Farm production is the backbone of the economy, and the country depends on consistent production. The city of Gisborne provides services to a growing farming industry. Historical and contemporary account of Gisborne. Farming land use. Value of fertiliser. Man sows fertiliser by hand from a satchel. Top dressing aircraft sows fertiliser. Nauru phosphate industry. Phosphate ships at wharf at Napier port. Truck collects phosphate from ship. Awatoto site where phosphate is stored and processed. Trucks drive along Marine Parade. Aerial view of phosphate factory. Factory has storage problems. Bulk Manure and Supply Co storage barn.
Collective airstrips serve a number of farms. Operators had to contend with weather variables. Mechanical loading systems helped the operations. Aerial topdressing on Matawai farm is shown. Aerial shots of topdressing, depicting contour flying which New Zealanders were particularly good at. An even spread of fertiliser is important. Aerial spraying of pesticides is also carried out by the operators. Fence posts are also delivered by air. The fence posts are slung under the wings of the planes, then dropped by trip switch.
Large aircraft were employed with much larger lifting capacity, and heavier machinery used for handling. Bases on established aerodromes also gave advantage. Bulk dumping system at Beacon Aerodrome, Napier. Fieldair Ltd aerial topdressing plane Lockheed Lodestar ‘Makatonga’ is loaded with fertiliser. Aerial views of farmland. Aerial topdressing carried out on [Tirihau] property by Lodestar.
Fieldair topdressing Lodestar aircraft on farm at Dannevirke. Farmers leading livestock around pen in yard [at saleyards]. Sacks of phosphate being craned onto ship. Agriculture expansion has resulted due to the success of aerial topdressing. Man spreading fertiliser by hand, taking a nap on farm.