GRASSLAND FARMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 244, 15 October 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

GRASSLAND FARMING

MAXIMUM RESULTS SUPPORT FROM THE PLOUGH. Farmers in New Zealand have achieved distinction in various aspects of their activities, but perhips no greater distinction has fallen to them than that won as a result of developments in grassland management. As < < ponents of this policy they ha.e I con in the very van of progress, and 8r though they have by no means reached a stage of perfection with it they have nevertheless set a standard whi-’h has won the admiration and the emiilat’on of producers in many other parts of the Empire, states the N.Z. Lerald. In concentrating on this form of production, New Zealanders have only sought to exploit in die cheapen and most convenient manner the poten’r.alities of a beneficient climate. In the North, where the system has its greatest vogue, there is a naturally long season of growth with a compare:ively short period during which pastures make inadequate headway for the maintenance of production, while, indeed, in some favoured localities and under favourable conditions, growth can be depended upon practically th rough o it the whole year. A liberal rainfall, evenly distributed throughout the season,, provides in normal circumstances for uninterrupted growth during most of the summer, so that, given a judicious use of fertilisers, and grazing management, which allows for the conversion of summer surpluses into hay and ensilage to supplement the shorter winter grass supply, production becomes a comparatively simple business. Climatic Conditions. It is only when conditions deviate from the normal that the grassland farmer is beset with problems. That they do deviate on occasions, even in a climatically stable country like New Zealand, cannot bo denied, and although it is seldom that the equilibrium is upset for seriously prolonged periods, the •responsibility of providing against such occurrences is always present. To no producer does that responsibility assume more vital significance than to the grassland farmer. From the very nature of his husbandry he is absolutely dependent on climatic conditions. If an unfavourable spring is experienced he is in danger of subverting supplementary requirements for the succeeding winter to the demands of current production. If winter conditions are prolonged and unfavourable he cannot hope to carry his stock through to the next season in reasonable producing condition unless he has provided exceptionally large resources of fodder, and where hay and ensilage constitute the reserve he could not have done this unless ho restricted somewhat considerably the production of which his farm was capable the previous season.

Root and Cther Crops. Tn the interests of maximum produc

tion during the summer season, and of the adequate maintenance of slock during the off season, it would appear that semething more than a blind cij rir.donce on grass would be beneficial. The ginwing of root and other cr ips has been relegated more and more to the background as the convenience and comparatrive economy of the purely grassland system has come into favour. It must be admitted that grassland farming is an ideal worthy of every effort at perfection, hut we have to con aider whether, in view of its greater dependence on seasonal conditions, 100 per cent, efficiency can be achieved without a certain degree of support from older practices. The plough will have to be requisi tinned to a far greater extent than it is at present if this support is to ho yccoided in full measure. Sue a a proposition will doubtless lack in popularity especially with those farmers who have already developed a less arduous grassland policy along progressive lines Nevertheless, if we are to accept rhe evidence of recent thought and event we can only conclule that the - ? is already a tendency to regard Lae plough as an essential implement with the topdiesser and the harrows. Prevalent Weakness. Cue of the great weaknesses of Now Zealand dairying is the time taken each season to reach peak product-on, and the almost immediate decline which sets in once the peak has been rcaclu-.J. (»f the factors responsible for this slat*' of affairs perhaps none is of greater import than the condition in wlr.ca much of our stock commences the new lactation period. An urgent need :s to bring dairy cows through the winter in such a state that they are able to achieve peak production much earlier than they do at present, and maintain it o ! /o- a longer period. The use of the plougii for the purpose of providing special crops for the winter and early spring main tonnnee of dairy stock should rhus have a gieat deal to commend it, wh’le much could also be said in favour of its use in the provision of appropriate special crops to help arrest the seasonal decline in production which normally occurs during the drier period from January to March. With judicious mamag mient ensuring a definite result in these directions. it is conceivable that the use of the plough could be an extremely profitable proposition.

There is no suggestion, of coutse, that grassland principles should be scrapped or modified in any way. Soani pasture management must certainly be the front line of attack in the camna’gn for better production. But it is suggested that the attack could be more effective with the plough in support.