DAIRY INDUSTRY PROBLEMS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27669, 27 May 1955, Page 8

DAIRY INDUSTRY PROBLEMS

“NOTHING TO FEAR IN FUTURE” VIEWS OF RESEARCH SCIENTIST “The Press” Special- Service PALMERSTON NORTH, May 26. The New Zealand dairy industry had nothing to fear in the future, said Dr. C. P. McMeekan, superintendent of the Ruakura Animal Research Station, speaking at the opening of the Massey Agricultural College dairy farmers’ conference. Current prophecies of gloom so popular at present, he said, were not the normal attitude of a virile industry. Surely its amazing achievements in the snort space of the last 30 years should promote great confidence for the future. Armed with modern technology, the farmers of the future could not help doing an even better job, in spite of economic ups and downs. “It is true that prices are falling and that costs continue to rise,” said Dr. McMeekan. “I know these two phenomena have come about through influences largely outside farmer control, but I do not believe that there is any cause for concern, still less for panic. , “The farmer has a direct weapon for reducing costs. His output can be increased enormously merely by applying existing ‘know-how.’ The dairy farmer of 1985 can be expected to show the same capacity to increase his overall efficiency as the farmer of today and of 30 years ago.” Dr. McMeekan said he had no reason to fear the problem of disposing of a marked increase in the volume of dairy products through more efficient farming. “By 1985, our leaders and those of other countries will either have solved the problem of distribution and marketing or no-one will be here to worry,” said Dr. McMeekan. “There will be no dairy farming. We, our edws and our farms will have become victims of our own stupidity and will be slowly circumnavigating the globe as fine particles of radioactive dust.” Asked what short-term action the dairy industry should take to face stronger competition for butter and cheese on the United Kingdom market, Dr. McMeekan replied that he personally believed that the New Zealand farmer had to realise that he was now facing competition for the first time in 16 years.

The farmer had to face the prospect of accepting a lower price level for his product, and that he would not be able to sell anything that was not of the highest quality, that was not packed attractively or transported rapidly to markets to retain its freshness.