FARM PRODUCTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1941, Page 5

FARM PRODUCTION

I’HIIGRIiSS IS MiW ZIAI.ASII OUTLINED BY MINISTER. RE S P (,) NS E 10 ST GIIA TH- YIN Gt! An oullme of the pi-ogre ; f the prtmi.rv inmductain plan which was (irawu ’up bet. re the ..penmg Of the current sea--; m v, ~- given by the Mmi.stei- -.f Agra-ulturc the Hi-n J G isa.ri.'!;.s.. dtirrng the e, a: -a- •( s.-i addr« at tile oln nili;' > ' tie- (e>’<h'U !s.;v Agra iiitiii .il ral o Anmi.d Sh..w md. y Ze il, mi ■•! the ; i- -lim-ti' 0 programme the pra-eiit pr< met; m seanm ■ howthat - ill f. .It:-,. 0 -•:•■ f-.lllv i.l.ve the part which they h.re,- t,. play -,n. th<- - re en' ■.•. 1 • e-i the M-r..- Th’:, ‘pi ■ • . . : , th, , , ..... (•. uni A ‘ t n S t ’ -aid >.<. . seme:.: , f the d Ki!-,5;.-:s i:!.i-..ed J . i ',< the -■‘iP .he vararas f. era ..nd ; ktn ■ •• i 11;" .*' 1 •ia. iiflH .•‘ra-u; \ •’ r: TO c.•. t .tr.Cr' b l iof* : t '.*.(• it-.-: '.F.ra «-rid ' f O;c- \r •• :, L. Q' t. 'J \.. jz a ‘

"As the bulk of the increases asked for were animal products, it was essential that adequate feed supplies should be available to maintain our flocks and herds in god condition, and an appeal was made by the growing of additional areas of supplementary forage crops and for the saving of all surplus grass for hay and silage. In all parts of the country increased acreages of such crops as rape, turnips, swedes, chou mollier. mangels, etc., have been sown, and due to an abundant spring pasture growth and organised determined effort, the amount of grass cut for hay and silage is well above the normal figures. GROWING OF MAIZE. "A request was also made for the growing of 11.000 acres of maize, and present indications are that this objective will be achieved. Much of this maize is being grown by the Maoris of the East Coast and Boy of Plenty districts, and their effort is worthy of the traditions of a great race. In this drive for the provision of extra feed, there has been only one notable failure. The North Island was asked to sow from 20.000 to 30,000 acres of barley, principally for pig feed, but less than '5OOO acres are being sown. It may bo that wo sol the figure too high, but 1 hope that we will get a better response next year. The wheat acreage is also below the figure aimed at, but the indications are that the crops will be heavier than usual.

"The plan also called for the growing of about 14.000 acres of linen flax, and as the burden of putting down this area fell on farmers on selected areas of the South Island, I think that the response is one of which we can be justly proud. Over 13.000 acres were sown, and one of the features of the crops has been the care taken in cultivation. Linen flax is a new crop for New Zealand, but when the call came from the Mother Country there was a wonderful response. I have no doubt that this crop will be still larger next year, and the harvesting and processing of the flax will provide new avenues of employment for large numbers of persons in the South Island.

BRASSICA SEEDS. "In times of peace it has been the practice of New Zealand farmers to import considerable quantities of brassica seeds, but the cources of supply’ of these seeds have either been cut. off or curtailed. Under the direction of the Department of Agriculture every effort is being made to make the Dominion self-supporting in certified varieties of brassica seeds, and there is every indication that New Zealand will not only be self-supporting in these seeds, but may have surpluses in some cases for export. There has also been a considerable increase in die area sown in peas for export.

So much for the feed and cropping side of the programme. Let us now turn to the production of those commodifies which Great Britain requires today. At the beginning of the present season the Home Government asked us to increase our cheese production b.v at least 15.000 tons on last year’s figures. This meant switching over suppliers from butter to cheese factories. and in only’ a few instances was it necessary to issue an order for the change to be made. The additional 15,000 tons of cheese has already been forthcoming, but there have been certain losses of produce between here and the United Kingdom and the British authorities, in reply to an inquiry from us. have advised a further change over of supply from butter to cheese where practicable. This is being brought about, and 1 am sure that the dairy farmers will respond readily to this request. DAIRY FARMERS’ TASK.

"In spite of the demand for an increased volume of cheese the production of butter seems likely to be maintained. and it can be said that the dairy farmers of the Dominion have responded magnificently to the needs of war. Not only have they achieved the objectives set for them in the production of dairy produce, but on them also has fallen almost the whole of the task of producing an additional 10.000 tons of bacon. The total killings of pig meat for the three months ended December last was approximately 13,400 tons as against 9780 tons This result has been achieved without the importation of additional feed supplies and shows that the farmers have provided for greater areas of supplementary crops. 1 here is also evidence that pigs generally are being better housed and better managed, and the grading figures disclose a commendable standard of quality m the baconers sent to the works 1 The plan which was drafted at the beginning of the season also called for (he maintenance of output of mutton Lm-.b and beef. and this i> assured Lhi., years lambing percentage was Lm- i est since 193(1, , ul d there are 750,000 more hunbs m the Dominion Dian there were last year. The high lambing figures show that the t -we> were wintered Well. and were m g,>,,d condition m the spring ’iTe figures to hand also indicate that there will be jh increase in the wool clip, and thus <«nc must extend on< k ‘< congratulations also to the sheep farmer Hr-. ?,»>. has played a worthy part in our drive produce to the best of oui ability the sinews iif war Soon we will bi- turning our mmds to another production season, and | cannot stress too mo-i-h >|u- necessity of providing adeqa.ite f.-e.l ,ipph v \ for ou>- slock Let even farmer ask himsMf. • L w> fai m pc dm . i: - highest capacity e--T. ;• i'-'.’. < ;■/ With the maintenance of health’,' ‘L<J; and herds, anti lh»* upaeep »f ferpniv ' In the fulfilment of ths- object \(. the farmer wd| fit-.d that the plough and the topdfe-'-,.;- -1-j. I.n’oe; e--<