FERTILISER SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23248, 7 February 1941, Page 12

FERTILISER SUPPLIES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PitESS. Sir.—ln to-day’s issue I notice that the Hon. J. G. Barclay, in an interview in “The Press/' says that the Government was still advising farmers to keep production to the maximum. He also states that the Canterbury farmers will on present prospects get all they need in superphosphates for cropping purposes. Quite recently we had a similar assurance from a responsible Minister that fertiliser supplies were adequate. In face of the above assurances I think it would be well for farmers to realise the actual position. To-day I telephoned an order to Kempthorne, Prosser and Company, Ltd., for superphosphate. They explained I could only have the equivalent of my last year February order. Further, it would be necessary to book through my agents, as it would be part of their quota. I rang the agents, to find that only one and a half tons of their February quota was not already booked up; and this is only the fifth of the month. If supplies are adequate, why this quota business?

Anyone knowing anything of superphosphate could not imagine farmers hoarding the stuff, as it soon rots the bags and sets into a hard lump, difficult to break down. The position of many farmers must be similar to my own, which is this; In a few days I will have 180 acres ready to drill with green feed, and only one and a half tons of super, available to sow, with it. Owing to the drought conditions prevailing, this early green feed is doubly essential if production is to be maintained. However, if restriction on supplies is continued, the result will be disastrous. There will be no fatt ning feed for late lambs/nor will there be the necessary green bite for tupping, which will have a marked effect on next year s production.—Yours, etc., COLIN McINTOSH. ' West Eyreton, February 5, 1941.