Possibilities of Farm Production

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 62, Issue 3, 15 March 1941, Page 145

Possibilities of Farm Production

Stock-taking Discloses Healthy Position

by

R. P. CONNELL,

1 Land Utilisation Officer, : Wellington.

This article, which has been extracted from a report presented to the National Council of Primary Production, is a survey of some of the major farming resources of the [Dominion. The report was drawn up as a guide to the Council in formulating its production programme for the 1941-42 season, and was supplemented by a review of New Zealand’s farming achievement during the 1914-18 war.

APART from farm man-power, which is not considered in this stock-taking of our farming activities, there is every indication that the stage now is better set than ever before for heavy farm production. The main facts supporting this finding are: — Area Farmed. — Taking into account its area and condition, the capacity of the land being farmed is at its peak point in our history. This is due primarily to the record total area under cultivation, which has been constantly increasing in recent years, and has more than counter-balanced any other changes which have taken place in the

total area of land occupied. In Table 1 (see page 146) is given an indication of changes in the area and use of occupied land during the period 1929-39. The most significant figures relate to the total area in cultivation, which embraces, among other things, not only root and forage crops, but also sown grasses, orchards, horticultural areas, and timber plantations. Though the total occupied area has declined by 203,000 acres during the last five years for which figures are available, the area in cultivation has increased by 219,000 acres in the same period. This increase outweighs the, decline in occupied area to a greater degree than a comparison of the figures only would suggest.

Grassland Position. — The grassland position is stronger than at any pre vious stage in our history. Two factors have contributed dominantly to this result: (1) An extensive programme in recent years of replacing worn-out pastures or other inferior vegetation by permanent pastures, in which better strains of important pasture species have been used. (2) A pasture topdressing programme which in the last five years has been heavier and more extensive than any carried out previously. In view of the possible influence on future fertiliser supplies of the recent enemy action at Nauru, the momentum given to our pasture vitality by heavy recent topdressing promises to be particularly valuable. If it is associated with suitable grazing and adequate feed conservation, it will allow production to be kept up for quite an appreciable period at a higher level than it could have been maintained had recent topdressing been on a scale equal to that before 1935.

A strong- grassland position is especially valuable in war economy as it enables us for the time being * to produce with relatively small expenditure, grass returns which may approximate or even exceed those which could be obtained by arable operations. In round figures, 5,900,000 acres have been sown in pastures during the last

10 years. It is probable that about twofifths of this sowing would occupy the land only temporarily, leaving a sowing of about 3,500,000 acres .in permanent pastures. Because of the variations in the seed sown these pastures would vary from poor to indifferent to good, but during the last eight of the ten years under review the position was stronger than at any time previously.

This is due to the initiation of certification of pasture seed as a result of which approximately half the area sown in permanent pasture in the past eight years has been sown in superior strains of perennial ryegrass, the species of major importance. These pastures respond more to good grazing practice and to topdressing than inferior swards.

The following table shows the trend of topdressing on grassland: —

The trend as indicated in Table 2 by the figures for the 10 years 1930 to 1939 inclusive is interesting. There was an increase of 80 per cent, in the fertiliser used and an increase of 45 per cent, in the acreage of grassland topdressed. This points to a substantial increase in the average weight of the fertiliser dressing applied to each acre of grassland. The validity of this con-

elusion is not affected by the quantity of fertiliser used on arable crops because the area devoted to such crops is but a fraction of the area of grassland topdressed. In addition, any increase in the amount of fertiliser applied per acre to such crops would be offset totally or largely by the decline in the total ■ acreage of such crops, which latterly has been about 200,000 acres less annually than it was in the early part of the period under consideration. . A careful official estimate of the Dominion’s requirements of fertiliser

for arable crops is 135,000 tons annually. Assuming this requirement to have been constant during the period under discussion then the average fertiliser dressing applied to grassland was If cwt. per acre in 1931 and the corresponding figure for 1939 was 2f cwt. per acresurely a rapid advance in the intensity of grassland topdressing. FARM POWER. The amount of farm power in the form of tractors and horses is set out in the following table: —

Not only is the supply of power greater at present than at any other period, but it is also more 'flexible and more adapted to the restricted supply of man-power. This is due to the substantially increased role played by tractors. The farm power position as reflected in horses and tractors is adequate for a greater programme of work than will be assigned to it. It is significant that in 1938-39, the latest season for which figures are available, the area in arable crops was appreciably less than on previous occasions ' when the supply of farm motive power was substantially smaller. For example, in 1932-33, the area in arable crops was 350,000 acres greater than in 1938-39, when the number of draught horses and the number of tractors on farms were both greater. As there has been no material change in the meantime, it is clear that New Zealand has a big reserve of farm motive power. This conclusion is valid even though no account is taken of the considerable extent to which the truck has replaced the horse in farm work. . - . FARM FINANCE. Some light on farm finance is given by a consideration of the export values of the main primary products, together with the advances by the trading banks to farmers, and to industries allied to primary production such as dairy companies, factories, freezing works, meat companies, woollen mills, stock and station agents, etc.

