Value of Lucerne

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 2, 15 August 1941, Page 97

Value of Lucerne

New Methods of Harvesting Have Increased the Value Of This Bountiful Crop

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D. R. WILKIE,

i Instructor in Agriculture, j I Blenheim. i

NO fodder can produce from the same acreage * and in the same given time , such a great tonnage of protein-rich food as lucerne. It has long been a complaint, however, that lucerne takes too much looking after in that it requires cutting and harvesting four to five times in a season, and the following comments of a very American farmer make interesting reading: — : “If you don’t want lots of trouble, don’t sow lucerne. Along the middle of June, when the. corn needs cultivation the most, we had to stop and cut the darned lucerne. It was in bloom—three feet high. . We had to haul in 20 loads of hay off of it. In July the folks in town invited us to

spend a week attending the show. I suppose they were glad when they got my postcard announcing that we could not come, because we had to cut that blamed lucerne patch again. Gee, but it was hot, hauling in that hay.

Worse still, I was fool enough to go to work and sow five more bushels of lucerne seed. The only rest Til get hereafter from hauling lucerne will be on rainy days. ■ ' ' ■ ! V.- - “It got to rain in September and about the first thing I knew-that darned lucerne was three feet high and all in bloimit had to have another hair cut. Then Barnum and Bailey’s circus came to town, and darn my buttons if. I didn’t have to miss that circus for the first time in forty years. I got mad and then turned the pigs, cows, and calves into it and still the blamed stuff kept growing to beat the band. They could not keep it downthey got fat on it. “But still, this lucerne hay that we sweat so cutting and stackin’, makes mighty fine stuffin’ for the cows these cold ground hog days. Everything on

the place eats it, except the hired girl, and she ain’t been here long enough.” In the past, even with a.limited supply of labour and without the proper facilities, the harvesting of lucerne has undoubtedly presented difficulties, but, as in many other avenues of production, modern machinery has come forward to undertake the work. Examples of this machinery now being used in Marlborough give an idea how far lucerne harvesting has progressed from

the methods used in the days of our American friend. First in line comes the tractor mower. Recently one was observed making an excellent job and cutting two swathes at the same time. In this way a standing crop is soon “laid low” with a minimum of time and effort. Experience has proved that this is a most efficient method of cutting the lucerne, and the work is accomplish-" ed rapidly at low cost.

Another machine which is being used extensively is the hay tedder. This does the work of taking the cut lucerne from the swathe and placing it in windrows, where the drying takes place. Turning of the swathe is also easily accomplished by this machine, which is an asset to any farm where hay is made. , Previously - lucerne in Marlborough was generally' swept up out of the swathe and pressed in a stationary power baler. This method has much to commend it, but the pickup power baler has now made its appearance, and although it has scarcely been in operation long enough to allow farmers to become thoroughly acquainted with its capabilities, a considerable amount of hay was made by this method last season. This machine picks up the lucerne hay direct from the windrow, and the bales are pressed, wired, and dropped in the paddock, from which they can be collected by lorry. • , Using the methods outlined, the saving in labour is enormous, and the once arduous task of cutting, sweeping, and stacking is greatly, simplified. With such harvesting facilities available, there are few crops that can compare with lucerne, which presents a most attractive financial proposition to the individual farmer. Probably no other crop is so sure in 1 its return when once established or has so many avenues for exploitation. Lucerne is an excellent green fodder and produces the highest quality hay and, being a legume, it improves the soil by supplying nitrogen. During dry conditions the value of this crop is most apparent when good grass paddocks may be seen “burnt-off,” while lucerne almost invariably presents a green, thriving appearance. Lastly, as a seed crop, lucerne can give wonderful returns.