MAKING FARMING PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 230, 29 September 1930, Page 6

MAKING FARMING PAY.

LOWER COSTS NECESSARY. (To the Editor.)

Mr. A. J. Hutchinson is delightfully frank in confessing his ignorance of farming. ' The circular quoted makes it appear go simple,' but facts are stubborn things. I spent twelve '' ■ of the best years of my life farming and twenty years ago made farming pay at 1/ to 1/4 a lb, .but at that time good land could be bought at £10 to £15 an acre and good' cows at £5 to £8 each. The trouble is wq are apt to quote the exception and ignore tha ' average. While it is true that herd testing *- has increased production very greatly, ~ and come herds average from 3001b to 3501b of.butterfat, the average is nearer 2501b and the task of building up a herd to produce 3001b and over is usually a clow process with many setbacks. At least such was my experience. Let us take a 100-acre farm, carrying 50 cows ' at a capital cost of £4000. Suc-h" a farm will require heavy top-dressing twice a year and plenty of hay and ensilage for winter feed. Take the average production of 12,0001b of butterfat at 1/, £600; calves and pigs, 6ay, £50; this equals £GSO. The expenditure: Interest at 6 per cent on £4000, £240; rates, sav £30; manure, 15 to 20 tons, say, £100; assistant for shed, £70; cost of making winter feed, also electric power, etc., £(30; total, £500. This ■' will leave a net return of £150 to feed and clothe the family and pay off the mortgage! Let us suppose the herd quickly reaches °an average of 3001b of butterfat, producing 30001b more, which equals £150, making a net return ' of £300; even then it will be a slow process paying off the mortgage. If we could get back to the cost of 15 to 20 years ago with the capital value of the 100-acre farm round about £2000, and manure at lower rates, then If per lb would show a good return. Under right conditions farming is the best life of all; laden with heavy mortgages with no . davlisrht ahead it is akin to slaverv. . y CHAS. A. FRENCH.