RESULTS OF PASTURE COMPETITIONS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 70, 15 December 1937, Page 13

RESULTS OF PASTURE COMPETITIONS

Norsewood and Otawhao Farmers LIST OF AWARDS Judging of pastures entered for the competition conducted by the Norsewood and Otawhao branches of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was completed recently by Mr J. W. Palmer, Instructor in Agriculture, Hastings, and resulted in the first place for sheep pastures being awarded by Mr W. A. Caithness for a pasture which was outstanding. Mr G. Kells secured first award for cow pastures. "This is the second year that the Norsewood and Otawhao branches of the New Zealand Farmers' Union have coiidueted a pasture competition. In many instances there has been a great improvement in pasture sward, despite the fact that adverse weather conditioiis were experienced during the "Winter. In other instances the pastures were very open and lacking in clover to some extent, while some of the cow pastures are quite doniinant in clover, which to some extent are not altogether ideal for cow pastures but are much more suited to sheep grazing," stated Mr Palmer in commentmg on the results. Judging Conditions. "Recently, at the Departmental OfScers' Conference in Palmerston North the pasture judging competition was diseussed, and it was unanimously agreed upon that in future all pastures entered for the competition must be treated solely as grazing areas; that is, areas are not eligible if they are shut up for hay or silage. It is quite logically a fair proposition in my opinion, as it is the aim of this competition to promote a better pasture management, particularly from the point of view of controlling fodder pro- | ducts. Cutting for hay or silage lends an easy way to control excessive pasture growth. Furthermore, an area treated in suCh a manner does not recover to the same extent as when the area is grazed during the Summer months. For the present season I am judging on the same basis as last season. "Some the pastures were badly affected with grass grub during last Autumn. The pasture of Mr Caithness was most outstanding, particularly from the point of view of control, vigour, grass and clover association and freedom from weeds. This pasture takes first place in the sheep pastures. The pasture of Mr G. Kells, which is chiefly controlled by coivs, was very good and compares favourably with some of our best paddocks on sheep country, and takes first place in the cow pastures. There are numerous other areas which are somewhat outstanding, one in mind is that of Mr R. Tait. This area was exceptionally good, with good grasses, but unfortunately growth had exceeded the ideal stage, as it had been closed for silage. The pastures of Mr Montgonierie and Mr Anderson were also excellent ones. The Points Awarded. Points awarded were as follow: — SHEEP PASTURES. W. A. Caithness, No. 1 92 A. W. Montgomerie, No. 1.... 91 T. G. Prescott 90$ W. A. Caithness, No. 2 90 A. W. Montgomerie, No. 1 ... 89$ M. Tiffen 89 T. B. Ellison 89 R. Ellison 88 H. Stratford 87 G. Davis 86$ COW PASTURES. G. Kells 91 R. Tait, No. 1 90 — . Ellmers 88$ R. Andersori, No. 2 88 A. Mullinder 88 A. G. Parker 88 H. Mercer 87 II. Olsen 85 li. Tait, No. 2 85 W. G. Hunt ' 84