I feel that I must make it quite clear right from the start that I am neither an economist nor a scientist. The only aspect of economics that I understand is that of profit or loss; and of science, its practical application to meet the present needs of the individual farmer.
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(122 KB)The type of management a pasture is given determines the botanical composition of the sward and in turn influences the yield of herbage produced. Of the various aspects of pasture management, the two factors that bring about the most rapid changes in composition are length and height of grazing and chemical spraying of pastures.
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(170 KB)Conditions of frequent cold south-westerly airstreams accompanied by gale force winds are a feature of the winter climate of Otago. Growth of pasture is not checked to the same degree, stock do not lose condition, nor is the requirement for feed so great where effective shelter has been provided.
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(81 KB)The land district of Otago, comprising the counties of Waitaki, Waihemo, Waikouaiti, Taieri, Peninsula, Bruce, Clutha, Tuapeka, Lake, Vincent, and Maniototo, contains the greatest variations in climatic conditions, topography, and soil types. Consequently, a detailed description of. the farming systems practised in each of the many categories into which land use may be subdivided is beyond the scope of this paper, which will deal broadly with a description of farming in the principal areas of the region. The fascinating story of settlement, which commenced over 100 years ago, has been published in several books freely available to all interested and some of the results from earlier practices, now recognised to be damaging to soil fertility and stability, will be discussed in a later section. The total acreage in occupation is over 8 million and this extends from the intensively farmed alluvial plains at sea level to the summer grazed natural grasslands at altitudes of over 5,000 ft.
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(1670 KB)Description of Property The holding can be roughly divided into 4 blocks: 1. The clean, better class lowland around the homestead; 2. A belt of scrub-infested country; 3. A large clean area of fescue and browntop with tussock; 4. Snow tussock, summer country of the Maungatua Range. Soils are mainly derived from micaschist, but as a result of weathering and leaching are deficient in lime, phosphate, and molybdenum.
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(177 KB)Prior to 1955 nearly all legume inoculants used in this country were supplied by the Plant Diseases Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. This service, which was mainly for lucerne, was introduced and controlled by Dr W. D. Reid and it was due to the retirement of Dr Reid and also because the large demand for cultures was proving an embarrassment to the Division that it was suggested that my company might undertake this service.
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(231 KB)This paper examines some of the factors which go to make good pastures, in particular those concerned with the critical establishment stage.
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(179 KB)Invermay Research Station has a total area of 1,300 acres and may be divided, like Gaul, into three parts: First-class Soil: About 200 acres flat, fertile, recent alluvium. Second-ciass Soil: About 400 acres undulating, yellow-grey earth, shallow, overlying clay derived from phonolite. T h i r d - c l a s s S o i l : About 700 acres, ridgy, some as above, some more recent and more basic volcanic soil, usually with boulders. About 400 acres of the last-mentioned have been reclaimed from gorse and scrub, mainly by use of the swamp plough wherever it could be taken, leaving the steepest gullies in manuka and the stony outcrops in gorse.
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(48 KB)The tussock grasslands and scrub-infested areas of the South Island vary considerably, according to altitude, climatic factors of rainfall, temperature, and wind, and the influence of mankind. To appreciate fully the theme of this paper a brief description of the locality, soil type, and ecology of the particular district will be helpful in evaluating the problems and the methods adopted to bring about an improvement in fertility and production. The area known as Traquair, Lee Stream, Wehenga, and Hindon represents some 300,000 acres and is situated 25 to 40 miles by road in a north to north-westerly direction from Dunedin. Broadly speaking it is an inland plateau bounded by the Maungatua Mountains in the south, the Lammermoor Range in the west, Deep Stream in the-north, and the Taieri River and Silver Peak Mountains in the east. Abrupt medium to deep gullies and gorges with extensive flat tops are characteristic of the topography of the country, which in altitude varies from 600 to 1,500 ft above sea level. Shelter trees are restricted to homestead plantings and small shelter belts.
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(1321 KB)The papers that follow in this symposium will present, details of soil and pasture improvement in several nearby regiotis. The part given to me is to offer a general, background to our pasture improvement philosophy and to compare this with other countries,. Even the most casual study of our economy will shoiv.how gieat has been the contribution of pasture to our high living standards. I think, too, that no one here will deny that improved pastures and animal and crop husbandry will continue to be our best basic national aim. Indeed if continued and extended widely enough, good farming in New Zealand may even be strong enough to carry the great weight of protected secondary industry and our other social services.
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(97 KB)The areas about which I wish to speak are those of the extensive farm, in general farmed at a low level of efficiency, irrespective of size, slope, or altitude, the improvement of which is dependent on the correction of some fertility problem. It is not thercforc the foothill country, but a much greater area; it is not so much the area as the problem about which I wish to speak. The frontiers of grassland improvement have moved from the plains and downs to the hills and mountains, from the small paddock to the range, from the accessible to the remote, and this has been assisted by many factors, not the least of which is the aeroplane.
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(912 KB)The soil resources of Otago present a challenge to agriculture, for, although much has already been done to promote their development through the efforts of the Department of Agriculture and the imaginative and enterprising work of many farmers, their potentialities are still far from exhausted. Hitherto only the best soils of Otago have been developed to a high productive level, and most of the soils are at a stage of development far below their capacity. As agricultural development expands and becomes more diverse limitations imposed by the nature of the soils will become of overriding importance, and the pattern of agriculture will have to be more carefully adjusted to the soil pattern of the province.
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