten days ago. The second main factor is that war conditions have automatically made it necessary to produce many extra thousands of acres of annual crops, such as linen flax, oats and wheat, as well as areas for swede, turnip and rape seed. The estimated increased acreage for all these additional crops is in the vicinity of 12,000 acres. The third factor is that enlistment for war service has greatly reduced the amount of labour available for farm work. TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTIES

These three points collectively have created tremendous difficulties in the management of farms. To those who have had little or no practical farming experience, the problem of fully adapting farm production to the ideal requirement of constantly changing war-time needs, is one that is not well understood or appreciated. A large area of the flat fanning land in Southland is at present carrying a very dense population of stock—the natural outcome of more than doubling the use of fertilizer, chiefly phosphatic products and lime, during the past nine years. This factor, in conjunction with the other two mentioned, is the fundamental reason for the limitation of the area available for linen flax.

Another repercussion likely to arise from the same causes is a considerable reduction in the area that can be made available for hay and ensilage production this summer. As it seems more than probable that this forecast of the position will unfortunately occur it appears that the logical consequence will be a very difficult stock fodder position next winter.

It must be remembered that the supply of swede and turnip seed available for this season’s requirements is much less than usual. Stocks of white turnip seed throughout the Dominion show an estimated shortage of 85 per cent. The supply of swede and yellow turnip seed is reasonably good provided farmers take the precaution of reducing the usual quantity sown by one or two ounces to the acre. The shortage of seed is estimated at 15 or 20 per cent, for swedes and yellow turnips respectively. The general adoption of the suggested reduction in the amount of seed sown to the acre, would approximately cover the small deficiency, and enable all farms to obtain fairly satisfactory supplies. It can be plainly seen that it is in the interest of all concerned to adhere strictly to a small reduction in the amount of seed, otherwise some farmers are likely to suffer grave hardship. Another factor that can have an important bearing in making the swede and turnip seed position fairly safe is that New Zealand-grown seed—most of it produced in Southland and Otago—has a much higher germination than imported seeds. The result is that farmers who obtain this seed will be wise to reduce the quantity by as much as three ounces to the acre. LESS FERTILIZER AVAILABLE

There are two other factors that farmers will have to contend with in making arrangements for an adequate supply of fodder for the feeding of stock next winter. One is the curtailment of superphosphate for top-dress-ing purposes. Full realization of the effect of this will probably not come to many until the main supply for autumn application is required, or later, until the falling off in the quality of pastures becomes apparent in stock. The other is that good prices for oats this season have resulted in the disposal of supplies on hand, and the reserve stacks on farms is much lower than usual. On top of this prices offered for the coming season’s crop show a further slight improvement, and quite a large area is being grown under contract. The prospects are that despite the increase in the area sown this season, the amount likely to be available for stock fodder may quite easily be less than in the previous year. Thus the possibility of using oats and oat sheaf straw as dry feed to offset any shortage of hay seems to be remote. The problem of providing adequate supplies of stock fodder for next winter is one that calls for a considerable amount of careful thought and planning on the part of each individual farmer. The closing up of areas for hay, should be attended to with as little delay as possible in order to obtain the heaviest possible crops.