LIMITING FACTORS IN FARMING.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 6, 20 June 1919, Page 332

LIMITING FACTORS IN FARMING.

THEIR MINIMIZATION OR ELIMINATION.

By

A. McTAGGART,

M.Sc.Ag., Agriculturist.

In the pursuit of successful farming there are encountered various limiting factors or drawbacks, some of which, however, may be more or less minimized, while others, fortunately, may under certain conditions be eliminated entirely.

Limited- or insufficient capital is perhaps the chief obstacle to modern farming, and particularly to successful farming. To point out ways and means for improving rural finance does not, however, come directly within the function of the scientific agriculturist. Nevertheless, it may be noted that several countries have found a partial solution of this world-wide problem through the medium of rural credit associations of various types. Land-tenure, too, has an important bearing upon the degree of success attained in farming efforts. This subject, likewise, hardly comes within the sphere . of the agricultural specialist. Therefore all that need be here stated under this heading is that for successful farming operations and for productive agriculture generally landtenure, .whether local or national, must of necessity be based upon at least a reasonable degree of permanency, and be of such a general character as to enable the holder of the land to take full advantage of its natural resources without unduly interfering with -the rights of posterity with respect to those resources. In other words, fixity and conditions of tenure should be such as to permit of maximum agricultural production, if need be, without encouraging undue exploitation of the natural fertility or resources of the soil.

LABOUR, MACHINERY, AND POWER

Scarcity of labour, especially of a satisfactory type for farming operations, presents one of the most formidable obstacles with which successful farming to-day has to contend. This scarcity is unfortunately causing many good farmers to give up farming and to sell out, thus augmenting non-permanent agriculture, which is not conducive to the welfare of the State. So important is this question of a constant supply of satisfactory labour to the success of the agricultural industries that it should continuously command the best thought and concentrated action on the part of those concerned with the highest interests of these industries. ' . '

Unsatisfactory as is the farm-labour position at the present time, much might be done by all connected with agriculture toward solving, or at least partially solving, this problem. Apart from the return to the country from military service of large numbers of men who will settle on the land, and the possible encouragement of immigration of prospective farmers and farm workers, much may be accomplished by fostering the principles of co-operation, by improving the livingconditions of farm hands, and by the extension of the use of labour-

saving machinery and of improved farm-power. Much may be done by the farmers themselves to overcome their individual labour difficulties by co-operating, neighbour with neighbour, as far as possible, particularly during the course of such operations as haymaking, shearing, harvesting,' threshing, ensilage-making, liming, &c. Indeed, the spirit of co-operation among farmers will afford them the means of solving many rural problems and of making life on the land much more congenial for all concerned. The community spirit, as distinguished from the individualistic, is what is wanted, and in time this spirit will doubtless come to be recognized as the main solution of many rural difficulties, industrial and social.

The provision of comfortable quarters for farm workersproper housing of married men and satisfactory accommodation of single farm hands-will materially contribute towards promoting reasonable permanency as regards the personnel of workers on a particular farm. Men are human the world over, and if the primary wants of employees, whether on farms or .elsewhere, are properly satisfied, contentment, and consequently a much lessened disposition to change, generally results. The universal adoption of the use of labour-saving farm machinery and the application of improved farm-power, wherever possible — particularly of hydro-electric power — vast possibilities. 'Laboursaving machinery mostly in. use elsewhere, and to some extent in New Zealand, could be more widely used, with greater relief to the farming industries and with greater benefit to the State. The following embrace some of the farming machinery to which allusion has just been made: Farm tractors and agrimotors self-adjusting ploughs improved cultivators for turnips, maize, &c. ; special-purpose drills ; limesowers ; manure-distributors ; turnip-thinners; drainage machinery, including the traction ditcher and the mole plough ; stump and tree haulers; improved harvesting machinery, including harvesters and maize-binders ; tedders ; side-delivery rakes ; hay-sweeps ; stackers ; potato planters and diggers; improved threshing-machines and seedcleaners ; grain - elevating machinery ; bag - lifters ; motor - lorries ; chaffers and blowers for silos ; power sprayers ; and the numerous handy devices continuously being designed that all play a part in saving labour. New Zealand, perhaps, leads in the use of milkingmachines, and is well advanced as regards shearing-machines, but even in these lines there is room for extension here. Much as has been accomplished in the field of agricultural engineering as regards the invention of labour-saving machinery, there yet remains vast scope for improvement and achievement in this desired direction.

