Farm Costs Expected To Rise £2,250,000

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 18

Farm Costs Expected To Rise £2,250,000

(New Zealand Press Association/

WELLINGTON, June 3.

The predicted price rise of 25s a ton for superphosphate meant farmers’ costs would be increased by £2,250,000 a year, the acting-president of Federated Farmers (Mr A. G. Begg) said today.

This was equivalent to a loss of nearly a Id a pound from the whole wool clip or more than a Id a pound from the total butterfat output.

“This is not unexpected, as we have already had warning of the rise in the cost of raw material,” said Mr Begg. “However, the anticipated increase coming on top of the substantial increase last year is a matter of grave concern for farmers.

“The increased price for phosphate rock and for sulphur are big factors in the rise in price of fertiliser. These are factors over which New Zealand has no control. “We can, however, concen-

trate more of our scientific resources on research into the application of fertiliser and its utilisation in soils and pastures. The present research is inadequate, and there is an urgent necessity for greater efforts in this direction. “New Zealand soils are dependent on the heavy use of phosphatic fertiliser, and it is a major item in the cost of fanning.

“Further price increases indicate that the Government,

as well as needing to increase research, must give consideration to its impact on our farm economy if the present rate of application is to be maintained. The predicted price rise could have a detrimental effect on the current farm production drive.”