GRASSLAND CONFERENCE

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 94, Issue 2, 15 February 1957, Page 125

GRASSLAND CONFERENCE

LINCOLN COLLEGE

THERE was a marked international atmosphere about the Eighteenth Conference of the . New Zealand Grassland Association at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, at the end of November. The conference had been preceded at the beginning of the month by the Seventh International Grassland Congress at Palmerston North and 85 delegates from 15 countries who had filled in the interim by taking part in tours of both the North and South Islands attended the Lincoln conference,, several of them contributing papers and many taking part in discussions.

THIS is a notable year in the history of the New Zealand Grassland Association,” said Professor J. W. Calder in his presidential address. “It is 25 years since the Association was formed and in this, its silver jubilee, it has acted as host to the Seventh International Grassland Congress. . . . I believe on an occasion such as this that it is appropriate for the Association to recognise and acknowledge the debt it owes to the pioneer grassland workers in New Zealand, farmers and professional workers alike. These men set in train, 40 or 50 years ago, the course of events which led to the present level of pasture production and management, to the formation of the New Zealand Grassland Association on 5 August 1931, and to the latest honour of being host to the Seventh International Grassland Congress.” . The importance of agriculture and of production based on pastures in the national economy of New Zealand was illustrated by Professor Calder in a

historical review of the development of . primary industry. In referring to. the changed face of the countryside as a result of the prosperity over the past 20 years, he said:— “Thirty years ago in Canterbury we believed (1) that ryegrass pastures would not last more than 3 years; (2) that it was useless to apply lime to the land; (3) that it was unnecessary to sow white clover, as there' was plenty of seed in the soil. What a revolution in knowledge and achievement has occurred since then! “We can now expect, under our 25in. rainfall, high-producing pastures, based on ryegrass, to remain down for anything up to 10 years or more and support, according to soil type, 3 to 6 or more ewes producing fat lambs per acre.” Prerequisites for these pastures were listed by Professor Calder as (1) application of 1 ton of lime every 3 to 5 years; (2) good cultivation and seed-

bed preparation for small seeds; (3) regular applications of 1 to 2cwt. of superphosphate per annum; (4) the use of certified strains of grasses and clovers; (5) grazing management practices that keep in circulation a high proportion of the nutrients of the herbage so that the pastures are continually being topdressed in the form of dung and urine of the grazing animals to stimulate the growth of more herbage. “These pastures and the system of husbandry associated with them,” said Professor Calder, “are fertility building. It is the general experience of farmers that since the high-producing pastures have been introduced to their farms, crop yields have improved. On our College farm average wheat yields have increased over the past 15 years from 45 bushels per acre to 54. bushels per , acre and the New Zealand average has increased over the same period from 32 bushels per acre to close on 40 bushels per acre. “The good pasture,” Professor Calder continued, “is the basis of good hus-

bandry. Apart from functioning as the basis of the stock feed supply, it also functions as the major soil fertility building crop, in the rotation. This is brought about by (1) increase in soil nutrients added in fertilisers; (2) increase in organic matter through the accumulation of decomposing roots, herbage, and dung; (3) improvement in biological activity of the soil; (4) improvement in soil structure associated with good root development, increase in organic matter, increased microbiological activity, and increased worm populations; and (5) increase in soil nitrogen from the improved growth of legumes encouraged by lime, phosphates, or trace elements from the decomposition of organic matter and from the urine of the grazing animals. All these complex reactions associated with good pastures are interdependent and their final expression is an improvement in the fertility of the soil. “Apart from the basic requirements of good husbandry of keeping the land in good heart and stock in good health,” Professor Calder said, “the homesteads, buildings, gates, and fences are well kept and cared for. This is a highly desirable state of affairs which does credit to the farmers and to other sections of the community who share in the benefits derived from a prosperous agriculture. “We are constantly being reminded of the need for increased farm production which farmers will be called upon to supply during the next 20 years to provide food for an estimated population of three million people and to provide, from export of farm produce, the additional overseas exchange to maintain the standard of living of the increasing population. “From 1885 to 1955, population rate increased by 1.8 per cent, per annum and farm production increased by 2.6 per cent, per annum in volume. I have no doubt that this desired rate of production increase will continue, but it will .require an increased national appreciation of the need to provide the necessary conditions and facilities for increased farm production. “The technical methods of increasing production are essentially known.” Professor Calder said. “The individual farmer, however, cannot achieve results unaided. He can milk only a limited number of cows, shepherd a limited number of sheep, cultivate, sow, and harvest a limited acreage of crop. To produce more we must have more qualified farm labour and labour requires housing and amenities. The process of providing more labour on the land is proceeding, but it could be accelerated by public recognition of the fact that increased farm labour, farm housing, and family amenities are a prerequisite to increased production.” Grasslands in 20th Century “Why all this talk about grassland research? What does it mean in terms

of progress and of ultimate human happiness?” asked Dr. William Davies, Director of the Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire, England, in summing up his opening address to the conference on grassland develop-

ment in the 20th century. I believe it means an awful lot, not only to the farmers of this world, but to the wretched humans who so often are said to be too numerous on the face of the earth. That I refuse to accept. It is part of man’s destiny to breed and to reproduce according to his likes. If the medical profession is to keep people alive, then we as agriculturists must see to it that they have the food on which to live healthily.

