MEETING THE SHORTAGE OF TURNIP AND SWEDE SEEDS

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 3, 15 September 1941, Page 191

MEETING THE SHORTAGE OF TURNIP AND SWEDE SEEDS

By

J.H. CLARIDGE,

Seed Certification Officer, Wellington

How Formers Con Help.

Sow the seed at a lower rate per acre than usual. Purchase only the bare requirements of seed. Replace swedes by Yellow Fleshed turnips if possible. Grow other supplementary fodder crops in place of White Fleshed turnips.

'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIII REFERENCES were made in the April and July issues of the “Journal of Agriculture” to the steps which had been taken in an attempt to safeguard New Zealand’s supplies of mangel, turnip and swede seeds. It is now possible to set out the true position relative to these seeds in so far as it can reasonably be ascertained. , It was known ■ that there existed in the country carry-over stocks from the 1940 sowings, that merchants were endeavouring to import seeds to add to the quantity on hand, and that certain areas, particularly those under Departmental supervision, had been harvested for seed purposes. .c ’ , '

Results of Survey

A. recent survey of the whole position has revealed that: — (a) The carry-over stocks held by merchants were considerable. (b) The quantities available overseas which could be imported into this country have proved to be negligible. (c) The quantities of seeds produced locally, while disappointing _ when viewed from one angle, will nevertheless prove of tremendous value to the farmer in arranging for his yearly supply of supplementary fodder. Cd) The figures showing the quantities of seeds available take no cognisance of seeds in farmers’ hands or in the hands of - storekeepers, etc., whose trade in seeds is of an incidental nature. To this extent, therefore, they may be taken as being a conservative

estimate of the stocks available for sowing. (e) From the information available it may be concluded that 1. The mangel seed in the country is sufficient to sow the usual New Zealand acreage, allowing 5 lb. of seed per acre over all. 2. The Yellow Fleshed turnip seed available is sufficient to sow our normal acreage at the rate of 14oz per acre. 3. The White Fleshed turnip . seed available is estimated to sow a little over 50 per cent, of the usual acreage if sown at the rate of 14oz. per acre.

4. The swede seed available will' provide sowings for 80 per cent, of the normal acreage at the rate of lOoz. per acre. Meeting the Shortage The question immediately , arises, “How can the shortage of swede and Yellow Flesh turnip seeds be met?” In the first place, the position can be eased to a very material extent by rates of seeding lower than those mentioned above. If the average rate of seeding of swede seed, for instance, can be reduced from lOoz. to 9oz. per acre, the acreage which could be sown would immediately be increased from 80 per cent, to 90 per cent. —an additional 18,000 acres. This avenue for meeting the position should certainly be exploited before any consideration is given to the sowing of a reduced acreage. Secondly, farmers should purchase only their bare requirements, for the

1941 sowings. From information available, it is evident that the little extra purchased by each farmer in normal times “just in case” amounts in the aggregate to a considerable quantity. If this tying up of seed could be .avoided this year it would assist to alleviate the shortage of certain kinds of seeds. Thirdly, the position regarding swedes can be eased by the utilisation wherever possible of Yellow Fleshed turnips in their place. Certainly this has its limitations, and, if overdone, may lead -to a shortage of the turnips. Nevertheless, it is worth full consideration by farmers who are so fortunately placed that Yellow 'Fleshed turnips may take the place of swedes. Lastly, the shortage of White Fleshed turnip seed can be offset by the growing of alternative —rape, Italian ryegrass, or green feed oats, for instanceof which ample seed stocks are available. Farmers themselves will know whether a part or the whole of their requirements of soft turnips can be replaced in this way. Any inconvenience or minor difficulty brought about by such an action on the part of individual farmers will be many times compensated by the availability of supplies of turnip seed where replacement is not possible. In this connection it is opportune to • emphasise the very high production of . certified Italian ryegrass seed compared with that of most of the uncertified seed on the market. The extra cost is negligible compared to the increased production. Farmers may be tempted to lay aside a quantity of mangel, turnip, and swede seed for use in the 1942 sowing season, feeling that if shortages are already being experienced, the position will be critical in another year’s time. It is only fair, therefore, to point out what is being done to safeguard next year’s requirements.

Safeguarding Next Year’s Requirements

. The acreage of mangels to be seeded under . Departmental supervision next season is double that harvested for seed last autumn, when more than half a normal season’s requirements of seed were obtained with no previous ex-

perience. The knowledge gained should result in a considerably increased seed yield per acre. The acreage of turnips and swedes which was - harvested for seed under Departmental supervision last year was 1 all- sown in the usual manner to produce a bulb crop, and, in fact, most of the area had actually been grazed by sheep before seed production was decided upon. In the coming season, however, the acreage to be harvested is more than trebled, and, in addition, each area has been sown especially, for seed production. These two factors, it is considered, will result in ample seed being produced for the following season’s- requirements.

Farmers Can Help

Summing up, farmers may assist to a material extent to meet the present • temporary shortage of swede and White Fleshed turnip seed by attention to the following points: — ' Sow the seed at a lower rate per acre than usual. Purchase only the bare requirements of seed. Replace swedes by Yellow Fleshed turnips if possible. Grow other supplementary fodder crops in place of White Fleshed turnips. . f / ■