Tumut Sowing Almost Ended

2 June 1952 Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga)

Despite the wet weather, the greater part of wheat sowing has been completed in the Tumut district. This is stated by the district   agronomist in his monthly report.

The report said:- 'The month of May remained very wet over the whole of the district and falls of rain varying between four and six inches were recorded at the various centres. Low temperature conditions were a feature of the month, a number of heavy frosts being recorded at all centres. 

'With the continued wet weather wheat sowings have been interrupted, and farmers are now anxiously awaiting a break in the weather to finalise their sowing programme.

Generally, in this district farmers have been able to get most of their areas sown, and it was estimated that, at this stage, at least 85 per cent of the intended area has already been sown, which probably means that 2,270 acres have been sown out of a total of 2,730 acres to be eventually sown. '

Oat crops responded remarkably well to mild conditions earlier in the month, and at this stage most oat crops have already been grazed once and, in a number of cases, have received a second grazing.

With the colder conditions being experienced, oat growth is being somewhat retarded but generally will be sufficient to allow adequate winter grazing. 

'Barley crops also made remarkably good growth at Gundagai and Tumbarumba and some self-sown crops have been grazed for the past two months. 

'Several crops of rye are making very satisfactory progress, but in a couple of cases, areas which were sown late have been somewhat disappointing.

Farmers interested in sowing cereal rye as a grazing crop should endeavor to get this crop seeded earlier in the season, preferably February, so that good growth is made prior to winter conditions. 

'Maize harvesting in the Gundagai and Tumut districts is continuing and considering adverse seasonal conditions experienced during growing, quite satisfactory results are being obtained. Some yields of Hybrid maize have reached almost one hundred bushels per acre on local small areas.' 

'During the month, maize crops in the Tumut and Gundagai districts were judged for the inland field maize competition, Messrs. Veitch and Nicholls winning the competition at Gundagai, and Curll Bros, at Tumut. 

'Mechanical harvesters are doing a remarkably good job In harvesting the maize crop this year, since maize crops are not very tall and there is very little weed growth to binder operations.

Now that harvesting if well under way it can be seen that a considerable amount of damage was caused by green vegetable bug during the growing season.'