The application. of improved farm power, as already indicated, has enormous possibilities. The internal-combustion engine has done, and is. doing, a vast amount of work in saving labour on farms to-day, but the harnessing of the water-power of the country, the generating of electricity, and the distribution of it to factory and farm will effect in years to come untold saving in this respect. In parts of Canada and the United States electricity to-day is driving almost every piece of machinery on many farms and hauling the products of those farms to markets or centres of distribution. Farm lighting, heating, and cooking are also performed by electricity. It is even claimed that such operations as ploughing and cultivating generally will be undertaken eventually by means of electric power. Possibly this will be effected by the application of improved storage batteries to these

particular implements. Doubtless, as. the result of the more general harnessing of this country’s abundant water-power, we shall in due course see similar developments here. The varied use made of the Lake Coleridge electric service in certain rural districts of Canterbun/ is an indication of what may be expected throughout the Dominion in greater degree. ‘ .

SOIL-MOISTURE.

Of the various limiting factors connected with the soil itself moisture is perhaps the most influential. Within certain limits, determined by the physiology . or nature of the, plant and the natural physical, condition of the soil and subsoil, the more moisture supplied to and retained by a productive soil the bigger the crop. This holds good even in light or ordinarily none-too-productive soils, from which during a moist . season good crops can usually be harvested — a significant fact pointing to the possibility in ordinary farm practice of materially minimizing this potent limiting factor. This may be done by either of two means, or by bothnamely, . by irrigation or by conservation, of soil-moisture. In the prevailing drier sections of the country . irrigation could be undertaken with far-reaching results. Water reticulated over dry plains or valleys, and intelligently made use of in. the raising of various farm crops, will greatly minimize, if not eliminate entirely, this limiting factor. In Central Otago, the soils of which are pronounced by our agricultural chemists to be among the richest in New Zealand, wherever irrigation water is provided there is a marked growth of clovers, of lucernein fact, of almost any farm crop, when sown. Moisture is clearly the limiting factor, and so it is periodically over the greater part of Canterbury. These parts of the Dominion, and other sections where irrigation would be feasible and advantageous, possess untold possibilities per medium of. irrigation widely and- intelligently applied. . ■ '

■ As regards conservation of soil-moisture, whether used alone during the course of ordinary farming or supplemental to irrigation operations, cultural methods employed with the object mainly of conserving moisture for use by a crop are economically desirable. Moisture-is conserved by making use of every possible means , of checking evaporation, especially in dry climates or. during dry seasons. Frequent stirring of the surface of the soil by such implements as cultivators and harrows forms a mulch or blanket by intercepting the natural upwards flow of water of capillarity. Hence evaporation from the surface of the soil is materially reduced. The. operation of packing or rolling the soil previous to this shallow cultivation accelerates the rise of water by capillarity, and this, together with the subsequent surface-stirring, concentrates the soil-moisture at a point at which the growing seed or young crop can best make use of it. This point is usually determined by the depth of the generally about gin. from the surface. ' Whether or not rolling has been carried out, evaporation can be considerably checked by frequent surface cultivation. Where crops are sown in drills periodic intercultivation stimulates the crop wonderfully as a rule, the conserved moisture being directed into the crop rather than allowed to evaporate through want of soilmulching. *

Where soils are bare during the period of preparation — through cultural. operations — frequent stirring of the surface by harrowing,

especially under dry climatic or seasonal conditions, materially conserves moisture for use by the crop intended subsequently to be sown. Under these conditions mulching of the surface by such means after a shower of rain is highly desirable. The light harrowing tends to restore the mulch destroyed by the rain-shower, and, if the mulch is re-established, conserves the extra moisture that has fallen. Indeed, the practice of harrowing the land during dry weather.conditions, even if carrying a young crop, is decidedly beneficial. Such harrowing of wheat, turnips, or other crop at the right time, when the growth seems to " hang ” for want of rain, may' mean the difference between failure and success with respect to that crop. Timely intercultivation of a drilled crop may have a similar desired result. In semi-arid regions, such as Central Otago, special cultural implements, such as surface and sub-surface packers (as used in Western North America, where "dry farming” is practised),, should prove an acquisition to farmers of arable land. Systematic use of these packers and the practice of the “ dust mulch,” by timely and frequent surface cultivation, should materially conserve moisture in these regions and promote increased crop production. Autumn ploughing and subsoiling, where this latter is necessary, are also important factors in conserving and supplying the crop with soilmoisture calculated to benefit plant-life. The incorporation of organic matter with the soil, wherever this can be effected without undue loss of season and without “ drying out ” the soil, conserves moisture to an appreciable degree and causes its better distribution. Stubble land may be worked up for the growth of green-manuring crops, such as white mustard, crimson clover, peas, &c., and these can be ploughed in when satisfactory growth is reached. Legumes, such as cow-grass and red clover, may also be sown with cereal crops, and the aftermath ploughed under some time following harvest, to provide humus. When ploughing-under these crops in soils requiring humus a point should be made of so doing during a more or less moist period, otherwise the incorporated organic matter will attract and thus concentrate the available soil-moisture, and during dry-weather conditions this will prove more detrimental to crop-growth than were the humus not so provided. Where farmyard manure is available this should be spread upon the land, and, while moist, ploughed under, this valuable form of humus-incorporation also materially assisting in the conservation of soil-moisture. ' ' -