“Can we produce that food for an ever-increasing world population?” asked Dr. Davies. “I believe we can if we set about it and set our sights high enough. Let me take an example. The lowlands of Britain are allegedly well farmed, but the hills of Britain have never been so farmed. True, there are a few ideas floating around which suggest that they may be farmed in the future. Climatically, there is no reason why we should not grow first-class pastures on every acre in Britain, including the steep hillsides of Scotland and of Wales. It may not always be the best way to use the land, for in some cases it is clearly better to cultivate forest trees. All I say is that technically it is possible to grow first-grade pastures everywhere in Britain, including our peat bogs and our steep escarpments. I realise that my view will be challenged, but I am always ready to meet that challenge from whence it comes. I only reiterate my belief as regards the remainder of this century and as regards the more distant future. “I have been privileged to go round the North Island of New Zealand, and the same is true throughout that beautiful countryside,” continued Dr. Davies. “It is more than 25 years

since I made an extensive tour of the South Island, and other than the Tasman Glacier and a few spots like it, there is no reason why the same should not be true for the South Island of New Zealand. Some of your steeper hillsides might be better under forest than under grass and some of your river valleys may also be better under trees instead of grass. It is up to you to keep your rivers in check by one means or other. This again is a subject for research and investigation.”

The same broad picture was true throughout northern Europe and North America, including snow-bound Canada, said Dr. Davies. It was true of Australia. The problems of southern Australia had been taken to a point where solution was in sight. The problems of tropical and subtropical Australia had hardly been touched upon, but for the first time an attempt was being made to tackle them with agronomic eyes. Similar remarks could be applied to Rhodesia, South Africa, Kenya, and East Africa generally. The same was true of the whole of the continent of South America, though some of the best work in that area was still in its preliminary stages.

“When all this work gets under way,” Dr. Davies concluded, “I believe the world will find that the

tropical and temperate problem is basically one, and the grassland agronomist will then have pointed the way toward providing more food for more people on an everincreasing scale. I am afraid I am not a believer in the view so often put forward these days, that the world will attain a ceiling of food production and any human arriving after that time will just have to starve because no food can be grown for him. I believe so earnestly in the human race that I think it will grow its food in greenhouses rather than starve. ... The crop with which we as grasslanders have to deal is the most important in the world and its proper development is a keystone upon which the world must learn to build.” . Officers : Future Conferences The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the Association during the conference: President, S. H. Saxby, Department of Agriculture, Wellington; immediate past president, J. W. Calder, Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln; vice-president, L. Corkill,

Grasslands Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North; secretary, R. H. Scott, Department of Agriculture, Wellington; executive committee, the foregoing with the addition of J. E. Bell, Department of Agriculture, Auckland, and C. E. Iversen, Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln.

Hamilton was confirmed as the venue of the conference in 1957 and Dunedin would be recommended to the next executive committee as the venue for the 1958 conference. Prizes for Betterment of Grassland The recommendation of a -committee that awards consisting of a parchment citation and £5O be made by the executive committee of the Association for outstanding contributions to the. betterment of grassland in New Zealand when it considers work worthy of recognition was adopted at the annual meeting. The executive committee would consider the desirability of making awards at its first meeting in. each financial year. G. J. N.

"Proceedings" of Conference TITLES of papers and names of speakers appear on page 128. The printed "Proceedings", incorporating discussion of papers, will be sent to members and overseas visitors who were honorary members for the conference. Orders for requirements of copies other than these (price 155.) should be placed early with the Association's secretary, Box 2298, Wellington.

Papers and Speakers "Grassland Development in the Twentieth Century", William Davies. Presidential Address, J. W. Calder. "Techniques of Land Development in New Zealand", P. W. Smallfield. "Canterbury Pastures in Relation to Cropping and Small Seed Production", E. G. Smith. "Problems of Managing Grassland under Low Rainfall Conditions in South Africa", J. D. Scott. "Some Mineral Deficiencies and Excesses in Cattle and Sheep in Britain", Ruth Allcroft. "Economics of Farming Light Land in Canterbury", R. H. Scott and R. C. Stuart. "Light Land Pastures", C. E. Iversen and J. W. Calder. "Some Results and Problems from Experiments at Winchmore Irrigation Research Station", G. K. McPherson. "Problems of Irrigating Grassland in Canterbury", C. Hilgendorf. "High Country Grassland in New Zealand : Characteristics and Problems", L. Chapman. "High Country Grazing in the Western United States", R. Merton Love. "Tussock Grassland Problems under Irrigation in New Zealand", J. M. Hercus. "Grazing Standards", Lincoln Ellison. "General Grassland Problems in the Netherlands and Neighbouring Countries", M. L. '+ Hart. "Results of Silage Investigations with High Protein, Unwilted Forage of New York State College of Agriculture", W. K. Kennedy. "A Comparative Account of British Grassland Farming", M. McG. Cooper.