FARMING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3757, 18 May 1936, Page 7

FARMING NOTES

the stock feed position.

Two important facts concerned with climatic conditions experienced in most North Island districts this autumn desire close attention by farmers. One is that in Febrauary the highest rainfall was recorded for many years past, the second is that the temperature in March was several degrees less than normal. The heavy rainfall brought on an abundance of feed—even if soft and not of the highest feeding value, the fall in temperature may mean that the late autumn growth may soon be seriously curtailed—especially if early frosts are experienced. An Official Statement.

Other important implications from conditions prevailing this autumn are well reviewed by Mr. R. P. Connell, of the Agricultural Department, in the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture for March, 1936: The extensive and considerable rains since Christmas have given an exceptional colour and growth for this time of isie year to pastures over wide areas. A point of practical importance is that the unusual appearance of the pastures is likely to prove deceptive as to its bearing on winter and spring feed. Because of the possibility of early cold conditions * the growth of grass before winter may not be so great as current appearances seem to promise, and, further, in any case much of the autumn growth may be of a lush immature character lacking the value for winter feeding that attaches to the more mature growth frequently available for winter. Another point of practical importance is that dairy cows, because of the present conditions, are yielding exceptionally well, and may do so right into early winter. If they do this, they will not buUd up the bodily reserves which are so often created in the autumn and without which the feeding in winter and early spring will need to be appreciatively better than suffices when body reserves are built up in the autumn. Last year parts of Southland illustrated this position in a striking and unfortunate manner. Exceptionally heavy mortality of dairy cows that occurred in certain districts in the spring was correlated with an autumn which was abnormally favourable for butterfat production. As a result of this the dairy cows entered the winter in lower condition than 1 usual, and so felt later adverse conditions more gravely than would have been the case had they been able to draw on greater bodily reserves. It was significant that in the same districts sheep, which, of course had not been subjected to the strain of exceptional autumn production, came satisfactorily through the same seasonal conditions that caused such heavy mortality in dairy cows. Because of the foregoing conditions it is clear that whenever the feed position is at all weak reliance should not be placed on recent rains, and cropping designed to strengthen the position generally should be pushed on as much as possible. For the purpose of building up the maximum supplies of feed for winter and early spring care should be taken to turn into silage or hay, before frost injury has occurred, any available green maize or millet. Silage J should be made in preference to hay r if the amount of green material available is not so small as to lead to undue wastage in ensilage.” Making Sure of Winter Feed. The points mentioned by Mr. Connell indicate that farmers would be wise to take note of their probable stock feed position for the next few months, along these lines:— i 1. Amount of ensilage and hay available. (In some districts stacks have been damaged by floods.) 2. Likely yield of supplementary crops—roots, etc., with possibility of further sowings. 3. Acreage of pasture already topdressed. 4. Suitable acreage that should be topdressed before winter. Where thought desirable attention can be given to sowing more supplementary feed. However, most farmers will endeavour to obtain maximum winter feed from pastures and this can best be done by topdressing—as soon as possible with a good dressing of suitable fertilisers. Suitable Fertiliser! to Apply. In this connection another statev ment by Mr. Connell is important. • He states: — “The widespread value of phosphatic topdressing has been definitely established. In general, the supply of available phosphate is the weakest link in the chain of food requirements of pastures, though in a few cases the weakness in respect

to lime rivals—if it does not equal—that in respect to phosphates, and in * ,-jOnte cases, seemingly fewer still, this may be true of the weakness in respect to potash. Hence, in general, the basic need is phosphatic top-dressing. Of the phosphatic manures, superphosphate is most largely used. The popularity of superphosphate is supported by field observations; it gives superior results under low rainfall conditions, and, 1 where the rainfall ranges from moderate to high, it generally at least

equals—if it does not excel other phosphatic manures, it most quickly brings about increased growth; it usually continues tc stimulate growth for a longer period than many realise—the continuation of substantial benefit from superphosphate after twelve months has been noted, and it does not cause any permanent increase in the sourness of the soil.” —Extracts from N.Z. Journal Journal of Agriculture, February, 1934. There can be no question that if a good pasture growth is desired into the winter then a readily available phosphate should be used. Experience has proved the soundness of a dressing of 3 cwts. superphosphate per acre with, where necessary, a suitable lime application on the better pastures—those containing a good percentage of ryegrass—neutral ammoniated superphosphate—will be found effective in promoting a good growth of “winter grass” invaluable for rationing out i.-; early milking cows. In the late autumn application of fertilisers it is not advisable to graze pastures bare before topdressing—and it pays to spell after manuring to give the plants an opportunity to make full use of the fertilisers applied. The extra drain on pastures and stock this autumn, as stressed by Mr. Connell, can be best met by liberal topdressing applications of readily available fertilisers.