THE FARMING YEAR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16404, 26 December 1918, Page 9

THE FARMING YEAR.

As in tho previous war years, New, Zealand farmers during the past twelve months have had tie prices of their commodities fixed, but the prices of the goods they hare had to buy llavo not been fixed, so that, in cases, the apparent good values received for primary products are not quite so good as they look at the first glance. However, with the exception orpriccs for "wheat, there lias been very little restiveness in, regard to the prices farmers-arc receiving for their goods, and the majority of producers seem to admit that not only have they been treated reasonably, but thnt the Avorking of the! various Government schemes for handli.bg tho goods lias gone on with commendable smoothness. It is n fact, though, that the far-, mers of the Canterbury and Otago wheat-growing districts ar© not at- all satisfied with the way in which the wheat-growing question, has been handled. Last season's wheat crop was distinctly disappointing ias regards yields, and there was only a small proportion of farmers who did much more than get their _ money .back in this branch of farming, whilo a large, number made an absolute loss. This, naturally enough, created dissatisfaction, ancli > South Canterbury men have openly seated that they are now disgusted with the whole business, and some say they intend to give it up and go into more Certain lines of primary production. Tho prices recently issued by Cabinet, after long deliberation, for tho present and next season's wheat crons are hardly likely to satisfy growers* though with the promised good yields they mav make a better'profit than last season. Tho prices for this harvest are 6s 6d per bushel, f.0.b., presumably-all round, and the previous offer of a'"free market" nnd a minimum price of 6s 4d is withdrawn. For the 1919-20 cron there is a guaranteed-differential,'rato" of os lOd : c° r P C!U 'I« 5s 8d for Hunters, and os (3d for Tuscan.- These prices may bo considered good or bad by growers, but tho fact that-something definite has been arrived at is so much to the good. The past year lias been remarkable for the -worst snowstorms, in the memory ■of any living settler in Canterbury. Very gloomy prophecies were made at tho tune of enormous losses among the sheep in the snowbound country, but luckily'these prophecies have not been fulfilled." There were losses, of course, in some districts severe, but they were not nearly so baa as was first expected, and as the flocks of the. Dominion havo increased by well' over a million; the country is still very well stocked up, and the 'effect of'the phenomenal snowfall will be practically negligible. This season's lambing has been about' an average one on the plains, out there havo been some losses of big single lambs, especially in South •Canterbury. Probably when the complete results of the lambing are known, it-will be found to be somewhat under the average, owina to the losses of ©wes in the snow. The rattening season has been a little late, biit both sheep and cattle have made a considerable improvement recently, and lambs .generally are really good except in the few areas where feed was a little bit short.

The great staple commodities of the Dominion. &ucli as wool, meat, and dairy produce have all been bought by the Imperial Government, and so far as wool and dairy produce are concerned/ th© contracts go on for a considerable time. Wool will be taken to about June, 1920, at the same prices as heretofore"; and the purchase of butter arid cheese covers the present season and nest, so that until the end of the summer of 1910-20 the New Zealand producers will sell to the Imperial Government at 38ls per cwt for butter and; lO?d lb for cheese. # It may bo said that only the cheese price satisfies the dairy farmers, who wanted 196s per cwt for butter. The meat purchase 'by the ImperiarGovernment, over which" there has been a good deal of discussion by a .section of producers, does not extend for so lone a period, though a good many resolutions hay© been passed at various farmers' meetings asking that it should be extended to cover the' same period as the wool contracts. The prices given are considered, on the whole, satisfactory: some grumbling occurred at the rather tardy methods of settlement, 6U« th'efe is to be a decided improvement in' this respect for the present season. • With regard to general farming matters, little can be said. No doubt.-with the cessation of tlie wai- ;::id the reestablishment of imports, wp shall see new and improved traetors and farm implements of this description imported aud used. There are great possibilities in this direction, and also in the .growing of lucerne on suitable ground, a practice /vhich is being energetically pushed by the local representatives of the Agricultural Department, assisted 1:v enthusiastic citizens. Prospects «> far are good, and with most, if not all, of his products practically sold at a fixed price, the New Zealand farmer should feel on a fairly firm foundation.