FARMING SURVEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 16 August 1937, Page 5

FARMING SURVEY

IN HAWKE’S BAY

THE PRODUCTION FACTOR,

DUNEDIN, Aug. 12

The agricultural survey of the province of Hawke’s Bay, which is being carried out by Messrs R. P. Connell, of Palmerston North, and I. L. Elliott, of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, was the subject of a paper read by Mr Connell to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Grasslands Association to-day. He said that so far the survey had been restricted to central Hawke’s Bay, with Hatsings as the centre, embracing the districts of Te Mata, Heretaunga. Matapiro, Mnraekakabo, Puketapu, Patoka, Kidnapper and Tangoio. Although the survey was as yet far from complete, certain important, facts had already emerged, relative to the farming of central Hawke’s Bay in normal price-level circumstances.' Among the major suggestions for changes which could profitably be made were:—

The production of many of the present dominantly fat stock production farms could be increased substantially. In many instances farms which at present produced both fat and store stock could be devoted to fat stock production.

Mixed breeding and fattening of stock could more frequently be carried out in the area in which the majority of the farms were now' devoted to breeding exclusively. The carrying capacity of a substantial portion of the area which was and might contimie to be devoted exclusively to breeding could be increased considerably, thus leading to an increased supply of breeding ewes, required for an increased fat-lamb production . FATTENING COUNTRY.

It had been found, in times of normal price levels, that fat lamb production, on country suited to it, was more remunerative and hence more desirable than any other class of sheep farming. (Stud farming was not considered.) Hence, it became necessary to consider whether the purely fattening area could be extended. There was much evidence available to show that in the mixed breeding and fattening country this could he, and was being, done by a few farmers, whose farms were typical of much of the mixed breeding and fattening country. In general, the change to dominant fattening country could be made chiefly by:--(1) The renovation, following ploughing, of as much as possible of the pastures. In general from half to a quarter of the area of the farms examined in this mixed breeding-fatten-ing belt was ploughable. The first step then would bo to use the plough as much as possible to establish good pastures.

(2) The adoption of a regular and more extensive phosphatic top-dress-ing programme, relative to the good pastures. (3) Th greater use of subterranean clover, particularly in the poorer portions of the breeding-fattening country. ATTENTION TO PASTURES.

Similarly, it was held that the mixed breeding and fattening country could be extended to include some country which to-day was devoted practically wholly to store stock production, occasional drafts of fat stock being produced in unusually favourable circumstances. The factor determining the amount of change to fattening that could he made was the amount of ploughable country on the individual farm. What could at times be done on store stockproducing farms with • ploughable country had been well exemplified on a property of 3300 acres, which fifteen years ago carried 2000 dry sheep and 1600 ewes, producing 1200 to 1300 lambs, the average wool clip being sixty hales. Now it carried 4000 ewes, together with dry sheep, and of Ihe ninety rams used, twentv were Snuthdowns. The wool clip had increased to 145 hales, and a recent fivevear lambing average was 107 per cent. Only 1100 out of the 3300 acres had so far been improved. The methods of improvement recommended for such country were: —1. The establishment of good permanent pastures; 2, introduction of subterranean clo.ver to much of this country; 3, topdressing with phosphates. STORE COUNTRY.

“In view of the present position in regard to the supply of breeding ewes, it may fittingly be asked, ‘Where shall we be able to get an economic supply of breeding ewes, if the suggested expansion in Hawke’s Bay fat lamb production takes place, and the breeding ewe requirements of other fat Jamb raising districts continue to increase or remain unchanged ? said Mr Connell. “Of basic importance in this connection is the fact that there is evidence that the production of extensive areas of the store country producing hoggets can be increased substantial!! in an economic manner. An instance of this is provided in a block which in 1928-29 carried 800 sheep, 500 ol winch were breeding ewes, with an average lambing of 55 to. 00 per cent Last year the block carried 1100 breeding ewes, with an average lambing ot about 87 per cent. , “Ample evidence is available of the economic advisability of top-dressing relatively good pastures with phosphates in the area under consideration. As the utilisation of phosphates is often in this connection bound up with rainfall it is of interest to note that only 4 1-3 per cent, of the total area of Hawke’s Bay is subject to a rainfall of less than 35 inches, and that only 5* per cent, of the total area of Hawke s Bay is top-dressed, including topdressing of lime alone. In the fattening area where .top-dressing is done, it is almost entirely phosphatic superphosphate, applied in the autumn or early winter. However, a number of farmers do no top-dressing, while those who do top-dress do about one-quar ter of their farms annually. . “On fattening farms the lambing pel - centages returned an average of 94 per cent ranging from 85 per cent., to IUo per cent., according to varying circumstances, the percentage being estimated on the number of ewes put .to the ram and the number of lambs tailed. It has been noticed that in seasons suited to natural flushing, the av. rage lambing percentages are appreciably highei Further, in portions of this block where the rainfall regularly favours natural flushing, the lambing percentage is usually 100 per cent or over. This experience suggests, a 6 pei cent. +n 10 net* cent, increase in lambing clue \o appropriate flushing. The practical question is whether it would prove profitable to provide suitable flushing feed during normal seasons. Because of the earlv date at which rams are put out in Hawke’s Bay, the flushing crops satisfactorily used in the South Island might not be sufficiently developed when required. While a final statement at this stage cannot be made, the provision of flushing feed cannot be Looked upon as impracticable.”-