Points from these tables are: (1) When bank advances to farmers were at their peak these advances were 35 per cent, of all trading bank advances. (2) At present despite a decline of £1,400,000 from the peak figure in bank advances to farmers these advances represent 37 per cent, of the total advances of trading banks.

(3) Twice in the five years under review a heavy income from primary . produce has been followed immediately by a decline in bank advances to farmers. As the bank advances to farmers and to associated interests represent only a part of the credit given the farming community they serve as a criterion rather than as a complete indication . of the whole position. As a criterion they may be interpreted as not suggesting any hampering restriction ,in farm credit which would militate against efficient production. Farm finance appears to be available freely enough to ensure that no substantial increase in efficient production could be brought about by more ready borrowing facilities for farmers. This satisfactory result has been brought about mainly by (1) the relatively high gross farming income of the past four years: (2) the farm credit position, as reflected in the advances by trading banks to primary production interests; (3) the credit facilities available under the Farmers’ Loans Emergency Regulations 1940. MAJOR TYPES OF LIVESTOCK. The number of dairy cows and sheep . is set out in the following table: —

The figures for pigs are not given because they provide but a very indifferent guide to future production. An interesting feature of the breeding ewe position is that 1940 was marked by a slight increase in the North Island number in comparison with 1939. Hence, the falling-off in the Dominion total is due solely to decreases in the South Island, which took place in all districts, but mainly where snow in the high country affected the position. The livestock position is fully consistent with the production of meat, cheese, wool, and butter being maintained at or about the current high level. The breeding ’ ewes continue quite strong numerically and the data available does not point to any radical change in the number of dairy cows. FARM PRODUCTION—I9I4-1918. New Zealand’s achievement in primary production during the war of 1914-1918 gives some confidence and encouragement in the consideration of our production in the immediate future. In those years production was practically maintained throughout, and there

was no depletion of livestock or the total area devoted-to farming. In table 7, if one cattle beast is taken as equivalent to six sheep then the total number of livestock units was greater at the end of the period, while the area in occupation and the area in grass both materially increased. To sum up, important features of the farm production of the 1914-1918 war period were: — (1) During the war and the two years following the war the quantity of farm produce available for export annually was appreciably greater than that available in the two years preceding the war. (2) Contemporaneously, there took place substantial increases in (a) total number of farm livestock (b) total area occupied (c) total area in grass. In some important respects farm man-power was a greater factor in production than it is today. This may be accounted for partly by the distinct labour economy in the production of feed by topdressing which plays a

much greater part in our farming than it did 25 years ago and partly by the fact that our farming has become more mechanised during the. last quartercentury through the use of tractors, trucks, < improvement of milking machines, and modern labour-saving harvesting equipment.

A RATHER serious loss of sheep A RATHER serious loss of sheep was found on investigation to be due to the black-leg organism, states the annual report of the Director of the Livestock Division. The results obtained from the vaccination of the flock against black-leg have been very satisfactory. The vaccine used was prepared and supplied by the Animal Research Station, Wallaceville.

* Blood and bone (estimated). t Estimated.

Year. Total Area in Cultivation. Area in New Zealand Flax. Tussock and Native Grasses. Fern, Scrub ’ and Second Growth. Standing Virgin Bush. Barren and Unproductive Land. Total Unimproved Occupied Land. Total Occupied Land. 1929 19,118,101 62,704 14,131,630 4,016,774 3,883,805 2,309,117 24,404,030 43,522,131 1930 19,156,074 68,260 14,182,142 3,980,643 3,757,421 2,224,113 24,212,579 43,368,353 1931 19,006,878 91,219 14,124,030 4,149,710 3,523,157 2,344,591 24,232,707 43,239,585 1932 18,849,601 77,437 14,294,463 3,966,790 3,472,657 2,067,801 23,879,148 42,728,949 1933 19,033,625 64,206 14,137,375 4,000,229 3,419,305 2,018,654 23,639,769 42,673,394 1934 19,186,748 72,853 • 14,014,177 4,015,444 3,369,551 1,984,135 23,456,260 42,643,008 1935 19,502,519 72,823 14,184,044 4,179,763 ' 3,284,154 1,881,256 23,602,040 43,104,559 1936 19,671,558 68,933 14,242,407 4,205,825 3,299,423 1,793,947 23,610,535 43,282,093 1937 19,588,006 63,015 14,188,184 4,365,054 3,192,165 1,803,469 23,611,887 43,199,893 1938 19,691,001 66,515 14,015,112 4,393,387 .. 3,038,284 1,956,390 23,469,688 43,160,689 1939 19,721,949 57,602 13,822,137 4,387,367 2,923,043 . 1,989,174 23,179,323 42,901,272

TABLE 1.

