Drought Over Wide Area Of Province

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29152, 12 March 1960, Page 12

Drought Over Wide Area Of Province

Canterbury farm lands, with a few exceptions, are considered to be in a worse position than they were a year ago. A drought extends over a wide area of . the plains and hill country and rainfall at Harewood for this year to date has only been 2.31 in, compared with an average of more than 4in. While the drought last year struck worst in the spring and summer months, by the second week in March the province was enjoying the second good fall of rain which ensured continued growth of pastures revived by a fall of more than an inch on January 31. So far this year there has not been a single day at Harewood on which more than half an inch of rain has fallen.

Sorpe districts have been more fortunate, and Cheviot, which was the centre of one of the worst affected areas last year, has had a fairly good season Banks Peninsula also had a better spring and summer but the outer bays and points are now drying off badly and teed is scarce.

From the Hurunui river to the Rakaia, pastures are depleted and the area between Waipara and the Waimakariri river appears to be the most seriously affected. All classes of farming have been affected and practically all dairy farmers are using supplementary feed. Sheep farmers have had little or no extra feed for flushing breeding ewes and in many cases turnip crops, where sown, have been a virtual failure. A general opinion of farmers throughout Canterbury is that the position is worse than it was last year. A better spring enabled hay to be made and better fattening conditions for lambs, but most farmers had empty hay barns to start with and the hay saved in the spring is considered to be sufficient for a normal winter. If rain does not come soon and winter sets in before there is good autumn growth, the position on many farms could become desperate. However. Mr H. E. Garrett, reader in agriculture at Canterbury Agricultural College, says that it is not too late for the situation to be saved if good rains come before the end of the month.

“With our fertility we need about two months’ growing period before the onset of winter to provide winter grass,” he said “We could go on for another two or three weeks provided that the rain does come and we don’t get an early winter. “1 do agree, however, that every day the drought goes on narrows the gap between the rain and the cold weather." he said. District Comments

Describing the general position in North Canterbury, Mr E. G. Smith, of the Department of Agriculture at Rangiora, said that some turnip sowings had not yet been made and unless there were good rains almost immediately farmers would be well advised to substitute a greenfeed cereal crop for their planned root crop.

Hay was being fed out to sheep in some cases already, he said.

The dry weather had delayed cultivation and there would be a delay in sowing greenfeed once the rain came because of the time that would be takeft in working the ground up. The Ashburton County varied very much in its present condition, said Mr C. P. Whatman, of the department at Ashburton. Around Carew and Mayfield the farms were looking very well with good pasture growth and turnip crops. As one moved eastward the position became worse. Pendarves, Dorie and Seafield were much drier than they were last year at this time, and there was not much prospect for good turnip crops. If rain came and sufficient time for growth permitted, greenfeed crops could balance the loss of roots, he said. In the Winchmore district, there had been no effective rain since early January, said Mr W. R. Lobb, superintendent of the Winchmore irrigation research station. In general, feed reserves were probably less than in previous years. Fodder crops on irrigated land were fairly good where irrigation had been kept up but elsewhere were poor. The effects of the drought were accentuated by the inability of farmers to dispose of old ewes through either the works or sales, he said. Less Hay Saved

At Dunsandel a farmer has been feeding concentrates and ryegrass straw to his sheep since mid-January. Hay reserves on the lighter land in the district are poor and lucerne stands appeared to have been less productive this season, possibly because of the effects of two consecutive dry seasons. The farmer concerned saved only 1700 bales of hay this season, compared with 4000 last year, and a normal saving of about 10.000 bales.

At Cheviot there were good rains last month and autumn grass has come away well, although north-west winds had a drying effect on pastures. Most stock are in good condition in the Waipara area, but some farmers are using hay which had been saved for the winter. There was no body in the pasture and little roughage. Marlborough is getting dry again, according to Mr J. P. Beggs, of the department at Blenheim. South of Blenheim feed reserves were better and the pasture was in better condition than last year, although rain was needed.,