SEASONAL NOTES

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 71, Issue 1, 16 July 1945, Page 75

SEASONAL NOTES

Spring Sowing of Wheat, Oats, Barley

r T" ’HE 1945-46 targets for the followTHE 1945-46 targets for the following cereals are:— Acres* Wheat .. 300,000 Oats for threshing . . 60,000 Barleymalting .. 38,000 feed .. 40,000 . Now that the time for spring sowing these cereals is approaching, it is hoped that as large an area as possible will be sown, so that the above targets may be attained. Sowing . Spring-sown, wheat and oats are drilled mainly in August and early September, while barley is sown in September or early October. All cereals sown in spring require about 15 per cent, heavier, seeding than if autumn sown, because less tillering takes place with the spring-sown crops. The heavier the land, the heavier the seeding. Too light a seeding in spring may lead to development of late tillers and a higher percentage of shrivelled grain in the sample. The seed is drilled through every coulter to a depth of about 2Jin., and tine harrows follow the drill. If available, only plump, heavy, machine-dressed seed 'of high germination and purity, preferably dusted for smut, should be sown. The usual seeding of spring-sown cereals is from 2 to 4 bushels per acre. Fertilisers The quantity of fertiliser allowed by rationing should be used with all spring-sown cereals. One noticeable effect is to strengthen the young plants at a time when they are liable to injury from grass-grub attack, and this alone may have an important bearing on yield. Grass-grub is active in August, and during September it usually goes into the resting stage, so there is some risk of damage to seedlings during August and early September on paddocks badly infested with grass-grub. Preparation of Seed-bed Tillage for cereals was discussed in the seasonal notes in the June issue of the “Journal.” Ploughing still to be done should be carried out as soon as possible in order to avoid hastilyprepared seed-beds. The time which elapses between the various tillage operations is of greater importance than the use of a large variety of implements. The earlier the plough-

ing, .the greater the conservation of moisture and the more mellow the soil. In preparing the seed-bed work the land down in successively shallower cultivations with the discs and harrows as sowing time is approached. Spring-sown cereals, especially on light ground, are frequently rolled after drilling, if the ground is sufficiently dry. In districts of low rainfall or where the ground is heavy rolling is better delayed until the crop is about 9in. high. Wheat Spring sowing of suitable varieties of wheat is the usual practice in the North Island and in the moist districts of Otago and Southland. Autumn sowing is more general elsewhere. In Canterbury good yields are less certain following spring sowing, although spring sowings on heavy land not prepared in time for winter wheat usually yield satisfactorily. If the soil is considered too light, or if sowing is delayed too long, some other crops might be grown. For instance, peas, barley, or a forage crop such as rape or turnips might be better sown this spring and followed by wheat sown next autumn. The principal varieties for spring sowing are Cross 7, Tuscan, and Tainui. Taiaroa and Jumbuck are also occasionally sown. Tuscan is still favoured in some localities, but Cross

7 has largely taken its place, being about a week earlier, more resistant to lodging, and very, suitable for heading. In the North Island Cross 7 is used for earlier sowings on heavier soils or generally where fertility is high, such as after a clover crop. Tainui is popular in the north, but its weak straw renders it more liable to lodging. On lighter land or for late sowings it is more suitable than Cross 7. Tainui is essentially a spring wheat. It is the earliest maturing variety, ripening about a fortnight earlier than Cross 7 and a week earlier than Jumbuck. In Canterbury Tainui offers the best prospect of success when sowings are delayed by' wet weather or through late preparation of the ground after swede or turnip crops are fed off late. Both yield and resistance to shaking are good, and the variety has largely displaced Jumbuck, which has loose straw, lower yield, is later maturing, and is not suitable for heading. Taiaroa, which is similar to Tainui, is occasionally grown in Southland and parts of South Otago. Oats While oats do better after grass than any other cereal, they demand less fertility, and ’ may follow wheat. Oats should not be grown on very rich, moist ground, as they will go down. Oats probably receive the poorest treatment of the cereals, but good yields cannot be expected from exhausted or badly-cultivated soils. Algerian oats, which are resistant to rust, are practically the only variety grown in the North Island, where they are grown for seed and chaff, or for greenfeed, ensilage, or hay crops with tares. In Canterbury this variety is autumn sown for green-

feed and on heavier land is shut up in September or October for chaff or seed, for both ’of which there is a good demand from the North Island. On light land the oats are usually ploughed under, as the herbage becomes too woody for further grazing during September. The main spring oat variety of the South Island is Garton’s Abundance, used chiefly for milling, but also for oatsheaf chaff. Barley Cape and Black Skinless barley are the varieties chiefly sown . for feed. Usually they are autumn sown for greenfeed, and on heavy land they are left for a grain crop. Cape barley is also sown as a nurse crop for pasture, and is more satisfactory than oats. '

The growing of malting barley is confined to areas of lower rainfall in parts of Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago, where good harvesting conditions are the rule. A medium to good free loam .is required. The malting varieties are usually spring sown and may follow , peas, roots, grass, potatoes, or another grain crop. Sometimes the crop is sown on land on which the sowing of winter wheat has been prevented by wet conditions. In Central Otago barley follows a fallow, being autumn sown at Hawea but spring sown in other parts of the district. Evenness of drilling and optimum rate of seeding to suit locality are of great importance in obtaining even grain quality.

