FARMERS’ GROSS INCOME

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23913, 3 April 1943, Page 3

FARMERS’ GROSS INCOME

STATISTICAL FIGURES An estimate of the gross farming income for the 1941-42 production year appears in the February issue of the Abstract of Statistics, a comparison of the various classes of production being included. The' period covered goes back to the 1928-29 season, and thus includes the slump years. The table is reproduced as under: — Dairy All

Xl)e main interest or me farmers is the fluctuating nature of the annual returns, covering from the commencement of the slump throughthe recovery years until the present time, when, owing to war conditions, there has been a considerable increase in prices. The tablp shows that the agricultural and pastoral industries were tlje severest affected. From a “low” of £6,000,006 in 1935 agricultural farming ipcpme rose to 10.6 millions >n 1942, the last three years showing an increase'of more than £1,000,000 each year. The exactions on this income during the last three years by increasing costs has not made the farmer’s profits much larger than in the immediate post-slump days. Agricultural ip much more dependent on mechanised equipment than either the pastoral or dairying branches of production, and the upkeep or replacement of this equipment is a major cost factor. Soipe idea Of the set-back the slump gave td the pastoral industry is indicated'by a comparison with that period and the present. In 1933 the pastoralists’ income was 14.7 millions, and m 1941 38.8. millions, or substantially more than double in the eight years. There was a decline in pastoral production in 1942 compared with the preceding and “peak" production year of 1.2 millions, due mainly, according to the estimate, to decreased slaughterings and slighthly lower values for live stock as compared with the preceding year. From' 31.4 millions in 1928-29 pastoral production slipped disastrously, blit the better wool price of 1934 arrested the movement, and again.in 1936 there was a sharp improvement, due to the same cause. From then on the pastoralists’ gross income Has steadily advanced—until last year. The estimated income of the dairying and related industries shows less fluctuation than in the pastoral section—from a “low” of 16.5 millions in 1932-33 to 34.7 in 1941. The following year showed a decline of 1.6 million. This was due to a fall in production, and, according to the statistical estimate, the value of dairy produce. These figures of the farmers’ gross income, showing, as they do in the table, a steady* advance, are . not so illuminating as they would be if accompanied-by figures of increasing costs. TheSe preserved a relative consistency in the pre-war days, although generally weighted against the producer, but since the advent of the war costs have generally outpaced revenue. They are more quickly determined , and more quickly made operative.

MEAT EXPORT \

KILLINGS TO MID-MARCH ' The official figures of killings for the present season at the Dominion’s freezing works from October 1 to March 13, as issued by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, show that lamb killings now total 7.176.975 carcases, compared with 7,597,678 carcases to March 14 last season, this being a decrease of. 420,763 carcases. Wether mutton killings are 280,604 carcases, and ewe mutton killings 1;095.117 carcases, compared with 510,380 and 1.185,986 carcases respectively last season. Details of the lamb and mutton killings in the North and South Islands, with figures for the previous season also shown, are as follows: North Island 1943. 1942. Lambs (c/cs.) . . 4,402,013 4,459,744 Wether mutton (c/cs.) 267.978 473,465 Ewe mutton (c/cs.) 903.509 794,229 South Island 1943. 1942. Lamb (c/cs.) .. 2,774.962 3.137,934 Wether mutton (c/cs.) 12,626 36,915 Ewe mutton (c/cs.) 191.608 391.757 Frozen beef production has reached 165,409 ‘ quarters. compared with 171,138 quarters last season. , Porker killings total 40.024 carcases, a decrease of 57.817, whilst baconers total -77.972 carcases, a decrease of 111.924.

SMALL FARMERS’ PLOUGHING MATCH

Thp first rural functions to be effected by war conditions were the ploughing matches held in various part, 3 of the province. The small farmers of Hornby and Islington, however. are not allowing these time-hon-oured gatherings to go completely by the board, and to-day a match will be held at Hornby, commencing at 1.45 pm. The ordinary ploughing match provide-: for siv-iiorre Icamr* and (racier- and four -and five furrow plough", tut to-day's competition is re:triclfd to single furrow ploughs. This is a form of ploughing that” may net weather the rapid advance, in mechanism brr.it slit about hv th? war. but as the oldest form it should provide interest lo spectators. Oth?' - competitions incidental to rural gatherings will also b*' he'd. AH' the funds go to the patriotic eflorl.

Agrlcul PasPoul. & Farm tural toral bees produce £(m.) £(m.) £(m.) £(m.) 19281929- . .. 7.3 .. 7.4 31.4 24.5 25.5 24.4 64.2 56.3 1930-31 .. 6.7 18.3 17.9 42.9 1931-32 .. 6.5 14.6 17.4 38.5 1932-33 .. 6,9 14.7 16.5 38.1 1933-34 .. 7.0 23.4 17.8 48.2 1934-33 .. 6.0 21.8 18.3 46.1 1935-36 .. 7,4 26.5 23.9 57.8 1936-37 .. 7,2 36.7 • 27.5 71.4 1937-38 .. 7.3 31.9 28.9 68.1 1938-39 .. 8.2 30.0 * 28.1 67.3 1939-40 .. 9.4 32.3 31.9 73.8 1940-41 .. 9.6 38.8 34.7 83.1 1941-42 THa n .. 10.6 nain inte 37.6 rest of 33.1 the 81.3 table to