FARM WORK FOR AUGUST

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 75, Issue 1, 15 July 1947, Page 76

FARM WORK FOR AUGUST

By the Fields Division

FEED PROGRAMME ■pEED for stock on many farms is at .its lowest in August, when spring grass growth has not started and reserves of silage, hay, roots, and greenfeed may be nearly exhausted. While it is not possible to make any immediate provision against shortage, its occurrence may serve to point to the need for > providing more adequate feed supplies in the future. , . • ' Plans should be , made now to . guard against' possible shortage next summer, autumn, and winter. Grass paddocks may be selected for .ploughing up for crop or even for resowing to grass. Paddocks to choose are those which have deteriorated from attack by grass-grub or porina, those damaged by feeding out during wet conditions/ and those in which the sward has deteriorated because of of age, the use of inferior seeds, or overstocking. X CROPS TO GROW The variety of spring-sown crops for supplementary feed is 'wide and the choice depends mainly on the soil, the time for which provision is planned, and the type of stock to which the crop will be fed. -For winter feed for dairy cows and sheep, chou moellier, mangolds, carrots, sugar beet, and swedes are all valuable, heavy-producing crops on medium to heavy land. On warmer, fertile areas pumpkins, kumi-kumis, and maize may be grown, and on lighter land thousand-headed kale may be preferred to chou moellier. For early- or late-autumn feed other crops may be considered, such as soft turnips, rape for lamb fattening, and bitter blue and sweet blue lupins, while in warmer districts Japanese millet'may be favoured. Spring sowings of Italian or short-rotation ■ ryegrass can 'give very useful greenfeed for summer, autumn, and winter. Crops for pigs may give a valuable monetary return in supplementing meals and in tiding'over the winter period when: the skim-milk available is limited. Very useful crops for pigs are barley, peas, and maize for grain, and carrots, pumpkins, sugar beet, and artichokes for roots. CEREALS Preparations for spring-sown cereal crops should -be made as weather and soil permit. Sowings of spring wheat should be made in August and ' September wherever conditions allow, with slightly heavier seedings than for autumn-sown wheat, 2 to 2| bushels being usual. Most of the ' main varieties except Hunters and Dreadnought are suitable for spring sowing. . Tainui, Marquis, and Jumbuck are all varieties particularly good for spring sowing on' suitable land. Autumn-sown wheat crops may be fed off on areas where there would otherwise be a danger of rank growth and subsequent lodging. For best results feeding off should be carried out quickly. with a large mob of sheep, and should be followed by tine harrowing. Rolling and harrowing of other autumn-sown wheat crops may be carried out later in August or in September, according to weather and crop conditions. , As barley matures more rapidly than wheat, it may be sown later with success. If conditions are right, sowings can be Started in August, continuing through to October. Preparations for spring-sown, oat crops may also be made in the same period. Crops of autumn-sown oats for greenfeed should be shut up if they are to produce crops. POTATOES Main-crop potatoes still in the ground should be dug as the weather allows, and frost damage avoided by proper protection of the dug tubers.

Attention should now be given to pre-cultivation work before' sowing the main crop in October, as thorough cultivation for potatoes is well repaid. Areas from which potatoes have been removed should be prepared for the following crop; peas, spring cereals, or supplementary feed crops such as rape are suitable for this purpose. ' - . z In buying seed potatoes the grower should first select, varieties that have been found most suited to the locality.. It is always advisable to purchase Certified seed whether for table or seed potatoes. Where it is not intended to produce seed for sale Certified commercial seed may provemore suitable. If the crop is to be entered for Certification,, however, the grower must of course buy seed of Certified;. Mother origin. \ ■ , ... ' ■ • . -. ' GRASSLAND WORK Pastures may be harrowed to spread cow manure when, the soil is dry enough before the hot weather startsRolling of paddocks where hay, silage, and roots have' been fed out during the winter months may be beneficial on some areas. • Areas which could not be topdressed or limed in the autumn could profitably be treated now if supplies areavailable; hay paddocks in particular could receivedressings at this stage. The use of sulphate of ammonia on pastures to be saved, for grass seed or on unthrifty swards may also be an advantage. - ~ ■ - GRAZING MANAGEMENT >. Grazing management of especially-valuable pastures; requires care and consideration at present. Young; permanent pastures can easily be damaged by injudicious, stocking. Cattle may “poach” the ground when it is wet, which leads to the establishment of weeds such as buttercups and thistles. Sheep may be more safely used to* graze wet land. Damage may also be caused by overstocking, particularly with sheep,- or by undergrazing. Overstocking at this time may result in deterioration of young pastures to such an extent, particularly by encouraging flat weeds, that the sward may never fully recover. On the other hand undergrazing may cause smothering of clovers, because of the shading and weakening' effect of coarser grasses. The main point, therefore, is to manage the grazing of young pastures with care and judgment. GENERAL FARM WORK In this issue is an article dealing with the care and. maintenance ,of farm machinery, and before the busiest part of . the farm year begins attention should ;be paid tothis work. Other jobs which may require to be done at present are fencing and building repairs, weed grubbing and . cutting of secondary growth, extension of farm, drainage and. cleaning out of old drains, improvement of farm gates, and cleaning up of wool sheds. Frequently these jobs are neglected, partly perhaps because of more urgent work, ? but on some farms because of lack of planning, and forgetfulness. The result is that when the busiest season comes, the work either has to be left altogether or done at the last minute, perhaps delaying more important operations. .. , . x / Before pasture growth becomes too tall hay paddocks; should be looked over for odds . and ends of equipment that might damage the mower. Stacks of baling wire and even harrows are not uncommonly seen lying about at this time. .