264 Journal of Agi-icnliure, Victoria. [10 May, 1916. 



m.-^THE FARMERS' WORK FOR 1916. 



The farmers of the State are advised to carefully watch the cables 

 respecting the international wheat position during the next few weeks, 

 with a view of confirming the extent of the diminished acre?ge in the 

 Northern Hemisphere and diminished outturn per acre. 



I have endeavoured to show that the statistical position hitherto 

 markedly in favour of consumers of wheat, on account of the bumper 

 crops and record surpluses, may be expected to gradually turn in favour 

 of producers of wheat. 



Even if pre-war prices only were expected, there is stiil the obliga- 

 tion on every farmer in the Empire to produce the maximum food-sti.ffs 

 possible. Major-General Sir William Otter, in a message to the 

 Canadian people, said, " Above all, measures should be taken to stimu- 

 late the production of food-stuffs. One of the greatest services which 

 the Canadian people can render to the Empire is to increase our supply 

 of food for the British people. This is at once our duty and our oppor- 

 tunity." 



Australia's expenditure for the current financial year will amount to 

 £73,000,000, more than half of which is loan money spent on defence. 

 The loan expenditure must increase during the currency of the war, and 

 with it the obligation of finding money to pay interest on the loan. In 

 a country such as Australia, almost entirely dependent on primary pro- 

 duction, the best way of meeting our constantly increasing obligations, 

 and of maintaining a favorable trade balance, is to accelerate the 

 volume of agricultural production and increase our exports of wool and 

 wheat, butter, and meat. This can be done only by increasing the 

 acreage under cultivation and in applying the utmost skill to secure the 

 maximum return per acre. 



Increased acreage on existing farms can now be secured by working 

 all the team strength and all the man strength on the farm and the largest 

 and most effective implements for the fullest available period every day. 

 Mr. W. H. Hearst, Premier of Ontario, Canada, said in an address at 

 Toronto, " The farmer at work in the field is doin^ as much in this crisis 

 as the man who goes to the front." 



Our farmers and farm hands should fully realize that by making 

 sacrifices and working hard in the fields they are doing their bit towards 

 ultimate Allied victory, which is to be won as much by producing an 

 abundance of food-stuffs as by supplying freely men and munitions. 



As regards the other factor- — securing the maximum yield per acre — 

 the essential factors for securing heavy wheat crops have been dealt with 

 in considerable detail in past issues of this Journal, and were referred 

 to in " Seeding Notes " issued in April, 1915. 



Finally, we are experiencing diflficulties by reason of our distance 

 from the world's markets in providing freight for our products, and 

 especially for our surplus wheat of 1915. It is probable that a 

 considerable amount of wheat may be still ixnshipped by next harvest. 

 Even so the financing of the crop should not prove an insuperable diffi- 

 culty to a country with the resources of Australia. Our farmers have 

 demonstrated that, when appealed to. they can produce an abundance 

 of wheat. It should not be beyond the resources of the Commonwealth 

 to find means for financing the crop. 



