THIS PAPER presents the results of an economic study of farm development in Northland.* In this study, records were collected of 32 dairy farm case histories which had increased butterfat production by 105% in an average of 6 years, and 18 sheep farm case histories for which wool production increased 116% over a 7-year period. Also included are data supplied by the Lands and Survey Department on the economic outcome of two land development blocks. Before presentation of these results of phenomenal technical progress, some points about the meaning of value of development require clarification.
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(120 KB)THE soils, climate, history and the production trends of the North Auckland peninsula, up to 1952, are fully described by Taylor and Sutherland (1953). However, a review of progress since that time is justified if it can point the way to the future.
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(48 KB)AUSTRALIAN SEDGE (Carex longebrachiata) is potentially a serious weed on North Island hill country which lacks a vigorous sward. Its recognition as a weed, acknowledged by its inclusion in the Noxious Weeds Act in 1962, was delayed until some infestations were completely out of control. This account summarizes existing information on this plant with particular reference to the northern part of New Zealand.
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(472 KB)IN NORTH AUCKLAND, as is the case in all other areas of New Zealand, the key to pasture improvement lies in the introduction of legumes. Almost invariably poor pasture production is associated with poor clover growth. Contributing factors to poor clover establishment and growth are low amounts of available phosphate, potassium, molybdenum and sulphur, acid soil conditions and ineffective nodulation. This paper is concerned with the germination and establishment of white clover on unimproved North Auckland clay hill country. White clover establishment has been investigated on the soils of two northern yellow-brown earth soil suites, namely, the Marua suite from greywacke parent material and the Waiotira suite, from massive sandstone. These soils have been described by Taylor and Sutherland (1953) and are shown in their order of leaching in Tables 1 and 5, respectively.
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(84 KB)MANY hundreds of years ago, an old gentleman startled the inhabitants of the ancient city of Bagdad by offering to exchange new lamps for old ones. Today, a rather similar thing is happening on some New Zealand farms, where some farmers are replacing tall fescue with tall fescue.
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(78 KB)NORTH AUCKLAND is covered by a large variety of soils. These have developed on sandstones, mudstones, andesitic rocks, basalt, volcanic ash and mixtures of these materials. Further, on each type of parent material, time and environment have combined to create a range or “suite” of soils. The term and concept of soil “suites” was developed by Taylor (1952), formerly Director of the New Zealand Soil Bureau. Dr Taylor’s system of grouping these soils has been of very great help in planning field and laboratory experiments. Table 1 outlines a simplified model of a soil suite developed on sandstone. Natural fertility is highest on the A type soils, very much lower on the B and C type soils and very low on the D and E soils. The last two (D and E) and part of the C soils used to be dug for kauri gum. Hence they are known as gumland soils.
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(101 KB)IN VIEW of the importance of the different ryegrass varieties to grassland farming in New Zealand, and the almost complete dearth of information relating to their nutritive value as feeds for dairy cattle, a comprehensive series of experiments was initiated at Massey University
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(135 KB)THE development of virgin country for farming by the Lands and Survey Department started in New Zealand nearly forty years ago. From modest beginnings, when taken over in the early thirties from the Department of Agriculture, and with increasing experience through the years, the work has been greatly accelerated. Today, it is widespread in both islands on such a scale that, in total, it represents the largest farm development ever undertaken in the history of New Zealand.
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(63 KB)IT was said once that the greatest thing to happen to dairy farming in the north was the coming of the gumboot. At that point of time, there may have been some truth in the statement as this was the period when farmers were bogged down with the discouragement that seasons of low production, lack of capital for improvement work, and seemingly insurmountable problems had brought.
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(52 KB)ELEVEN YEARS AGO, I purchased land on the west coast 10 miles south-east of Dargaville. It is rolling country with sandy soils of two types, one of good quality, and known as Red Hill sand, and the other, Te Kopuru sand, a sandy gumland with a pan beneath. The climate is generally mild, but very strong westerly winds carrying sea spray are a feature of the area, and the effects of dry summers are felt very quickly. The farm comprises 131 acres, and was purchased in two blocks, one of 85 acres and one of 46 acres. In 1956, I went on to the farm with 44 heifers of my own, and 5 cows and 20 yearlings I had purchased. The only other things I owned were a truck, a tractor 20 years old, and a mower.
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(51 KB)TIE aim in this paper is to describe grassland improvement work undertaken on my Waihue farm, with the emphasis on the development work that has been done, and the methods evolved. No attempt will be made to measure their success, as this aspect will be covered in J. D. Currie’s paper.
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(71 KB)THE Northland flock is increasing rapidly. The sheep population reflects the progress made in pasture development over the past fourteen years, the two million sheep wintered this year representing a remarkable 200% increase in numbers since 1953. It is the initiative of progressive farmers in pioneering improved management techniques, and the courage of the Lands and Survey Department in implementing these methods on a large scale, and with such convincing success, that have shown the way. But it is only during the last three favourable growth years that the extension message of more fertilizer and lime, and, above all, more stock, has been widely accepted. Fertilizer sales have doubled over this three-year period, and sheep owners (of which there are 1,000 with 500 or more sheep), reached a climax this year when they increased their flocks by three times the national average.
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(66 KB)UNDER the usual management system, pasture surpluses are converted into fodder for feeding in periods of shortage, and sheep or cattle are grazed on pastures most of the year. It is this type of management which influences the present evaluation of pasture species. Whether this outlook is to continue is debatable, but it can be said that the potential production of many species is rarely achieved in practice.
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(159 KB)IN THE NEAR FUTURE, the efficiency with which New Zealand pastures are utilized must improve. This should be possible through applying available information, which should be well known and accepted by all, but which is too often under-rated or neglected. It is particularly important to accept that pasture utilization and pasture production are interdependent.
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(87 KB)IT is the purpose of this paper to give some idea of the vast differences in production per acre which are brought about by different grazing systems, through their effect on the stocking rate, and pasture species.
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