FARMING INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 68, 22 March 1938, Page 8

FARMING INDUSTRY

PROBLEMS TO BE FACED ROTARY CLUB ADDRESS HUGE ANNUAL LOSSES The problems affecting the farming community of New Zealand formed the subject of an address lo yesterday’s luncheon of the Wanganui Rotary Club by Mr. T. W. Lonsdale, wjio recently retired from the position of fields instructor of the Department of Agriculture at Wanganui. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Lonsdale was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr. E. Ziesler. “The title of my address nas been announced as ‘Some Farm Problems,’ and may I say at the outset that my contribution to-day is in the main to point out some of the many difficulties which now confront the ‘man on the land,’ ” said Mr. Lonsdale. “i want you, however, to understand that although I start with the advantage of having some scientific knowledge, combined with a large amount of practical work, it is not my intention to endeavour to elucidate all, if any, of the problems, but that whatever I may say is in the main suggestive, and I hope provocative in a constructive sense. “There are two classes of men that I would place in the same category, viz. sailors and farmers. Both are frequently in conflict with the elements but with this difference: that while the sailor is forewarned and consequently is prepared to combat the oncoming storm, which, after passing, leaves him clear to continue his ordinary course, the elements as affecting the land are often the direct or indirect cause of a train of circumstances which no farmer, however intelligent or progressive he may be, is able to anticipate. As an illustration I would cite some of the numerous insect pests which at various seasons of the year and from time to time wreak havoc to crops and live stock. White Butterflies. “At the present time foremost amongst these is the white butterfly, which first appeared in the Dominion at Napier about nine years ago and has since spread throughout the whole of New Zealand. The loss of crops by its depredations during the intervening years runs into hundreds of thousands of pounds. All insects have a natural enemy and in order to combat the white butterfly two varieties’ of parasites were brought from Europe. The first one that was brought was ineffective, but the later importation certainly checked the butterflies and for a time it appeared to have them well under control; anyway no great amount of damage to crops was apparent during the last two years. Those years were, however, wet seasons and unsuiteci to the propagation of butterflies and also of parasites; and it would appear that the latter have been less able to propagate than the butterflies, which no doubt are as numerous as at any previous time, and during this season have wrought more damage to crops than in any previous years. “We are now experiencing an extremely hot and somewhat dry year and consequently a recurring invasion of grass-grubs may be expected to follow. The farmer can, however, prevent and also control this pest to some considerable extent, in the first instance by keeping pastures closely grazed during the period when the beetles are copulating and on the wing—that is, during the months of November and December. Birds are the most effective agents with regard to ridding the land of grubs and every effort should be made to encourage the propagation and protection of insectivorous birds.

“Again we find that following a wet summer and autumn parasitic life is most active in its effect on animals and the death rate of immature cattle and sheep is considerably higher than when the preceding season was dry, so that no matter whether the seasons are wet or dry there are problems to be faced by either agriculturist, pastoralist, stockbreeder, or all of them. Agricultural Problems. “The problems of the agriculturist are endless; he is confronted with a host of insect pests during the seedling stage of the crops, any one of which may thin out th£ plants to such an extent that a re-sowing has Lo be made. As an example, root crops which germinate well, thin out in a mysterious manner during the first few weeks after appearing through the ground. The ultimate result is an uneven plant, which if, as is often the case, the thinning continues after singling, the damage may be serious. A superficial examination of the young plants while the losses are occurring disclosessome discoloration and weakening in the neck region, and commonly the failure is due to one of three things, viz., Pigmy mangold beetle, Blackmore or Blackleg and Strangle or Springtail. As the preventive measures available are not equally effective against all three the farmer has to take the risk of his crop being affected or otherwise and has therefore no control over it prior to the seed germinating. “After overcoming the foregoing difficulties clubroot or dry rot may attack the swedes, phoma batae (brown rot (mangolds and if the crop is potatoes it may be considerably reduced in yield by one of the many forms of virus.

“The grower is no less free from trials. If the crop emerges safely from the seedling stage it may later be attacked by one of the moulds or fungi to which cereals are subject. Loose smut was very prevalent throughout North Island wheat crops this year, and in Rangitikei County alone loose smut caused a reduction in the aggregate of many thousands of bushels.

“The stockbreeder and dairy farmer have many burning problems, some of which while not man-made are certainly being accelerated by his actions. Mammitis, or udder trouble, takes an enormous toll of dairy cows every year, and although by testing the cows bacteriologically the incidence oi this disease can be lessened, we are still a long way from attaining complete control of it. ‘The incidence of milk-fever (parturient apoplexy) is more prevalent in some districts than others, and while it is now a simple matter to alleviate the condition we have not arrived at the point at which to prevent its occurrence. Lack of balance in nutrition and of calcium in the food supply are probable predisposing factors.

I mentioned that some live stock problems are accelerated by man and cite the use of large quantities of supei phosphate on sorts deficient in lime. Again, many N.Z. pastures are so highly fertilised that stock have to consume excessive quantities of protein, which is probably the cause of sterility and a high death /rate. Analogy worthy of some consideration is the high protein content of pasture and Ils effect on pregnant animals. Compare same with effect of diet rich in protein on -the human being; especially during pregnancy and accouchement and we find an exceptionally high death rate both of animals and human beings. “Grass staggers, bloat in dairy cows and sheep cause much anxiety and research work on these ailments is by no means finished. Bush sickness or anaemia in rummants, the main cause of which is a definite iron deficiency is still a subject of investigation. Considerable progress has, however, been made towards elucidating this problem and the use of cobalt has been found to have a marked effect on animals grazed in bush-sick areas.

“Weeds, the direct cause of loss to New Zealand farmers and the Domin-. ion generally amounts to millions ol pounds annually, and may say that the question of weeds is one, if not the greatest problem confronting the farmer to-day. “Many attends have been made to define weeds, some of which it must be acknowledged have been fairly successful, yet I venture to say mostly lacking in precision. Plant out of place anything which grows spontaneously; can any plant grow spontaneously? must not the seed have first been there. W e are not now .concerned about how weeds got to any place so much as how to get rid of them. Gorse, broom, blackberry, variegated thistle, and ragwort are prominent amongst noxious weeds, and just as the soil is the very foundation of all agricultural and pastoral farming, so must we insist that the first and best attention of everyone directly or indirectly connected with the land is the complete radication of weds and subsequent maintenance of land in that condition known as clean. Farm Labour. “Last but by no means the least problem is that of labour. It is incompatible to insist on the farmer keeping his land entirely free from bad weeds in face ot the now pressing question of how and where to obtain efficient farm workers. The difficulty is not entirely peculiar to N.Z. but it is no doubt intensified here by the extension of public works and shortened hours of labour. It is a noteworthy fact that many men have gone off farms to work on road and railway schemes. “Some people claim that more persons will ultimately be attracted to the land by giving greater attention to agricultural tuition in schools; others that agricultural and general farm conditions should be made more attractive to young people. Probably the Young Farmers’ Club movement will go a long way towards solving the difficulty and with regard to this I would say. The agriculture of tomorrow, we may hope will not be the thing of shreds and patches as it is today; a symbol of disappointment and blasted hope, but a real Royal Tartan under which men of courage and enterprise may hope lo reap a just reward for their labours. For the farmers of the future Hire is no better training ground than a Young Farmers’ Club." In conclusion I would say: “If for nothing else than the part farming plays in the spiritual life of our race it should be lifted up from discouragements and assisted in every possible way to elucidating the many problems which now beset it."