Chevalier (a very old variety) and others have been largely replaced by varieties such as Plumage-Archer, Spratt-Archer, and Goldthorpe-Spratt, which have been bred to produce good grain quality and yield, together with sufficient strength in the straw and neck. Barley is delicate in the young stages, and only very light harrows should be used if it is necessary to kill young weed growth in the early stages. Rolling may also be considered advisable after the crop is well up. Attention to Autumnsown Cereals ON good land where spring growth is vigorous light feeding off of cereals with sheep will prevent lodging, increase tillering, and improve the yield. Hard feeding off, especially on the lighter land, where grazing may not be advisable at all, tends to reduce yields. Feeding off is generally carried out in August if the ground is sufficiently dry, but on very heavy land, if lodging is feared, it should be delayed until September. High per acre stocking for a short period will promote evenness in grazing, consolidation, ' and distribution of stock droppings. After feeding off the crop should be tine harrowed to loosen the surface and scatter stock droppings. Harrowing may be beneficial even where the crop is not grazed, as on lighter country, to promote tillering and conserve moisture. Farm Management FARM management is the most important factor in economic production and farm improvement. The skill of management in co-ordinating the most suitable farm practices in running the farm is clearly reflected not only by returns but by the farm itself. Successful farming today is less a question of brawn than of ability. It is chiefly a matter of judgment, with effort directed by intelligent purpose and timely attention to detail. Every farmer might well take stock of himself, review his past operations, and as far as possible aim to eliminate weaknesses in future ' management policy. There are few who could not profit by studying the methods of the more successful farmers in their neighbourhood. Winter evenings afford opportunities of keeping abreast of the times by perusal of up-to-date agricultural literature. The farmer has to be a man of many parts combination of

working manager, business man, and natural scientist. He should have a comprehensive view of his main objectives and be in a position to carry these out. Plan Ahead By adhering to a schedule and a time-table, as closely as is practicable farm work will be carried out more smoothly and in good season, with less peak labour demands. This presents less difficulty on dairy or grassland sheep farms, but many arable farmers are willing to plan ahead only vaguely, for fear of fluctuations

in marketing or other possibilities. The regular and less speculative producer is concerned more with average prices for produce, and his management policy is more consistent and stable over a period - of years. A scale map of the farm, if necessary prepared by a surveyor, is of invaluable assistance in planning and estimating costs for many . farm operations such as drainage, irrigation, water supply, shelter belts, rotations, stocking, or intended alterations to farm layouts. Such a map would greatly facilitate farm recording.

Grow the Crops: Breed the Pigs

THE decline in the production of pig -meats in New Zealand during recent years has been due to a number of factors. The number of pigs slaughtered in the season ended March, 1945, was 678,000, as against 1,003.000 in 1941. Since the war has centred in the Pacific increased contracts have been made with this country for pig-meat supplies, 50,000 tons being the target for 1945-46. The industry is again more settled, with the immediate need the pursuit of a policy of growing suitable crops which will surmount the coming winter feed difficulty. Two litters a year per sow are required in order to have the greatest number of pigs on hand during the dairy production period. The most efficient use of dairy by-products is achieved by taking the maximum number of pigs to beconers from the winter litters, with porkers and light baconers from the summer litters. To evade the winter difficulty some farmers sell weaners and stores by May as the milk supply dwindles. Others turn fairly well-

grown stores out to grass with insufficient supplementary feed. The results are frequently disastrous, as body reserves must be heavily drawn on. Many permit the sows only one litter a year. The fewer pigs mean high overhead costs and wastage of milk products in the summer. The large numbers of underweight porkers killed late in the season and . high prices of stores from August to December indicate the winter shortage. Feed Requirements To feed a sow for a year and produce 2 litters (14 pigs) will require:— a. to weaner stage: about 3,000 gallons of skim-milk or 1J tons of grain supplemented with meatmeal. i b. to pork stage: about 4 tons of grain (or its equivalent in skim-

milk) supplemented with meatmeal. , c. to bacon stage: about 6 tons of grain (or its equivalent in skimmilk) supplemented with meatmeal. Both milk and grain are partly replaceable by cheap home-grown feeds, and profit will largely depend on the degree of winter pro- ’ , vision by way of roots,- greenfeed, and pasture in such quantities as \ to be about half the total feed ~ consumed. Crops required are, practically all spring and summer sown, and every dairy farmer, while making provision for his cows, should also provide winter crops for his pigs. For an average size dairy farm ah acre in crop is usually sufficient for the pigs. One acre of good crops will be sufficient for 40 stores for a month or 10 pigs from weaners to sows for four months. ' ' Crops to Grow The main crops to grow are mangolds, sugar beet, carrots, and swedes,