Total Year. Quantity Total Quantity Used (tons) Total Area of Grassland Year. Grassland Topdressed (acres) 1929 504,000 2,650,748 1930 398,000 2,871,316 1931 354,000 2,454,321 1932 430,000 2,438,114 1933 416,000 2,249,170 1934 425,000 2,684,114 1935 461,000 2,882,224 1936 538,000 3,326,279 1937 632,000 3,873,989 1938 626,000 4,016,944 1939 714,000* 4,187,284 1940 702,000f

TABLE 2USE OF FERTILISERS.

Horses. Tractors. Year. Draught and t Draught. ; Total. Number. Horse-power. 1930-31 133,044 295,743 '• 5,023 79,129 1931-32 121,594 267,980 4,856 74,589 1932-33 120,136 263,883 4,972 78,024 1933-34 119,454 260,892 5,062 79,884 1934-35 120,239 259,972 5,349 84,867 1935-36 122,749 263,156 ’ 5,710 94,905 1936-37 124,111 264,785 6,585 112,007 1937-38 124,837 265,153 8,030 139,267 1938-39 123,594 261,789 9,639 166,005 1939-40 122,245 258,567 11,284 203,403

TABLE 3.

1935-36 1936-37 -1937-38 1938-39 1939-40 Butter 14,878,000 • 17,594,000 18,458,000 15,316,000 18,162,000 Cheese 4,468,000 5,917,000 6,146,000 5,186,000 7,361,000 Pork . 1,508,000 1,631,000 1,885,000 1,686,000 1,734,000 Mutton, Lamb and Beef . . 10,410,000 11,616,000 13,560,00012,683,000 15,672,000 Wool 12,762,000 18,771,000 12,326,000 12,899,000 14,664,000 TOTAL £43,026,000 £55,529,000 £52,375,000 £47,770,000 £57,593,000

TABLE 4.—F.O.B. VALUES (N.Z.£) OF MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS.

1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 (1) Bank Advances to Farmers— (a) Mainly dairy .... 4,988 5,101 5,445 5,380 5,013 (b) „ wool . . . . 5,907 5,368 6,255 6,288 5,769 (c) ,, . meat . . . . . . 2,199 1,925 2,151 2,206 1,937 (d) ,, agricultural 297 322 340 372 264 (e) Mixed 4,295 4,058 4,627 4,438 4,273 TOTALS .. _ 17,686 16,774 18,817 18,684 17,255 (2) Bank Advances to Industries Allied to Primary Production — (a) Dairy Companies, Factories, etc. . . 1,199 1,279 1,308 1,505 2,528 (&) Freezing Works, Meat Companies, etc. 865 852 1,707 2,846 2,969 (c) Woollen Mills ... 276 386 603 447 215 (d) Other . . . . ■ . . . . 1,552 1,652 2,013 1,661 1,463 TOTALS . . 3,892 4,169 5,630 6,460 7,176 (3) Bank Advances to Stock and Station Agents . . . . . . . . 726 688 1,232 1,331 587 TOTAL ADVANCES OF ALL CLASSES . . £44,785 47,175 54,305 54,422 46,909

TABLE TRADING BANK ADVANCES TO PRIMARY PRODUCTION INTERESTS. (Expressed in £N.Z. thousands for year ended last Monday of June quarter).

Year. Total dairycows in milk and dry. Dairy heifers one year and under two years old. Dairy heifers under one year. Breeding ewes. Total sheep. 1930-31 1.601,633 346,156 370,697 17,608,729 29,792,516 1931-32 1,702,070 365,357 360,691 17,063,060 28,691,788 1932-33 1,845,972 359,697 380,244 17,219,697 27,755,966 1933-34 1,932,511 365,126 379,030 17,571,426 28,649,038 1934-35 1,952,094 364,081 ■ 330,532 17,812,417 29,076,754 1935-36 1,951,507 322,757 287,662 18,668,961 30,113,704 1936-37 1.935,524 291,810 331,277 19,332,077 31,305,818 1937-38 1,872,797 322,941 328,215 19,663,866 32,378,774 1938-39 1,853,713 321,657 333,870 19,960,299 31,897,091 1939-40 1,850,071 •— - • ' ■ — 19,727,651 31,061,875

TABLE 6.

1913-14 1918-19 1919-20 Total dairy cows in milk or dry at January 31 . . .. . . . . 701,312 826,135 903,454 Total cattle at January 31 2,249,956 3,035,478 . 3,101,945 Total sheep and lambs at April 30 24,798,763 25,828.554 23,919,970 Total area occupied (acres) 40,926,875 43,342,706 43.473,079 Total area in grass (acres) 30,012,900 30,679,900 30,813,300

TABLE 7.