FARM ECONOMY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

FARM ECONOMY

ROTHAMSTED CONFERENCES WINTER FOOD FOR STOCK A booklet published by Messrs Ernest Benn, Limited, gives the report of a conference held at Rothamstcd on November 15 last. Sir John Russell, i Director of Rothamstcd Experimental Station, points out in his introduction that the subject of winter food for live stock is of increasing importance to farmers.' Modern changes in British agriculture all tend to raise tho position of live stock in the economy of the farm and ;to emphasise the need for effective man- ! agement during the winter. There is the possibility of doing fairly well during the winter months, but on the other hand it is painfully easy to lose whatever may have been made in summer. The problem, however, is probably most important for the dairy man producing fresh milk for market.

On the occasion of the conference nine experts read papers on various aspects of the subject. Dr. H. E. Annctt dealt with the New Zealand solution of the problem. In his paper he made special reference to the use of superphosphate, which had enabled the farmer to carry more stock per acre. “This increased production,” said Dr Annctt, “means an increase in the amount of plant food constitutents removed from tho soil in the increased grass consumption of the animal. Tho superphosphate supplies phosphate and some lime, but ther is a danger that the animals may suffer on account of an insufficiency of potash, and, perhaps, of other rarer minerals which are not being replaced in the manurial scheme. We know nothing, moreover, regarding the rate at which lime is being lost from our New Zealand soil, and it is quite likely that even our heaviest dressings of superphosphate do not supply sufficient lime to make up for the loss from the soil in the drainage water and in the food consumed by the animal. ’ ’

The recent developments in grassland farming in Europe, embracing as they do a complete manurial scheme, seem therefore to have special interest for New Zealand.