but several small areas of different crops in place of one area of a particular crop should be available to vary the diet. However, it is not wise policy to grow,, for instance, 4 tons of artichokes where the same ground would produce 60 tons of mangolds or 20 tons of sugar beet. Crops to be grown will depend on locality. Those covered by the £5 per acre crop subsidy scheme are mangolds, sugar beet, kumikumi, pumpkins, artichokes, chou moellier, swedes, carrots, silver , beet, peas, maize, and barley. The necessity of growing one of the cereal or pulse crops is emphasised. It is not too early now to make preparations for next season’s requirements. Pumpkins and maize should be grown in the North Island wherever conditions suit these crops. Pigs are very partial to pumpkins, kumikumis, and marrows, which are fed before mangolds, as the last-named keep well into spring and serve to supplement the early milk supply. A small area in maize is easily managed, presents no difficulty in harvesting, and is excellent for feeding pigs or farm poultry. Turnips and swedes are not relished by pigs, but are useful as a winter maintenance. Sugar beet is the best of the root crops for pigs. Unlike mangolds they require no ripening period, and may be consumed at any stage of growth. The tops are of high feeding value, and may be fed off early before the roots are lifted. As less than 51b. of sugar beet is equal in feeding value to 101 b. of mangolds, pigs have no difficulty in eating enough for requirements. The food value also is comparable to that of artichokes and potatoes (which require boiling), but . the yield is much higher. A 30-ton crop of sugar beet is approximately equivalent to six tons of barley. If about 1 acre of sugar beet per sow is grown, this, will supply the bulk of feed for winter

litters x farrowed during the autumn. A rotation of sugar beet and new grass in pig paddocks has given excellent results in wintering and fattening store pigs. Barley and, peas require harvesting machinery,, which is not available on the dairy farm, and as much labour is involved if these crops are fed from the stack or the climate is unsuitable, the dairy farmer usually buys his supplies if maize cannot be grown. Flesh-building Protein Roots and cereals are low in protein and must be fed with some protein concentrate such as meatmeal, which is the best winter supplement, but is closely followed by linseed meal and peas. Young pigs require a higher proportion of protein in their diet, but the quantity required remains at about the same level as the animal grows. Over the period of development, however, increasingly large quantities of the energy- and fatforming foods such as roots, grass, and grain are consumed. Feeding Points Every endeavour should be made to obtain good weaner, weights, as this is the first step in profitable pig production. On these weights will depend, in the first place, the extra time taken to finish pigs off as porkers and baconers. Pigs should be fed regularly three times a day and young pigs a “little and often.” Litters and weaners entering the winter should

always be given the dwindling supplies of separated milk, but deficiency of protein must be made good in the ration. Creep feeding may be commenced at 3 weeks with a little skim-, milk and meatmeal. At 8 weeks about 2 gallons of separated milk is required if milk is plentiful, and up to Jib. of meatmeal may be allowed. This quantity is very necessary if the milk available is less than one gallon. In the absence of skim-milk in winter grain, roots, and grazing are used to make up the ration, and should be introduced gradually into the diet as the pigs grow older. Each gallon of skim-milk may be replaced by 11b. of grain or 101 b. of roots (sugar beet 4-51 b.) in the ration, together with protein supplement. For instance a 401 b. pig normally requires 2 gallons of skim-milk, but if less skim-milk were available, 1 gallon of skim could be substituted by lib. of grain and the ration would be: 1 gallon of skim-milk, lib. grain, Jib. meatmeal. Increasing quantities of home-grown food should be gradually included as weights increase. If crops such as swedes are available, they may be fed to appetite, with other crops for variety and balanced with concentrates. As skimmilk becomes available stores should be stied and finished off as baconers. Feeding the Sow Although the sow may be grazed on the best of pasture, reasonable supplementary feeding is required, and from about a month before farrowing, depending on condition, the daily ration should be lib. of . meatmeal and 21b. of grain. Some roots may be an advantage, depending on the pasture.

Inadequate feeding of the pregnant sow is a common cause of abortion and weak litters. Grass Runs Grass runs should not be used as holding. „ paddocks. Overstocking or prolonged grazing fouls the feed and weakens the sward. Subdivision with movable sties will allow for spelling to produce fresh growth from denser and more vigorous ryegrass swards. Grass is cheap and effective for the health of all classes of pigs, but some ringing will be required. Hygiene Skim-milk is particularly susceptible to. disease infection in warm weather, and containers and pipe lines need regular attention. Stale food should not be left in troughs, but only sufficient should be fed out in order that none will be left after each meal. Irregular feeding, gorging, too early weaning, or any sudden change in diet will also cause digestive troubles. Unthriftiness may occasionally be due to lack of minerals such as lime or salt, but most likely, will be due to faulty feeding or management. Many diseases—and young pigs are most susceptible to disease — are associated with insanitary conditions due to overcrowding, unsuitable, badly-drained sites, and dirty and draughty sties. Pigs are as clean as the owner permits, but conditions are sometimes deplorable. Rear healthy, profitable pigs by growing the feed and breeding the pigs, by regular feeding in regard to time and amount, and by careful management.

—E. M. BATES,

Instructor

in Agriculture, Alexandra.