Dr. Burns’s Assessment Of Farmers’ Conference

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 12

Dr. Burns’s Assessment Of Farmers’ Conference

The importance of fundamental scientific research in investigating immediate farming problems was emphasised by Dr. M. M. Burns, principal of Canterbury Agricultural College, when he summed up the proceedings of the annual Lincoln farm conference, which ended yesterday afternoon. AU too often it was thought that a problem, such as ill thrift and responses to selenium, could be solved by some ad hoc research project when it needed the full team effort of a research group working on the fundamental basis of the problem, he said Dr. A. T. Johns had given a paper which was the complete justification of the need for this approach. Dr. Burns said. Dr. Johns had also mentioned for the first time the possibility of "broiler” production of lambs by the feeding of concentrates. Other basis work being done was into changes of palatability of foodstuffs.

In planning the conference the organising committee had set out with the objective of beginning with major topics of importance to the farmer, followed by farmers’ experience and finally an insight into new aspects of research, he said.

It was the first time the chairman of the Meat Board (Mr J. D. Ormond) had been heard on the conference platform. and his discussion of marketing policies was appreciated.

On the same topic of meat marketing. Professor B. P. Philpott had been fairly cautious in his main address to the conference, compared with the evening discussion when he had been “free of our friends of the press,” Dr Bums said.

After the years in which sheenfarming was the most profitable, arable farming was coming back into its own. Dr Bums said. Mr P. G. Morrison’s paper had shown that there was a ’eneration of younger farmers coming on who were showing the older farmers that they “were their match or nerhans their betters." In these times when increased beef production was being called for, Mr Peter Falconer’s paper showing that “within the strict palisades of Mid-Canterbury

plains land” sheep were more profitable than cattle was

“timelv—viewing the situation from the strict business angle." "We in New Zealand do not appreciate the farm woodlot planted in the out-of-the-way comer or gully." Dr. Bums

said, commenting on the two final papers on farm forestry The attendance this year had been about the same as last year, but it was hoped to build the attendance at next year's conference to 600 “We will give priority for those making early bookings for eating, seating, and residence, but anyone can come and will be welcome,” Dr. Burns said.