FODDER FOR STOCK

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14300, 25 February 1947, Page 6

FODDER FOR STOCK

AMPLE SUPPLIES THIS YEAR POSITION IN THE WAIKATO" ' In striking contrast' to the conditions obtaining a year ago. when there was a great dearth of feed owing to the prolonged spell of dry weather, there is ample fodder available 1 for stock in the Waikato this summer. The season was very late in starting owing to the .prevalence of cold winds 'and rain. These conditions were followed by a warm spell' before Christmas and frequent showers fell. Since then there ha 3 been a period of line weather, during which the pastures have- grown rapidly in all districts south of Auckland. Paddocks which were • cut. for hay before Christmas are now ready for a second harvest. A year ago, the price cf hay was fixed at £8 a ton, and large quantities wera sold at this figure. The demand was greater than the supply and a great deal cf hay had to be railed from other districts to keep the stcck in condition.. The price this season has dropped to from £4 ■to £5, and the supply "far exceeds the demand. One satisfactory feature of the last three weeks spell of fine weather is that the production of honey lias rapidly increased. . The heavy crop?, of clover.have provided the bees with all the nectar they can gather, and the weather with temperatures ranging from. SO to SO degrees day after day, is ideal for honey production; What appeared to lie a failure a few weeks ago now premises to be a fairly satisfactory seasoi% from the honey producers' point of view.