WAIMATE WEST DEMONSTRATION FARM

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 64, Issue 4, 15 April 1942, Page 257

WAIMATE WEST DEMONSTRATION FARM

Reorganisation To Meet Wartime Needs

By

J. E. DAVIES,

Instructor in Agriculture, Hawera.

A S with other farms, the war has AS with other farms, the war has 21. created new problems for the Waimate West. Demonstration Farm. A description of the farm itself, its establishment, development, and control, together with a review of the pre-war activities, appeared in the “Journal of Agriculture” for January, 1939. This article gives details of the production capacity of the farm up to and including the 1937-38 season, and briefly reviews farming operations for the past three years, taking particular note of the efforts. made to meet wartime demands. . Although special experimental work intended to continue over several seasons had already started, the farm committee decided on the outbreak of war to concentrate on the increased production of milk for cheese and of pig-meat. Existing experimental work which was calculated to, interfere with these aims was therefore cancelled. Adjustments were made to 'the farm layout to provide for strict rotational grazing, a scheme of topdressing the pastures twice a year designed to fit

in with the grazing management was adopted, and an improvement in the herd was provided for. In the pig section the policy of growing an area of sugar beet for the wintering of up to 30 grown stores intended for fatten-

ing to baconers by October and November was continued, and adjustments were made in the farrowing times of the sows, to suit this programme. A full report of the original trials with sugar beet on the Waimate West Demonstration Farm was given in the August, 1940, “Journal,” and it can be stated that the main factor in the very satisfactory increase in returns from pigs is due to the provision each season of an acre of this very valuable crop. The most forceful method of showing the results of the policy adopted by the committee is to allow the production and financial figures to speak for themselves. The accompanying

table gives a summary of the returns has served as chairman of the Farm for the period over which the writer Committee.

Satisfactory Results The returns indicate the < jump in production both of butterfat and of

pig-meat which has resulted from the dropping of experimental work for the time being and concentration on the purely productive aspect of the farm activities. While substantial progress was being made before the war, the adoption of twice-a-year . topdressing and the better utilisation of pasture growth made possible with the more straightforward programme of grazing management which could be adopted when there, were no special trials to consider, have resulted in a most substantial increase in butterfat and pig-meat production over the past three seasons. The actual factory returns of butterfat from the full 90 acres for the past three seasons is shown in the following table: — ( Butterfat Production Season. (lb.) 1938- 19,882.3 1939- 22,341.3 1940- 24,315.1

Difficulties Overcome Apart from the adjustments necessitated by a change-over from experimental work to a full production programme, adequate labour in recent seasons has presented a problem. The , services* of the two permanent hands employed (in addition to the manager) were lost soon 7 after the outbreak of war, and could not be satisfactorily replaced. The work of the '■> farm has therefore been undertaken as a war effort by the manager, his daughter, and a young' son just left school. Additional help is employed only at harvesting. The determination of the manager and his family to get results and to overcome difficulties has been a big factor in the improved production shown. Profits for War Effort In keeping with the policy of increasing production as a war effort, the committee has decided that all nrofits will be devoted to the war

effort. Substantial donations, which will be continued, have been made. to patriotic funds, and in addition a National Savings account has been provided for. Stock Feed It is of interest to note that, with the exception of the area of sugar beet grown for the pigs, no crops are used. The herd is fed entirely on grass, some thirty acres of the pastures being closed in the late spring and , cut for hay and silage. As the herd comes into profit in July and August, the milkers have a spell of two to three, hours each day on winter grass in paddocks closed in April and May. About 24 acres are shut up each season from mid-April to the end of May, when most of the herd is dry. This area rationed to the milkers, which get in addition a feed of ensilage in the day and hay at night, lasts until the end of August, when paddocks closed in early July and specially topdressed are ready to

carry them on. There is no doubt that this autumn-saved grass has played an important part in getting increased production.

