Analysis of Farming in New Zealand other than Dairy and Sheep Farming

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 85, Issue 6, 15 December 1952, Page 484

Analysis of Farming in New Zealand other than Dairy and Sheep Farming

By

W. N. PATON,

Senior Investigational Officer, Department of Agriculture, Wellington

A LL types of farming in New Zealand other than dairy and sheep farming are covered ** in this the fifth of a series of articles based on detailed classification of data on agricultural and pastoral holdings obtained in the 1949-50 season's special collection for the 1950 World Census of Agriculture. Holdings have been classified according to the type of farming practised by occupiers and percentages have been calculated for each county based on the number of the total holdings devoted to each farming group represented. The last article in this series is to appear in the January issue of the "Journal".

THE cash crops group, comprises holdings where 50 per cent, or more of the total farming effort concerns the production of annual crops for sale, grown on a field basis, as distinct from . crops of the horticultural group grown in orchards, gardens, nurseries, etc. It comprises holdings devoted mainly to the growing. of cereal and small seeds crops, potatoes, onions, etc. , „ . • In only four counties in New Zealand does cash cropping (with or without other sidelines) lead other main types of farming. These counties, with the percentage (m parentheses) of their holdings classified in the cash crops group, are Malvern (40.3), Ellesmere (33.3), Eyre (32.8), and Paparua (25.8). Counties where cash cropping ranks second to other types of farming are Ashburton (27.6), Rangiora (18.2), Waimate (16,1), Selwyn (15.7), Springs (13.5), Awatere (10.5), and Waipara (7.8). Counties where cash cropping ranks third in importance are Kowai (19.3), Ashley (15.0), Marlborough (14.6), Lake (14.2), Amuri . (10.3), Cheviot (8.3), and Mackenzie (4.2). . The highest rankings for cash cropping in the North Island

are fourth placings for Masterton. Waikohu, and Kiwitea Counties, though the North Island county with the highest percentage of its holdings devoted to the cash cropping group is Cook (6.5), but this ranks only sixth in importance with other main types of farming, or uses, in that county, Horticultural Group , r . . , The horticultural group is comprised o f commercial orchards, gardens, nurseries, etc., as well as. apiaries, tobacco growing, etc. It is essentially a “small holdings” group, where specialised and/or intensive agriculture is practised singly or in combination with other types within the group, or with non-horticultural types as sideline enterprises. Many part-time holdings are included in this group, i n listing counties where horticultural pursuits rank high in importance the portion in parentheses in each instance gives first the percentage of holdings falling within the horticultural group, second the ranking for order of importance compared with other main farming types or uses, and third the main form of horticulture followed, Details on this basis are:—

Heathcote (43.1, first, vegetables); Waimea (358 first tobacco orch ards, and mixed) . Waimairi (35 . 8 first vege . tables); Eden (29.4, second, • vegetables); Hawkes Bay (26.4, second, orchards and vegetables); Vincent (24.8, second, orchards); Mt. Herbert (18.6, second, vegetables and orchards) ;

Ashley (16.8, second, orchards); Waitemata (15.3, third, orchards); Tuapeka (14.1, second, orchards); Manukau (12.0, third, vegetables); Halswell (11.7, third, vegetables); . Tauranga (11.4, second, citrus orchards); Horowhenua (11.3, third, vegetables); Bay of Islands (10.8, second, citrus orchards); Cook (9.6, fourth, mixed); Marlborough (9.1, fifth, mixed); Waimate (8.7, fifth, mixed). Beef Cattle Group The following list of counties is worthy of mention for beef cattle raising activities. In parentheses are given first the percentage of holdings and second the ranking for order of importance compared with other main farming types or uses. The details are: — Grey (14.6, second); Westland (14.0, second); Inangahua (9.9, fourth); Stewart Island (7.1, fifth); Kawhia (6.9, third); Buller (6.7, fourth); Bay of Islands (4.0, eighth); Whangarei (4.0, fifth); Collingwood (4.0, fifth). A continuous strip west of the main divide in the South Island is embraced in the above list. Many of the holdings are operated part-time only. Poultry Group Counties with the highest percentages of holdings devoted to poultry farming with or without sideline enterprises are as follows: — Oxford (10.2, fourth); Waitaki (10.1, fourth); Eden (9.4, fourth); Makara (7.9, fourth); Manukau (6.8, fifth); Waitemata (6.7, fourth); Cook (6.3, seventh); Hutt (6.0, sixth); Taieri (5.7, fifth); Waimairi (5.4, fifth). With the exception of Oxford, Waitaki, and Cook these counties adjoin the four main ; centres of population. A fairly high proportion of part-time : poultry holdings: are included in this group. Horse-raising Farms ■ Mostly racehorses are raised on -raising farms, and quite a high proportion of the farms are run as part-time enterprises. The portion in parentheses before the percentage gives the number of holdings . concerned in horse raising as the main activity. The details are: — ’ Paparua (78, 11.3. fourth); Halswell (15, 6.3, fifth); Waimairi (49, 4.6, sixth); Heathcote (9, 2.9, seventh); Taieri (23, 2.6, tenth); Levels (20, 2.4, ninth); Manukau (34, 2.3, sixth); Kairanga (12, 1.6. seventh). Timber Plantations Counties worthy of being listed for timber plantations have the following details (numbers of plantation holdings are mentioned first): — - Taupo (9, 5.9, fourth); Tawera (4, 4.7, fifth); Waimea (80, 3.6, seventh); Selwyn (7, 2.8, seventh); Rotorua (7, 1.5, seventh); Thames (5, 1.4, seventh). Mixed Farming Group In the mixed farming group three or more main types of farming are conducted in combination on the one holding, at least three of which are carried on at the 25 per cent, (or more) level. The following list is given where 5 per cent, or more of the holdings within a county have been classified in the mixed farming group:-

