ON THE FARM

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23324, 6 October 1945, Page 6

ON THE FARM

SEED PRODUCTION Closing - Of Pastures From now until the first week in November consideration must be given to the closing of pastures which are intended for the production of either perennial or Italian ryegrass and white clover. Actually there is no hard and fast rule which can be used in determining exactly when grazing should cease on these fields. So much depends on such factors as the previous crop, state of fertility, soil type, the time of sowing and consequent age of the stand, and the amount of stacking that has been able to be carried out under the present conditions. These points all have a direct bearing on what the management should be from now on and when the field should be finally shut up for seed. In considering the question of seed production of the ryegrass and white clover the habits of the plants are worthy of consideration. For instance perennial ryegrass will stand hard and continuous grazing and still produce a good seed crop later; Italian ryegrass will not. White clover thrives on close grazing and under such conditions, when associated with perennial ryegrass, will even swamp this hardy grass when the area is later closed for seed. First year autumn sown stands of perennial and white clover sould be saved this year for perennial ryegrass seed. Where possible the grazing should be such that the ryegrass should not be punished too severely and in a manner that the clover does not become too aggressive. Grazing Second year and older stands of perennial that are lacking in clover content should be more leniently grazed and should be shut up earlier than first year areas. Actually the saving of these areas for seed is not to be recommended since experience has shown that they produce low yields of seed and the seed is generally lower in germinating capacity than seed from first year areas. The idea is to save only first year autumn sown areas and to manage the pastures in such a manner as to make the white clover dominant in their second season for the production of white clover seed. Italian ryegrass should not be hard grazed from now until closing up, although normally stands may be grazed a week longer than those of perennial. This is on account of the fact that Italian is later in running to seed than perennial. With white clover areas grazing should be hard and close for a fortnight. The area should then be allowed to recover for a week, after which' stocking should be such that the clover is held in check for a period in an endeavour to ascertain the vigour of the stand and its suckling clover content. In a normal season in South Canterbury areas of the grasses and clover mentioned are shut up from the last week in October to the first week in November. This year the season has been abnormal, and the only deduction which can be made is that the closing of fields may safely be delayed. There is ample moisture in the soil and there has been as yet little or no spring growth. It only requires a few warm days (which must eventually come) and the feed position can easily get out of hand. The aim in seed production should be average crops. These are the easiest harvested and in the long run not only the safest but the most profitable.