LESS PRODUCTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 27, 13 November 1935, Page 11

LESS PRODUCTION

THE WEATHER IN AUCKLAND.

WORST SPRING FOR YEARS. (Special to the “Guardian.”) AUCKLAND, Nov. 12. Dairy farmers and pastoralists in the Auckland province are experiencing the worst spring lor several years. Cold winds and squalls have delayed the growth of grass, and practically all stock has suffered mss of condition. This has been reflected in reduced butter-fat production, m a serious delay in the shearing season, and in a dearth of fat lambs for exP °it is reported that unfavourable conditions are fairly general, at least in the North Island. With the first Auckland wool sale less than a fortnight away, the prospects for a lull catalogue are anything but promising. By the middle of November the freezing works are usually dealing with the main crop of early lambs; but this year the lamb season is several weeks late, consequently exporters are finding it difficult to secure requirements, and in the last few weeks buyers have been scouring the country looking for stock suitable for the Christmas trade m Britain. . , , It is reported that prices of up to 9-’d per lb have been paid for early lambs. However, the 1 first rush for supplies has now subsided, and porters are working to an unofficial” schedule of B|d. per lb for prime lambs and 8d for seconds. It is estimated that the production of butter-fat this season is from 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, below what it. was last 3 r ear.