Levels (14.9, second); Ellesmere (11.2, fourth); Cheviot (10.4, second); Ashburton (10.0, third); Oxford (9.5, , fifth); Cook (7.4, fifth); Selwyn (6.8, third); Geraldine (6.7, fifth); Marlborough (6.6, sixth); Springs (6.1, fifth); Waitaki (6.1, sixth); Waimate (6.0, sixth); Taieri (5.9, fourth); Tawera (5.8, fourth); Eyre (5.8, fifth); Rangiora (5.7, fifth). Only one North Island county, Cook, is embraced within this list. "Other Farming" Group All types of farming other than those already dealt with in this series of articles are comprised within the “other farming” group, except pig farms, Phormium tenax holdings, and areas where the cutting of native timber is the main activity. It also excludes what are termed the grazing, residential, and unused holdings groups. In this group are a proportion of holdings too large to-be classified suitably as residential, although activities were at no more than the domestic level, and also holdings without residents on them which, although of domestic proportions, could not be properly included in the residential group. Those counties with the highest proportion of holdings falling in this classification group are:— Stewart Island (14.1, third); Sounds (11.0, third); Inangahua (7.3, sixth); Grey (6.0, sixth); Bay of Islands (4.9, seventh); Taupo (4.6, fifth); Waitemata (4.5, sixth); Mangonui (4.3, fifth); Westland (4.1, seventh). Grazing Group The grazing group is comprised of holdings normally let intermittently for grazing, inclusive of those popularly known as dairy “run-offs”, or winter grazing areas. Stock dealers’ lots, holding paddocks (along stock routes), and show, sports, and school grounds, etc., let to keep down grass . growth when not otherwise being used are included also. Those counties with the highest percentages (over 7.5) of their holdings used as mentioned are:— Hobson (18.4, second); Thames (11.7, second); Lake (11.1, fourth); Mt. Herbert (10.9, third); Kaikoura (10.0, third); Levels (9.9, fifth); Waikouaiti (9.4, third); Hauraki Plains (9.2, second); Akaroa (8.9, third); Maniatoto (8.8, third); Waipukurau (8.6, third); Vincent (8.4, third); Paparua (7.8, fifth); Otamatea (7.7, third); Inangahua (7.7, fifth). The grazing holdings represented are mainly “runoffs” to dairy farms in Hobson, Otamatea, and Hauraki Plains counties, and partly run-offs and ordinary casual grazing areas in Thames County. “ Those in Waipukurau represent partly holding paddocks and partly casual grazing areas. In all other counties mentioned they all pertain to the South Island and involve casual grazing areas mainly. Residential Holdings Group All small holdings where agricultural activities sufficed for little more, if any, than would meet domestic requirements were classified as residential, provided also that they were resided on. It will no doubt be surprising to many readers that the proportion of holdings of an acre or more comprised within county boundaries

and covered by the annual agricultural and pastoral statistical collection which can be classified as residential is as high for many counties as the following details indicate: —