The provision of- shelter-belts, at right angles to the prevailing winds, will afford an additional means of reducing evaporation and of so conserving soil-moisture. This is particularly desirable on windy plains and other areas that, are periodically wind-swept, for the quantity of soil-moisture lifted and borne away by high winds is enormous, and the farther the farmed area is removed, from a shelter-belt the greater the evaporation. . . z

WEATHER CONDITIONS

The general weather conditions constitute a factor not capable of being eliminated or minimized. Nevertheless much may be accomplished in the direction of minimizing the effects of adverse weather conditions. The' Dominion Weather Bureau furnishes daily forecasts of weather likely to prevail after so-many hours. If these forecasts as published in the daily papers are heeded, the operations on farms can to some extent be arranged so as to provide safeguards against

loss of crops or stock. Then, again, meteorologists of wide and long experience tell us that the seasons in New Zealand come in cycles, occupying approximately seven years from one extreme in the cycle to the' other extreme. . Thus we have series of more or less ■ dry years at -the one extreme and series of more or less wet years at the other extreme, with gradations of good years, not too wet nor too dry, in between. Recognition of this phenomenon, and close observation of seasonal variation extending over at least fourteen years, should enable the farmer, especially in certain situations, to guard against loss by shaping his farming methods and systems in accordance therewith. Crop rotations, cultural methods, and crop-storage operations could be adopted to meet • effectively the requirements necessitated by meteorological changes — one period compared with another period within the cvcle. ■

KNOWLEDGE AND ITS APPLICATION.

Lack of knowledge is a limiting factor of some importance associated with profitable farming. Every business demands knowledge and careful training if the individual is to make a success of that business. Yet for the intricate business of successful farming, demanding as it does wide knowledge and proper training, some people think that any one — whether schooled or unschooled, trained or untrained — is fitted to successfully engage in it. Modern farming demands some knowledge of a number of sciences, some knowledge of business, and actual experience with the various operations carried out on farms. Indeed, it has been said that a 200-acre farm provides satisfactory scope for the exercise of every faculty man possesses. It is therefore incumbent upon all connected with present-day farming, or those contemplating a farming career, to avail themselves of every possible means of obtaining reliable knowledge connected with the business. They cannot obtain too much learning in this most intricate and .widest of all businesses, and, no matter how ’ extensive their knowledge and experience in it, there is always something for them to learn. Just as knowledge is at the foundation of a successful commercial undertaking, so it is the basis of successful farming., A mind well supplied with. detailed information connected with' its business is equipped to intelligently engage in that business—be it farming, commerce, or ' manufacturingand to better command success therein. With the spread of up-to-date knowledge of agriculture will come better farming, and consequently an ever-increasing agricultural production.

Highly important as is the possession of up-to-date knowledge of agriculture, it is more important that those connected with farming should possess the capacity for making practical application of useful knowledge when they acquire it. The two are so interdependent that success can be obtained only when they are both possessed to a degree by the farmer; and the individual possession of this power of application removes a limiting factor of considerable importance.

BUSINESS TRAINING.

• Lack of business methods constitutes an obstacle of some magnitude in the path ■ of successful agriculture. The management of farming operations, especially if of a diversified nature, calls for a good deal of business antitude. In' Britain young men who intend eventually

to farmthat is, to assume the full management of a farmoften spend a period in some bank or commercial firm, so as to fit them from a business standpoint for farming. While this is not possible generally in New Zealand, yet the practice emphasizes the importance of training in business methods in some measure to fit present-day and future farmers for successfully handling the intricacies connected with their, calling. In the American agricultural colleges are departments of farmmanagement, the commercial, as distinguished from the productive, aspect of farming being given due prominence there in the agricultural education system of the country. The farmer of to-day has to be continuously looking ahead if success is to attend his efforts. Among the various provisions he must make is that of supplemental feed—to effectively feed his stock during periods of comparative scarcity ; while one of the many economies he must exercise is that of the elimination of animals from his herds or flocks that are not worth at least more to him than the cost of the food they consume. ' Successful farmmanagement is based upon knowledge of up-to-date methods of production, augmented by some experience in affairs connected with . business, particularly in book-keeping and general matters of finance.

