More Interest In Grain In North

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31339, 8 April 1967, Page 10

More Interest In Grain In North

Judging from remarks made by North Island members at the eoonell of the New Zealand Aberdeen Angus Cattle Breeders’ Association, who were In the South Island this week there ia increasing interest In the North Island in grain growing.

With lower price* for lamb and wool fanners are becoming much more interested in diversifying their incomes and both good wheat and barley crop* have been grown. Where necessary drying equipment is being used. A recent report from the Waikato said that with about a third of an estimated 3000 acres of barley harvested, in the district’s biggest barley harvest ever,' the average yield was about 83 bushels to the acre. One 13-acre crop had yielded 112 bushel* to the acre and other crops had yielded better than 100 bush els. But with crop* off heavier low-lying country in-

cluded ft was expected that the over-ell average yield would be about 50 buabtis. Crop* on Individual farms had ranged from about 20 to 40 acre* but there had been several area* of more than 100 acre* on sheep properties. The same report said that demand for barley was strong for beef and dairy beef raising, for pig feed now that almost ail milk wo* collected i whrte by tanker and there was now no skim, milk, for poultry and also because there was a trend to feeding grain mash to dairy cows after calving to boost tarty : lactation. Mr R. A. of Whatawhata, said he expected to net £5O an acre from his crop, which waa much : more than he could make out of prime lambs. The growth of grain growing and cropping ia alto resulting in an expansion of agricultural contracting ter- • vices.