MAIZE GROWING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 31, 30 September 1946, Page 5

MAIZE GROWING

SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE NEEDED DEPARTMENT’S REPRESENTATIONS - With the object of stimulating further interest in the production of maize, a meeting of farmers took place in the County Council Chambers under the auspices 'of the Maize Marketing Committee last Thursday. Messrs. W. A. McCracken and Tietjen (Gisborne) of the Maize Marketing Committee, Mr Hall, Secretary of the Committee and Mr Ffitch (Internal Marketing Division) were present. Opening the subject, Mr Ffitch -said that although he realised it was late in the season to be making representations, he trusted that it was -not too late to stimulate some interest in the growing of as much maize as possible. New Zealand, he said, imported some 4 million bushels of wheat annually for the feeding of poultry. If maize production -could be increased from the 60,000 sacks grown last year to a minimum of 120,000 sacks, much wheat would be released for overseas countries. The difficulties confronting Bay of Plenty growers were realised but it was thought that the new Pfister maize would show a much better yield than the ordinary seed. Thus it was hoped that even if a larger area could not be planted, a substantial increase in the production would still result.

With regard to price, the Stabilisation Commission had authorised a similar subsidy (1/6 per bushel) to that which obtained last year. Present ruling prices per bushel were July, 5/6; August, 5/8; September, 5/9; October, 5/10; November, 5/11; -December, 6/-; January and February, 6/1; March, April, May, June, 6/2. Based on these prices, he declared, maize should be quite a good proposition.

Mr Tietjen spoke briefly on the results of using Pfister seed in Poverty Bay. There was no question at all, he said that maize was urgently needed, and Bay of Plenty growers had responded well to the representations for increased production. In Poverty Bay the same difficulty with regard to the harvesting of crops had been experienced, and this year machines had been used extensively. These had shown good, results, picking 75 per cent, to 80 per cent, of the maize. The cost was approximately £3 per acre, or for smaller crops, 1/- to 1/3 per bag. Commenting on the Pfister seed, he instanced one grower in Poverty Bay who had used it to plant 120 acres. Despite adverse conditions, including no rain whatsoever, a yield of 115 bushels to the acre had been achieved with machine picking.

It was hoped in time that the Department of Agriculture would establish a seed station in Gisborne where farmers would be able to procure their supplies of hybrid seed. Mr Hall added that there was a very strong Association of Growers in Gisborne which was making representations for the release of materials for cribs. Mr E. Morice of the Native Department, stated that growing maize on marginal land was not nearly so good a proposition as it was on approved land. He commented on Mr Ffitch’s remark that if more maize were grown, additional wheat would be released for other countries. “It seems strange,” he said, “that a human life should be valued at 5/b. In my experience, money talks. The only way to procure a large production of maize is to offer a price that will make it worthwhile.” Mr Ffitch: We can do nothing about the price. We have to work on the one set by the Stabilisation Commission. All we can discuss is how to make the best of the proposition as it stands, ' Mr Tietjen explained that the price had been fixed under the impression that it was better to have an unvarying one than to throw the maize on the open market, receive a good ‘figure one year, and a poor one the next. Mr McCracken: Owing to the crop subsidy, there is a tendency amongst farmers, particularly those in dairying, to grow enough maize only, to claim the crop subsidy* Mr Ffitch: With this new seed, the risk off marginal land should be much less. Mr Morice: If you can’t sell us any new ideas I don’t thing there is much more we can discuss. We’ve used just about all the ones you have put forward so far. Mr Ffitch: I’m afraid I can’t put forward much that’s new. At the conclusion of the meeting, the latter speaker said that he could only hope that Bay of Plenty farmers would endeavour to grow a little more maize than in the past.