FARMING YEAR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21157, 5 July 1940, Page 9

FARMING YEAR

WARTIME PRODUCTION BUILDING ON SOUND BASIS EMPHASIS ON FEED SUPPLY Achievements in several important directions were mentioned by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, when the report of the Department of Agriculture was tabled in the House of Representatives. He said the National Council of Primary Production, composed of nominees from different organisations from the farming community and farm workers, had done a great deal of valuable work. The maintenance of superphosphate prices at pre-war level by subsidy to manufacturers was mentioned, as well as the assistance given to importers of essential farm equipment and materials. The Director-General of Agriculture, Mr A. H. Cockayne, referring to wartime planning of agricultural production, expresses in his report the opinion that it is far better to intensify the sound practices of peacetime than to, make spectacular or drastic changes which would surely bring retribution. With the exception of pigs, spectacular increases in stock population cannot be made, but, although our dairy herds and sheep flocks can be built up but slowly, there is room for increased production from these animals by the provision of adequate feed supplies and conscientious management. Unfavourable Pre-war Year “When war broke out the New Zealand farmer had just come through an unfavourable year,” states Mr Cockayne. “Reserves of feed were short, and it was a question of maintaining existing stock rather than increasing the numbers. However, when an appeal was made for the saving of heifer calves and increased production of baconers consequent on the requests of the United Kingdom Government there was a response equal to the circumstances. An increased acreage was put into wheat, more special feed crops were sown, and in districts where the weather was kind greater volumes of hay and silage were saved. Unfortunately, some districts, especially in the South Island, suffered a continuation of adverse weather conditions. “In New Zealand, where there is a wide variety of farming activities and conditions, it is impossible to lay down a national programme, except in the most general terms, but if each farmer studies his own resources and plans an increase in production according to the means at his disposal the aggregate result will be substantial. “The first essential is to organise the feed position. On most farms hay and silage alone are insufficient to carry a reasonable amount of stock through the year in good condition. There has been widespread evidence in recent years of undernourishment among our flocks and herds and many of the diseases afflicting farm animals can be traced to faulty or insufficient feeding. Disease is waste, and in wartime should be eliminated. Cropping For Pig-Feed “In pig-keeping supplementary crops are an essential to success, and if every dairy-farmer would plan a cropping programme to carry as many pigs as possible through the winter until dairy by-products are available he would be performing a signal service to the Empire. About 4,000,000 cwt of bacon are now denied to the people of the United Kingdom from European countries, as a result of enemy activities, and they look to the Dominions to replace the shortage. The dairy-farmers of New Zealand have it in their power to make a big contribution to Great Britain’s bacon requirements, as comparatively speedy increases in production are

possible if the feed is available. “If a more intensive topdressing programme is carried out the resources of manufactures will be taxed to capacity. The problem of increasing supplies is being studied by the Department and the National Council of Production, and farmers may be assured that the greatest possible volume of fertiliser will be available to them. Fortunately, there are inexhaustible supplies of lime available, and greater quantities of lime could be used in New Zealand with advantage. In some parts of the Dominion liquid manure from the cowsheds is being used as a topdressing. This practice might well be extended in all dairying districts. The greater the amount of topdressing carried out, the more certain will be the increase in production.”