SOIL-TREATMENT.

An obstacle of some magnitude in the path of modern successful farming, but one which, happily, may be removed, is the tendency on the part of many connected with arable farming to rely more upon the chemical treatment of the soil and less upon the physical treatment of land —by systematic drainage, liming, green-manuring, and proper cultivation, where each or any is necessary. By treating soils first physically as fully as possible, in the order just mentioned, the farmer is in a position to effectively treat them chemicallythat is, to use fertilizers to the best advantage and economically. These aspects of the subject have been enlarged upon recently in the Journal by the writer. ..

WEEDS.

The prevalence of weeds on arable land presents a limiting factor of considerable magnitude. But even this formidable foe of the farmer can be materially reduced in strength, if not entirely subdued. The adoption of proper farming methods, involving the practice of a satisfactory rotation of crops and thorough and timely cultural methods, will contribute materially towards the reduction of the weed pest. In coping with the worst weeds (Californian -thistle, ox-eye daisy, &c.) the practice of summer fallowing (frequent cultivation during the hotter, and drier months), followed immediately by the sowing of heavily seeded smother-crops (rape, &c.), will have a decided eliminating effect, if not kill these weeds entirely. This method of treatment, if persisted in each year for two or three years, should, however, have the desired result. If it fails the land should be sown down with lucerne where the. soil is specially suitable for this crop, or elsewhere with grass. The quick growth and the frequent cutting of the lucerne, also the constant grazing of the pasture with sheep and cattle, keep the thistles, and indeed most bad weeds, materially in check. It is by such good-farming methods, and not by any so-called weed specific or eradicator, that this most prevalent limiting factor can be effectively minimized and in many cases eliminated altogether.

PESTS AND DISEASES.

Another drawback to - successful agriculture is the prevalence of insect .pests, and fungus diseases. But even this potent factor can be minimized by the adoption of farming systems that embody suitable crop rotations, thereby changing the host-plant and promoting vigour of growth fortified to resist attack. Sound ' cultural methods, effective' soil-treatment, and the. growing of crop varieties that present immunity, or partial immunity, to disease, also afford a degree of defence against the ravages of. these pests. Where applicable to field conditions; spraying with suitable fungicides or insecticides presents a further means of successful combat.

CO-OPERATION.

Lack of co-operation in handling and marketing' farm-produce presents a most potent limiting factor in the attainment of complete success in farming pursuits. Through the absence of this co-operation the farmer obtains less for the product of his labour and skill and the ■ consumer pays more for the products of the farm. Advanced agricultural countries like Denmark, California, and Ireland in recent years saw the great advantages of co-operation, and have materially reaped the benefit. It is well known how Denmark (a country indifferently favoured from the points of view of climate and soil), particularly, took up co-operative production, handling, and marketing of farm - products, together with the systematic .education of its producers, with the result that the country has risen from comparative agricultural obscurity to a most prominent position in the farming world. Co-operation, indeed, was Denmark's salvation. This matter need not be discussed further here, for the great advantages of widespread co-operation have been well recognized by New Zealand producers. Co-operation, particularly in connection with the dairying and fruit industries, and. by farmers' associations . in the matter of general trading, has been successfully carried on for years in the Dominion. But the question may well be asked, Cannot New Zealand become, co-operatively, another Denmark? '

MIGRATORY. FARMING.

The last but not least limiting factor to really successful farming to which the writer will refer is what may be. termed “ migratory farming.'' Not until New Zealand possesses a more or less permanent husbandry will she produce to the full, for it must be recognized by every one that land which is awaiting a purchaser is not going to be fully developed and systematically farmed. Older countries famed for their farming methods- and agricultural output, and less favoured in climate and soil than New Zealand, present numerous cases of farms that have been worked by the same families for generations. Therein lies the real source of the agricultural wealth of these countries: It is to be hoped that in the course of time New Zealand will possess in greater measure that permanent husbandry upon which depends satisfactory and continuous production and the maintenance of soilproductivity. ’ .