Dominion Likely To Have 71,000,000 Sheep By 1985

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28013, 6 July 1956, Page 12

Dominion Likely To Have 71,000,000 Sheep By 1985

New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 5. It is estimated that New Zealand will have 71.000.0C0 sheep in 1985. The Extension Division of the Department of Agriculture reached that figure in a survey of the estimated increase in the Dominion's primary produce. . Knowing that New Zealand’s population is likely to increase irom the present figure of 2.000.000 to 3.000.000 by the early 1970'5. experts considered how production from the country’s farms could be increased to meet the needs of an expanding population and to allow an increasing level of imports. One of the results of these inquiries showed that an increase of 60 per cent, in livestock, numbers was needed for a population of 3.000.000. The Extension Division’s survey was wide, covering unimproved land, aerial topdressing, irrigation, chemical weedkillers. rabbit destruction, the services of the scientist, and the potentials of various districts. The cumulative results show potential increase figures as: sheep. 39.000.000 to 71.000.000: dairy cows in milk 1.995.000 to 2.729.000: beef cows and I to 1.321.000: and other cattle. 2.800.090 to 3.597.000. Aerial topdressing is the basic need in the improvement of about 13.000.0uU acres of hill country. Since 1949. progress has been remarkable, and the tonnage dropped has increased from 5000 to about 405.000 last year, and the area treated from 48.700 acres to 3.900.000 acres. For aerial topdressing to be continued on the present scale a continuation of hign prices for meat and wool is probably necessary, but aerial topdressing by raising the productivity of hill country, has put some hill-country farmers in a stronger financial position It is claimed that much hill country which till now has carried only one ewe an acre may be able to carry about three ewes. Irrigation may eventually play a considerable part in increasing production. and its greatest effect will be seen in Central Otago and on parts

of the Canterbury Plains. In Canterbury. about 750.000 acres of land is capable of being irrigated, and in Otago at least 100.000 acres. The call for farm capital will be considerable, the division says. Production increases on better land can often be made without any marked increase in capital, but on the more difficult country the outlay will be much more. The provision of ample supplies of fertiliser will be important. At present, about 1.000.003 tons of phosphates and 35.000 tons of potash and other fertilisers are used each year. By. 1975 possibly double the amount of phosphates will be needed For the production increases made during the last 30 years. New Zealand farmers would give a generous share of the credit to the Dominion’s agricultural scientists and the extension services of the Department of Agriculture, the agricultural colleges, and the New Zealand Dairy Board, says the survey. The demands on these services will increase, and research and extension tasks will become mor*’ comnlex.