BREEDING EWE FLOCKS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23080, 24 July 1940, Page 5

BREEDING EWE FLOCKS

DECLINE OF 283,000

CANTERBURY’S PROPORTION

Further details of the interim sheep returns to March 31, 1940, relate to the numbers of breeding ewes compared with the final totals of 1939 for the various provinces. The total decline in all sheep, as previously announced, was 846,000. That for breeding ewes was 283,841. Breeding Ewes 1939 1940 (Final.) (Interim.) Change. Auckland .. 2,408,929 2,464,976 +56,047 B. 4,246,346 4,313,227 +66,881 Well wlst n C. 4,234.527 4,141,869 -92,658 N.I. totals 10,889,802 10,920,072 + 30,270 Marl.-Nelson-Westland 859,719 827,892 —31,827 Cant KaficOura 3,813,960 3,607,064 —206,896 Otago .. 4.396,8X8 4,321,430 -75,388 S.I. totals 9,070,497 8,756,386 -314,111 Dominion totals 19,960,299 19,676,458 —283,841 PROGRESS WHEAT THRESHINGS AVERAGE YIELD, 31.12 BUSHELS The table appearing below gives the results of threshing operations carried out during the period January-May, 1940, according to returns received from threshing-mill operators up to June 17. The figures show that 225,405 acres of wheat threshed returned a total yield of 7,014,503 bushels, the average yield an acre • being 31.12 bushels. In the same period 41,463 acres of oats threshed produced 1,755,986 bushels. the average yield an acre being 42.35 bushels. Total Av. yield threshed an acre bushels bushels Gisborne .. 2,077 28.07 Hawke's Bay .. 5,663 30.95 Taranaki ~ 2,236 43.00 Wellington ~ 138,141 39.65 Marlborough - .. 209,630 35.13 Nelson .. 20,376 25.28 Canterbury 5,668,682 30.19 Olago .. 776,403 34.79 Southland .. 191,295 40.47 Totals .. 7,014,503 31.12 Oats Total Av. yield threshed an acre bushels bushels Hawke’s Bay .. 6,434 40.72 Wellington .. ' 45,113 45.94 Marlborough .. 49,766 43.89 Nelson .. 12,225 32.09 Canterbury .. 742,800 34.77 Otago .. 301,879 44.08 Southland .. 597,769 56.41 ’ Totals .. 1,755,986 42.35 THE SEASON AN EARLY SPRING GROWTH WELL FORWARD

The province is passing through one of the easiest winters for many years. There is general’ agreement with this claim by farmers from widely separated parts. The mild weather of June and early July, following on the rains of May, has given a tremendous impetus to growth, and most of the countryside is bearing a springlike garb more indicative of late in August. It is not always beneficial to have an early spring, as growth gets a worse set-back should a burst of winter return. This season, however, much growth appears as if it had passed the crucial stage in this respect. The Port Hills is generally a reliable index to the progress of the season, and they are now a’s green as in mid-summer.

Crops naturally have made great headway in the mild conditions prevailing. Italian ryegrass, of which there appears to have been an increased sowing this season, should provide an abundance of feed for early lambing. A few more lambs are to be seen about the countryside, and within a week or a fortnight lambing will be fairly general in the northern part of the province. There was. an acute scarcity of turnips and dry feed for this winter, for sheep as well as for dairy cows, and stockowners have been extremely fortunate in not having to provide against a season such as that of last year. There is now a good “bite” in the grass, and sheep everywhere are coming into the lambing in good order. Autumn sown wheat is also showing up well, and the drier weather of the last few weeks is encouraging the prospect of a satisfactory spring sowing. A fairly substantial area is being turned over under the war effort scheme for various classes of cereals, which to date include a satisfactory proportion of wheat.

A good deal more rain is still required in Marlborough to carry things along, states the “Marlborough Express.” The mild winter has been of great assistance to stock which are in a healthy condition. Reports from the back country also state that stock are wintering well. It is possible that this year there may be no loss of stock through snow, although there is yet plenty of time for a good “dust up.”

An indication that farmers in Marlborough are at last waking up to the value of a free application- of lime on their land is given by the fact that orders for the year ended March 31 last showed a considerable increase over those for the previous 12 months. The respective figures are 2500 tons and 1000 tons. Actually these orders were carried by rail, and to them can be added a further 500 tons which represents orders delivered, by motor transport. The drive for increased production has caused a greater use .of lime, and in this connexion it might be stated that owing to difficulties, such as the shortage of labour, bags, and trucks, the supply has not been able to keep up with the demand. It is reported that some orders placed as early as February have not yet been filled.

"The dislocation of business through the war has cut off the supply of small seeds, not only to the Dominion, but also to Great Britain,” said the president, Mr A. J. Davey, at the meeting of the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union. “This,” he continued, "makes it necessary for us not only to provide for our own requirements by growing those seeds which previously have been imported, but to grow for export as well; The Government through the Department of Agriculture, is asking farmers to grow every seed possible, and it is considered that this will be remunerative to farmers, as. well as assisting the Mother Country and the Dominion.”