RAIN NEEDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 9

RAIN NEEDED.

SPRING PASTURES.

DAIRYING POSITION.

EFFECTS OF DRY SPELL

Looking hopefully at leaden skies, farmers throughout the province, and particularly in the dairying districts of the Waikato and North Auckland, welcomed the gathering clouds to-day after nearly a fortnight of November winds and sunshine. Nearer the city, market gardeners, strawberry growers, orchard - ists and small farmers nil shared in the hope that a saturating rain would j relieve the threat to crops and pastures, j Even the city gardener, with his little patch'of vegetables, his flower beds or border*, or his wilting lawns, loitged for a good downpour. But the need of the dairy farmer overshadows all others. With spring production at its height, or showing the first indications of a decline, it is for him a critical time. The season s results largely depend upon the yield of herds over the next month or two. and a few inches of riiin now would be a greater iienefit than in almost any other part of the year. Hay and Ensilage. "A continuation of the dry sjiell for a fortnight longer might b» disastrous, said a prominent fields expert in the Waikato when interviewed this morninsr by telephone. "Although there is plenty of growth on the pastures it will soon disappear unless there is at least an inch or two of rain, and that would mean an immediate slump in production. The early ensilage crops are being harvested. and the indications are that they will lie lighter than usual. Havfields are going to head, and when mowing begins in a week or two 1 lie weight may lie disappointing." He mentioned that some farmers were considering the turning of dairy herds .into fields closed for hay, and that the outlook for young grass sown earlier in the spring was not encouraging. There was the possibility that a considerable part of the planted area might be a complete failure. Stating that fodder crops for the autumn were poor, he said also that the prospects for the early planting of swedes were doubtful. Only in one respect, he added, could most farmers feel confident. That, was in regard to water for their stock. As a result of semi-artesian bores and the installation of power pumps most were i:i ihis respect now well fortified against a dry spell. Australian Fanners Impressed. "Dairy production is about the same as that of the average season," said Mr. .T. E. Liceson, of Morrinsville. a farmer of long experience, "but the farms need rain to maintain the position. Another

fortnight of the present weather conditions would be a great misfortune for the dairy producers. Xo harm lias resulted yet, but it will soon unless we have relief." It was mentioned by Mr. Leeson that a party of Australian farmers who had travelled through the Wailcato tjiis week, had been much impressed and had said that the country looked "magnificent." If the dry spell were broken a plentiful growth " would be experienced which would continue well into the summer. Live stock markets, it was explained by another informant, were showing some uncertainty and farmers seemed more eager to sell than to buy. • This was having its effect on values.