WHEAT RESEARCH

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23376, 6 December 1945, Page 4

WHEAT RESEARCH

Hopes For Increased Yield (Special) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 5. Support for research aimed at increasing wheat yields by means of improved farm management was given by the Wheat Research Committee today The matter was raised in a letter from Mr W. W. Mulholland, president of the Farmers’ Federation, who expressed the need for such a scheme. Mr F. R. Callaghan said that the Wheat Specialist Committee had estimated that £5OOO would be required for initial experimental work, to provide buildings and implements. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research considered the estimate too high, but had made the money available to Lincoln College for survey work. Most of the work had been done by the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, and the college was making 20 acres available for experimental work, but had been unable to do much because of staff shortage and lack of finance. Mr P. W. Smallfield said the department had already started a farm management survey for wheat growing. He said the survey was started in the autumn, and so far 40 farms involving 87 paddocks and 1260 acres, of which 760 acres were sown in August and September, had been convered. It was proposed to study the difference in yields as a result of the various crop rotations. It was hoped to review the first year's work after the 1946 harvest.