AS OTHERS SEE US

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5604, 12 April 1943, Page 3

AS OTHERS SEE US

NEW ZEALAND THROUGH AMERICAN EYES “A PERFECT FARMING COUNTRY” Says “ M.A.H.” in the Wellington Dominion: We all too seldom appreciate our own so familiar surroundings. So when a stranger comes among us, and praises what we possess, there is an awakening interest. That was my own experience last week-end, when 1 had the pleasure of entertaining an American Marine, of intelligent and dest character, and of wide farming experience. My guest was Mr Kenneth Fulk, who had majored (taken degree) in agriculture at Ohio State College, America’s largest, and widely known as Ames. Ohio is a great, if not the greatest, American farming State. This Allied serviceman was born on a farm, and his parents still are farming. Before enlisting w’ith the Marines he was supervising a group of 100 farms, mortgaged to a huge American life insurance office.

On his arrival in Palmerston North he was taken to the Feilding sale, with a brief visit to the freezing works en route. Two other places of particular interest visited were “ Cannobie Lea.” the property of Mr J. F. Knight, president of the New Zealand Aberdeen Angus Breeders’ Association. Guest and host were here mutually interested in “ the blacks.” Mr Fulk has had considerable assosiation with this breed, and been a breeder on his own account. He knows two former American presidents of A.A.’s personally. On the following day, in view of an expressed interest in the Southdown breed, I took him to see the very fine flock of Messrs K. G. Dalziell and Son. Previous to arrival in the Manawatu he had seen a considerable amount of the Wairarapa, through the courtesy of Masterton stock agents. This week-end he is to make a visit to Martinborough to see Mr Frank Wall’s “ Mahaki ” farm. It will be realised that our visitor has seen enough, and doubtless heard enough, to gain a fairly accurate impression of New Zealand farming conditions. From his conversation it is evident that these have both surprised and pleased him. New Zealand is viewed as “ a perfect farming country.” and our guest is, furthermore, very impressed with the standard of our farm homes and buildings, which he considers very high. He found it rather difficult to understand the miles of good and level land, “ just in grass, without any crops grown on it.” Then he came to appreciate what production the grass provided and how it grew all the year round. Contrasted with this were conditions on the country where he was born, such as generally apply throughout the great Middle-West of America. In summertime the temperature ruled at around 100 degrees, with heat spells attaining 117 degrees—then to 36 degrees below zero in winter. As a result the American farmer “ works all summer growing and saving feed, and all winter feeding it out and cleaning up after the stock.” The mainstay of this programme is maize.

Beef fattening is a huge business, and at times extensively conducted. One so-called farm of 160 acres (literally a huge feeding yard) fattened 35,000 cattle a year. All feed was brought in, corn being bought by the car-load, 1600 to 1700 bushels. Mr Fulk fattened 200 cattle yearly on one self-contained farm of 450 acres, employing four men for the purpose. One supervised cattle feeding at all times, and the others grew the crops in season and fed out in winter. Note that this means two acres and a quarter a head fattened and the labour is one man for each 50 beasts. It will be seen that beef production is decidedly costly under such conditions. The cattle purchased are weaner steers bought from the range country- the hills of the far west toward *tne Rockies. Such purchases have often to be railed up to 800 miles. These youngsters are carried on to a live weight of about 1050 to 1100 ’b, to dress at 600 to 650 lb. at 18 to 20 months old.

Naturally, the art of feeding and the feeding value of all kinds of foods have been studied intensely. Under forced feeding conditions live weight gains of up to 100 lb a month have been made during the spring. That equal 62 lb of beef weight. Yet I have been assured by Mr M- A. McLeod, of Feilding, a widely-experi-enced beef buyer, that at the same time our New Zealand cattle on grass can fatten at 25 lb carcase-weight gain a week. These are of course bigger cattle, and their gain may be more of fat than flesh. The point is of interest, however. w That ordinary fattening in the States costs money may be appreciated from the general reckoning of winter needs, namely. 50 bushels of corn for each steer and 10 for each hog. During the depression corn sold as low as 50 cents- a bushel.

American farming conditions are clearly not so up to date as we have imagined. In one of the richest States only one in four farm-houses had internal plumbing. In Ohio only 10 per cent of the farms are connected for electricity; and in lowa only 15 per cent. In one of these States there were seven radios to each bath-tub. A recent development to the American countryside is rented freezing lockers, and these have largely put butcher shops out of business so far as country rounds are concerned. For 10 dollars per annum a farmer can rent a locker of sufficient capaity to hold a complete bullock in dressed form. He takes his steer to the freezer, where the proprietor has it kiled and dressed at a moderate fee. The joints are cut and packed for a “ quick-freezing ” process, which seals the meat for perfect keeping. Thereafter it is stored in the locker, and the farmer is given the key. Then on each visit to town he gets out enough meat to last him, say one week, and of whatever cuts he wishes. A like development is taking place as regards town meat supply; grocers are now selling “ quick-frozen ” joints to the public, somewhat similar to the service given here at pork butcher shops in the way of cuts. I was shown many photographs

illustrating conditions over the other side, and one of these was <bf an American stud-breeder’s sign. These are placed at the entrance to the farm or perhaps on the main highway, to direct visitors. An Aberdeen Angus breeder’s sign was about 3 feet square and the top half was occupied by a picture of an Aberdeen Angus bull; below was the name of the stud, then that of the proprietor, and finally.. directions for the visitor. This appealed as an excellent practice that might well be adopted here. Altogther my guest and I had a very enjoyable time together. Any little service that I was able to perform for him was more than repaid by the education and insight he provided in return.