WHEAT GROWING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1942, Page 5

WHEAT GROWING

PREPARATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR POSITION IN WAIRARAPA. PRODUCTION PROGRAMME. “We have been very fortunate in our weather this month,” states Mr N. Lamont, of the Department of Agriculture, Masterton, “and merchants report that they are sending out large quantities of seed wheat from their stores daily, but despite the fact that this year's sowing is not yet completed it is already time to be making preparations fcr crops to be sown in 1943. This year, mcas promised totalled over 4.000 acres and, a result of the favourable August, when the major proportion of our wheat is sown, t’-e actual area should not fall far short of this figure. “Even this area is, however, wholly inadequate in face of the need that exists and the quota tentatively allotted for this district for next year is 7,500 acres. This figure may seem nigh for a district that normally grows only 1.000 acres but times are certainly not normal and 7,500 acres is far from unreasonable for a district with the potentialities of the Wairarapa. “The securing of this area will be one of the tasks of the Primary Production Council and farmers who arc intending to respond, should in many cases be making their preparations now. Where paddocks now in grass arc to be used lor wheat next year, it is desirable that they be turned over now and a preparatory crop, such as rape, sown this spring. A long fallow is probably almost, if not equally, as sound a practice in respect to its beneficial effect on the wheat but few will be inclined to ‘bare fallow’ where a crop can be grown which will not only return immediate profit but which will also provide the ground with a coating of animal manure of the utmost value for the cereal to follow. “Furthermore, the growing of fattening crops will have benefits 'in addition to preparing for grain. Although perhaps not such a vital necessity as wheat, meat is still an important item in our production programme and the maximum area in fattening crops should be grown. Each lamb fattened will also reduce the number of stock to oe carried next winter and make more acres available for wheat.

“Repercussions of this wheat programme will no doubt be felt beyond the bound r.'.es of our wheat growing areas and it seems n-’t unreasonable to recommend that hill country men prepare now. by growing swedes, against the possibility of reduced ewe demand next autumn.

"A further mattter worthy of consideration in the immediate future is the fact that the mole drainage ‘season’ is now upon us. Many thousands of acres of sound clay country in the Wairarapa could grow first class wheat crops if they were mole drained. Mole drainage should be done during . the late spring and . even the most thorough system need not cost more than £1 per acre—a cost which would require only three bushels of wheat to pay for it. “The Wairarapa district's reasonable share of our country’s production programme includes the growing of 7.500 acres of wheat during 1943-44, This total can be achieved, .but only if preparations are commenced now. bj' ploughing, cropping and draining so that not merely wheat but first class wheat is grown.”