Pig Production

Through the introduction and use of sugar beet the pig has become “the gentleman that pays the rent” on the Manaia Demonstration Farm. The increased returns from pigs has been obtained with no additional expenditure in meals. Meat-meal and barley-meal are both used, the former in the autumn and winter as a supplement to sugar beet for young pigs, and the latter in the spring and summer as a supplement to whey, also for the younger pigs. The policy has been followed of using concentrates in the form of meals for pushing along the growth of young pigs, and of feeding to capacity the more bulky whey and sugar beet to the older pigs, . when they can use this type of food to best advantage. During the past three seasons, when the gross returns from pigs have been £165, £216, and £220 respectively, the maximum expenditure on meals for pigs, calves, and poultry has been £45, the average being less than £4O, of which less than £3O has been spent on the pigs.

Fertiliser Costs

j ' The amount spent on fertilisers and lime over the past seven years shows an. average of less than 16s per acre for both fertiliser and lime delivered on the farm. The experience of the past three ‘ seasons, when the amount spent on fertiliser and lime was increased from an average of £5O for the 90 acres to £lOO a year, has shown that the additional .expenditure was well worth while provided the pasture growth was fully utilised.

■ The increase in butterfat of 6000 lb. for the two seasons since the additional manure was provided shows a remarkable return for the investment of an additional £5O a year. It was the intention of the ' committee to increase still further the manuring programme, as it was obvious that there was plenty of scope for still higher returns. ’

However, the rationing of ' fertiliser has set a new problem, which is being confidently met by (1) an intensification of . harrowing to keep - animal droppings well spread, thus feeding back to the pastures a large proportion . of the minerals removed by grazing; (2) a further concentration on efficient use of the grass produced on the farm; and (3) still more drastic elimination of the low producer in the herd. By paying particular attention to these , three points, and at the same time- seeing that the pastures are prevented from running away to seed .in

the early summer, it is confidently expected that a satisfactory standard of production can be maintained despite the severe reduction in the amount of fertiliser available. Acknowledgment is made of the continued keen interest and practical help of the committee, together with the efficient.services of the farm secretary, Mr. V. H. Hobday, and of the farm manager, Mr. A. S. Patterson, who for the past 20 years has carried out the policy of the committee with considerable success.

Note: The figures for expenditure on lime and fertiliser are not exactly those for any one twelve-month period, as payments for fertiliser actually used in one year may appear on the accounts for the next season. The figures do show, however, that the expenditure on the 90 acres for the last three years averaged £lOO, compared with an average of £250 for the previous four years.

Year. Bank Overdraft ( — Butterfat Credit (+). Revenue. ButterfatPig Revenue. Revenue. Working '' • Pig Account Revenue. Expenditure. WorkingExpenditure AccountFertiliser Expenditure. and Lime. Expenditure Fertiliser .Farm and Lime. Assets. Farm Credit Assets. ( + )• £ s. d. s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1935 —1,253 14 6 14 6 720 10 2 720 10 2 55 10 4 55 10 4 657 0 11 657 0 11 62 1 0 62 1 0 3,097 15 7 3,097 15 7 1936 ... —985 8 7 8 7 787 2 1 787 2 1 81 2 1 81 2 1 567 11 7 567 11 7 15 6 6 15 6 6 3,163 1 6 3,163 1 6 1937 —430 12 1 12 1 1,285 4 4 1,285 4 4 72 3 10 72 3 10 ■708 54 708 5 4 , 40 3 7 40 3 7 3,241 4 11 3,241 4 11 1938 —72 4 10 4 10 1,354 10 5 1,354 10 5 152 17 2 152 17 2 920 18 6 920 18 6 ■ . 82 11 11 82 11 11 3,405 15 71 3,405 15 7 1939 —49 18 6 18 6 1,485 6 8 1,485 6 8 165 14 3 165 14 3 1,011.12 .4 1,011 12 4 ' 130 9 6 130 9 6 3,855 15 9 3,855 15 9 1940 —125 0 4 0 4 1,574 5 10 1,574 5 10 216 6 1 216 6 1 1,116 18 4 1.116 18 4 101 9 0 101 9 0 4,081 17 2 4,081 17 2 1941 4-438 4 3 4 3 1,773 1 11 1,773 1 11 220 17 6 220 17 6 1,169 5 • 2 1,169 5 2 ? 70 9 7 70 9 7 4,480 4 10 4,480 4 10 ? ■

FINANCIAL RETURNS FROM 1935 to 1941.