MORE FERTILISER

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6173, 15 March 1948, Page 2

MORE FERTILISER

NOT THE SOLUTION FOR GREATER PRODUCTION . VIEWS OF TARANAKI FARMER “I cannot agree with the recommendations made to the Government by the Aid to Britain conference that increased supplies of fertilisers should be made available to farmers,” stated Mr Winstone M. Smith, a prominent Taranaki farmer, in a letter received by the Auckland Aid for Britain Primary Production sub-committee. While admitting that a temporary increase in • production w T as possible by this method, his experience indicated that it must precipitate a crisis, entirely biological in origin, he said. “There is no safe short-term method of increasing production,” continued Mr Smith, “yet it is obvious that we must double our production per acre if we are to survive.” Mr Smith condemned the practice of monoculture and the indiscriminate use of fertilisers by farmers not qualified to use them. Although the application of fertilisers in large amounts did temporarily increase output, replacement costs rose proportionately and stock’s resistance to disease became less. Diversified farm practice, both .as regards to stock and crops, was the only answer, he declared. It was essentially a long-term policy but he was convinced that by it production , could safely be increased to a point where present production was doubled. There were many obstacles in the way of diversified farm practice. Adjustments in legislation designed to ensure husbandry were not being made because of the lack of public sense of responsibility. Farmers themselves too often reflected that lack of public appreciation. It was also economically unsound at the present time to practice monoculture on one-man farms. Under the present rehabilitation policy, based on monoculture, many farms were far too small for diversification. There was an urgent need for intelligent labour. Mixed farming called for a measure of responsibility on the part of the employees which was sadly lacking at the moment. Lack of housing was another factor. The shortage of machinery and equipment was also a great hurdle. The subject matter of Mr Smith’s letter was too full to be discussed at such short notice, said Mr D. M. Robinson, a member of the committee, who moved that it should be studied and discussed at the next meeting .