Week 12 NZ Flashcards
Describe the rainfall and temperature gradients across New Zealand.
West coast - 400- 9000mm East Coast - 500-750mm Temperature Nth Nth Island - 14.1 - 16 1-12 Sth Nth isalnd 10.1-12
Describe one of the unique characteristics of soils on the South Island and explain what effect this has on agricultural production
Depth to Stones - measurement 40 cm then really big rocks Affects water holding capacity Depth of soil is 45-100cm Very low water holding capacity Only takes 4 weeks to go dry
Outline some of the historical events that have effected agricultural production
The Mega CO OP
Only a few Major players
Maori Ag - Exported to sydney in early days
Wool Production - Non -perishable
Wheat Boom - 1800’s
Early Freeze works - 1880s-1900s Transformed lamb markets, transporting to UK
Start of dairy as it could be kept cool
1984 New Govt. Removed tarriffs for ag industries = dec. farmgate prices
18-20% interest rate
Legislation
Nitrate leaching = acidiic = into streams = blue-green algae
Laws to stop levels exceeding those seen in 1998
NZ Ag industry
Sheep and Beef 44% Dairy 21% Hort 15% Mixed 6% 5% crop 9% other
Explain why there has been an increase in dairy production in the South Island of New Zealand
Canterbury planes has seen massive transformation of dairy due to rocky land = less trampling of pasture and bogging up of paddocks
C. planes are much higherr producing at milk., larger mobs, due to inc. SR due to higher supplementary feeding with grains grown there and cheaper land with irrigation
$40 000/Ha SI
1975 2 million head
2012 5 million head
Outline briefly the seasonal dairy operations in New Zealand
June/July Forage Crops
August - March - Milking platform
Use Kale, Turnip, Sweeds, Fodderbeat
Milker - share Milker - Own cows - own farm - share milker
Describe the major differences between the sheep industry in New Zealand compared to Australia
Dual Purpose sheep
Romney, Coopworth
Perendale 150-160 Lambing % due to inc. scanning, C.S. Ewe nutrition
17-20kg lambs (much smaller than aust)
Merinos in high country
Abattoirs close down in winter
Foot Rot very common - dual puroose sheep cope okay
Meat Value $2.7 billion
Wool $717 million
Briefly describe features of the high country,
High altitude in SI
Large Farms are mainly leased
Fine wool merinos
Acidic soils
hill country
Nth and Sth Green, No trees - cleared Hard to easier hills Dual purpose sheep - meat and coarse wool Beef Cattle in nth
Seed, super, stock, subivision
Gorse and Broome an issue
Finishing farms in New Zealand
Finish Lambs
High grass production
Lucerne good in drier areas
