Good Results From Mixed Farming At Sheffield

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 6

Good Results From Mixed Farming At Sheffield

“Because we believe that there is more profit from crops and small seeds than from sheep, we harvest as much of these as practicable whilst maintaining maximum sheep numbers for their part in the fertility build-up,” said Mr P. G. Morrison describing the operation of the 320-acre mixed farm at Sheffield, in which he and his father are in partnership, at the Lincoln farmers’ conference this week. On this unit, farmed as a partnership, Mr Morrison said this was believed to be sound economic policy, but he doubted whether it would be for the individual fanner.

On average 43 per cent, of the farm is in crop and another 23 per cent, of the area gives a small peed crop. Summarising the results of this policy over the last five years Mr Morrison said that farm income ranged from £4B to £6O an acre with an average return of £55. Of this 42 per cent, was derived from grain crops and small seeds, 26 per cent, from potatoes and 28 per cent, from sheep. Farm expenses, including depreciation, ranged from £2B to £33 an acre and averaged £3O. The value of land and improvements plus stock, plant and machinery had been calculated to range from £B5 to £lO5 an acre averaging £95. After allowing for the partners’ wages of management there was an investment return, using the Department of Agriculture’s standard computations, of £l3 to £2l an acre and averaging £lB. This was from 13} to 26} per eent. with an average of 19 per cent. Situation The farm lies about 35 miles west of Christchurch at an altitude of about 850 ft. About 250 acres are Waimakariri silt loam and the balance is of lighter soil with some stones. An additional area of rough riverbed contributes little to output. Rainfall is about 40 inches but a number of strong north westerly winds are usually experienced in January and February. Frosts range up to 20 degrees and there is occasional snow.

After the war with higher prices and new techniques of farming the scene began to change on this farm. Improved pastures meant that more stock could be carried resulting in better soil fertility and structure and higher crop yields. Crops grown total about 140 acres and include 40 acres of wheat, 20 acres of barley, 20 acres of peas, 20 acres of potatoes and 40 acres of cocksfoot exclusively for seed. As well about 40 acres are harvested for short rotation ryegrass seed and e similar area for white clover seed. Two Rotations Two rotations are followed but where necessary alterations are made. The general objective is a good spread of work throughout the year and to at least maintain soil fertility. Old grass is ploughed for potatoes and turnips. The potatoes are followed bi’ wheat and after the stubble is burnt sown direct to grass. In the other rotation peas follow the turnips and then a crop of wheat is taken. The next crop may be wheat again or peas or barley. Ef it is wheat then greenfeed will follow and after a summer fallow the area is sown to grass. If peas or barley follow the wheat new grass follows im. mediately without a fallow. This gives on an average five cash crops sown each year. For the last two years the grass paddock for peas the following spring has been ploughed after weaning and drilled with York Globe turnips early in February with very good results.

Garden peas after grass are drilled in mid-October and partridge peas following a cereal are sown in September if grass is to follow in the autumn. Yields range from 25 to 60 bushels.

Potatoes respond to good soil structure and to obtain this the Morrisons run the whole ewe flock on the paddock from May until mid. August with hay fed out and transfer of dung and urine from turnips and greenfeed. Cultivation begins in August and by late ploughing the soil is kept open. Planting is done in 30in rows with lOin spacings between potatoes with seed production in mind. Yields vary from 11 to 22 tons.

In three seasons Aotea has yielded from 68 to 92 bushels.

Drilling is done in early June with 1001 b of seed. If sowing is late 1 cwt of super is used.

Sowing of barley is delayed to mid-Octobet when the soil is warm. Two bushels are then used to the acre. Kenia or Cariesburg yield from 65 to 105 bushels. The cocksfoot seed crop has already been described in a separate article on this page. Yields vary from 150 to 800ib of machine dressed seed to the acre. All crops are sprayed for weeds, and in particular Californian thistles, where necessary and in recent seasons some crops have been treated for Army worm. The Morrisons now believe that their fertility is at a point where fallowing before sowing grass is no longer necessary. The pasture mixture comprises one bushel of short rotation ryegrass and 31b of white clover. This suits well for seed production and is palatable feed. Government stock, if available, or pedigree seed is used After a fallow or peas 1} cwt of super is sown with the seed and after grain crops }cwt of nitrolime is also added. All grass is sown in Tin drills. A ton of lime is applied to all ground before sowing, DDT super is applied after ryegrass seed is harvested and afterwards 1} cwt of super is used each autumn. Shutting Up After straw crops ryegrass seed areas are shut up about October 10 and after a fallow or peas two weeks later. Nitrolime at l}cwt is applied after the paddock has had time to freshen up where the pasture follows a fallow or peas and at 2 cwt after a straw crop.

The crop is mowed preparatory to heading. In the following autumn “on and off” grazing is employed to encourage white clover. In thawinter the paddock is kept bare to suppress ryegrass and it is kept short until shutting up for clover in the second or third week of November. Mr Morrison said he preferred shutting up on the late side to get a short crop with plenty of flowers. After harvesting the paddock is only lightly grazed. This facilitates seeding of short rotation. During March the paddock is shut up for lambing feed. This management gave a good ryegrass white clover sward for the next two or three years, Mr Morrison said.

Marlborough lucerne is grown for hay and grazing. It is used for lambing on and when necessary ewes and lambs are grazed on it A minimum of two hay cuts are taken annually. Providing there is a reasonable supply of hay sufficient cast-for-age Romney ewes are purchased in the autumn to enable six ewes to be run to the acre on all grazing available in the paring. Between 700 and 900 of these are mated with Southdown rams depending on cost and winter feed available. After tupping they are confined on the paddock to go into potatoes and in the early winter they either get good ryegrass straw or poor lucerne hay, later supplemented by turnips and as lambing approaches young grass.'

The number of ewes and lambs sold all counted in the spring varies from 30 to 60 per cent, depending on the

inquiry for them and small seeds prospects. By lambing earlier and shutting white clover up later it has in recent years been possible to retain more. The first draft of fats (about 50 per cent.) are sold at about 301 b average about the second week in November. Lambs are weaned and another draft is taken before Christmas. Ewe management is flexible and Mr Morrison said that with a wide range of machinery for harvesting small seeds it paid to harvest all suitable areas in preference to grazing. To enable harvesting to be done at the right time he emphasised that the rather heavy outlay of machinery was a must and in relation to turnover it was the cheapest input The major advantage of mixed farming was that it was possible to have a few eggs in many baskets. "If necessary we could concentrate on more grain, swing to increased fat lamb production or specialise to a still greater degree on pasture seed production in the true sense of the term," he said.