Eden (34.1, first); Halswell (23.8. second); Heathcote (23.3, second); Makara (22.2, second); Waimairi (21.0, second); Stewart Island (19.2, second); Chatham Islands (18.9, second); Tawera (18.6, second); Buller (18.5, second); Rangiora (17.6, third); Paparua (17.4, second); Waitemata (17.1, second); Wairoa (17.1, third); Waiapu (15.2, third); Manukau (14.9, second); Waipukurau (14.9, second); Oxford (14.9, third); Bruce (14.6, second); Weber (14.1, second); Malvern (13.9, third); Peninsula (13.8, third); Geraldine (13.6, third); Cook (13.4, third); Waitaki (12.9, third); Waikohu (12.7, third); Ellesmere (12.7, third); Kaitieke (12.6, third). It is surprising, too, to see that numerically the group ranks first in importance in Eden, and second and third in importance in the others listed. Others ranking also second and third . have not been given.

Unused Holdings Group

For classification unused holdings were defined as those showing no livestock, no crops, and no residents. A proportion of these holdings is devoted to uses other than of an agricultural nature, but no record was made of them. Details for the counties showing the highest proportion of their holdings in this category are as follows:

Stewart Island (47.5, first); Inangahua (21.5, second); Taupo • (20.4. second); Lake (15.0, second); Collingwood (14.1, third); Westland (13.7. third); Grey (13.0, fourth); Sounds (12.7, second); Great Barrier Island (12.0, third); Peninsula (11.0. fourth).

i Book Review • gj : r-1 u titiuimiirt F “The Work of the Woolman”: Harry Haigh THE object of this booklet is to help the student apprentice to the wool trade by explaining the jobs he will learn to do and to tell him something of the industry without going too deeply into its intricacies. As it is written for the apprentice to the British trade, its use is limited in New Zealand, although some of the later chapters will have local interest, especially those explaining the varieties of wool grown in different countries. Mr. Haigh expresses himself in simple language and even when he deals with technical details he is easy to read and understand. Institutions responsible for training young men for careers in the wool trade should certainly have a copy of this booklet. Those fortunate few from New Zealand who are given the chance of serving their time in the trade in Britain will get much useful information from it. JJ j E. and F. N. Spon. 10s. 6d.

LEADING FACTORY AVERAGES Grading Points for Export Butter and Cheese Contributed by the DAIRY DIVISION . JD UTTER-MANUFACTURING companies which obtained an average grade of •*-' 93.75 points or more and cheese-manufacturing companies which obtained an average grade of 92.75 points or more during the year ended 31 July 1952, are listed below in order of merit. Of the total listed, 36 butter and 2 cheese factories are in the North Island and 4 butter factories and 1 cheese factory are in the South Island. Production figures are for the balance-sheet year 1951-52, and the figures of quantities graded for export are for the period 1 August 1951 to 31 July 1952.

Soil-testing Services to be Expanded DURING recent years the Extension Division of the Department of Agriculture has developed an advisory soil-testing service to help farmers and the division’s instructors to diagnose soil-fertility problems, and about 8000 samples are now tested annually. The service has not been able to meet the demand for tests, and Cabinet recently approved its expansion on the basis of full recovery of costs. As the demand increases additional staff will be appointed and the service will be expanded to deal ultimately with 20,000 samples a year. Charges for Soil Testing As from 1 January 1953 the charges for soil testing will be £1 per sample, or where more than four samples are required a basic charge of £4 will be made for a farm visit and the analysis of four samples and 10s. will be charged for each additional sample. Farmers should lodge applications for soil testing with their local Instructors in Agriculture. Testing fees are required to be paid within 14 days of the collection of samples. Farm Group 'Testing Over the past few years the Waikato branch of Federated Farmers and the Extension Division have co-operated in trials of farm group soil testing and these trials have been very useful, because the results of the soil tests and advice on soil treatment have been the subject of group discussion. Instructors have been able to summarise soil-testing and experimental data by soil types and advise both particularly and generally on suitable fertiliser and lime treatment for particular fields and for soil types generally. Facilities for expanding the farm group soil-testing service are envisaged in the plans for .an enlarged soil-testing service, and it is expected that work of this nature will be begun in the Waikato and Canterbury and gradually expanded to other districts as the demand arises. Interpretation of Results The results of the soil tests are sent to the farmer by the local Instructor in Agriculture together with his advice on interpretation and suggested fertiliser. and lime treatment. His advice is guided both by the soil tests and by his knowledge of local soil types and experimental work which has been carried out on each soil type. Collection of samples is the duty of instructors, for they must be collected by soil type and the results of the tests might be valueless if carelessly collected samples represented a composite of soil types. If the tests are carried out properly, the results are a very valuable guide to fertiliser and lime treatment.

Company Registered Production tons Graded Average n for export grade Grading port number Brand tons points Morrinsville 330 Lockerbie 5,476 5,290 94.337 Auckland United .. .. 1,296 Whariti .. .. 571 164 94.335 Wellington Raetihi .. .. 717 Raetihi .. .. ' 326 204 94.306 Castlecliff Wairoa 1,345 Wairoa .. .. 537 102 94.243 Hastings Collingwood • .. 1,254 Golden Hills : 460 264 94.215 Wellington Taihape 1,188 Tikapu 246 129 94.173 Castlecliff Cambridge (Hautapu) 1,239 Cambridge 2,759 2,428 94.120 Auckland Awahuri 664 Red Rose 1,266 576 94.115 Wellington Cheltenham . 3 Pakeha .. 1,768 857 94.111 ■Wellington Rodney . ... ’ .. 394 Rodney .. . 951 714 94.085 Auckland Te Arona-Thames Valley 344 Overseas 4,077 3,636 94.069 Auckland Wangaehu .. 1,326 Wangaehu • 587 432 94.064 Castlecliff Okitu .. 1,270 Okitu ... 151 62 94.058 Gisborne Westland 145 Westland 686 46 94.019 Lyttelton Lepperton 49 Lepperton .. 138 2 94.000 • New Plymouth Murchison .. 1,888 Airship 450 13 94.000 Lyttelton Rangiwahia-Ruahine 750 Quail 163 0.2 94.000 94.000 Wellington Wellington Kuku-Manakau 905 Ohau 513 320 93.980 Wellington ' N.Z. Dairy (Frankton) .. 1,510 Anchor 5,702 3,110 93.961 Auckland Konini .. 1,203 Konini 1,724 1,084 93.956 Wellington Masterton .. 1,307 Masterton 884 639 93.954 Wellington Tolaga Bay 163 93.954 1,007 93.939 Wellington Tolaga Bay Gisborne Tolaga Bay 219 1,007 163 Tolaga Bay 93.939 219 Gisborne Rangitikei . . ■ 1,360 Rangitikei 903 658 . 93.938 Castlecliff Golden Bay .. 146 Sovereign 933 ' 774 93.927 Wellington Rangitaiki Plains 133 Raingitaiki Plains 6,054 5,489 93.922 Auckland N.Z. Dairy (Tuakau) .. 133 Raingitaiki Plains ’ 6,054 5,489 93.922 Auckland 1,320 Anchor 3,781 3.560 93.915 Auckland N.Z. Dairy (Ngatea) 291 Anchor .. 2,367 2,267 93.913 Auckland Kaikohe .. 40 Kaikohe 751 298 93.907 Auckland Kia Ora .. .. 926 ’ Kia Ora . . 912 490 93.888 Gisborne Moa Farmers’ .. - 341 Inglewood 2,118 1,669 93.878 New Plymouth Ruawai .. 66 Ruawai .. 2,399 2,366 93.866 Auckland Rongotea .. .. 8 Rongotea 1,240 679 93.837 Wellington Uruti Valley 300 . Uruti 202 202 93.823 New Plymouth N.Z. Dairy (Waiuku) Ill Anchor .. .. 3,275 3,141 93.820 Auckland N.Z. Dairy (Paerata) .. 109 Anchor '.. 2,253 1,463 93.788 Auckland. N Z. Dairy (Mt. Eden) .. 378 Anchor 3,609 • • 776 93.776 Auckland N.Z. Dairy (Morrinsville) 415 Anchor .. 3,911 3,883 93.773 Auckland N.Z. Dairy (Ngongotaha) 724 Anchor... .. 1,729 . 1,646 93.772 Auckland Norsewood 600 Norsewood 1,030 885 ' 93.770 Wellington Northern Wairoa .. 1,358 Northern Wairoa 4,678 4,529 93.762 Auckland Cheese 4,678 4,529 93.762 Auckland Wright’s Bush .. 206 Wright’s .Bush . . 319 322 . 93.089 Bluff Dalefield .. ... 9 Dalefleld 1,175 1,145 92.771 Wellington Brooklands .. 1,619 Brooklands 398 ' 391 92.760 New Plymouth

Creamery Butter