“Challenges” To Farmers

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31366, 11 May 1967, Page 3

“Challenges” To Farmers

A need for an earlier lamb kill and for an improvement in the quality of wool was seen by Mr W. N. Dunlop in his report as chairman to the annual meeting yesterday of the meat and wool section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers.

“We have more competition than ever before. We also have more potential markets. This is our challenge,” he said. “Farmers have put too much emphasis on mere production, and not enough on cost, quality, presentation, and marketing.

“If we are to get the best possible return for our lamb,

exports must be spread in an orderly manner at the most profitable part of the season," he said.

“This year has again shown that to ship a larger quantity early must be our aim. By early, I mean killed by the end of November, and Canterbury is the province best able to do this. “Farmers on suitable country should be encouraged to cater for this early market by the reintroduction of the early premium.” The restrictive, union-im-posed, daily quota system in Canterbury freezing works increased costs, reduced competition, caused unnecessary overtime, and discouraged long-term planning, said Mr Dunlop. Mr Dunlop said that farmers should grasp the opportunity of the transport revolution.

Canterbury should process more meat for export. Canter-

bury had potentially both the earliest and the best spread of lamb kill. It had a developing beef herd and a rapidly expanding pig industry. North Canterbury had four freezing works, a proposed processing plant, an international airport ready now for jumbo jets, a container-ship terminal, and a stable and expanding labour force and all necessary service industries. No other province had all these advantages. Mr Dunlop referred to “real progress” in the development of new markets for meat, and in producing a better product. He thought both the Meat Board and the Wool Board should pay more attention to directing farmers to market requirements. Trading confidence would return in consumer countries, he said. Synthetic manufacturers could not trade indefinitely on present profit margins. Fashions would

change. Argentine wool was moving into consumption. “There is one thing farmers can start to do right now,” he said. “During this period of rapid development, our wool quality has deteriorated. This we must rectify as rapidly as possible.” Farmers knew that present margins were not enough to continue present development rates, said Mr Dunlop. Farmers might face more substantial cost increases.

The increase of porina and grass grub after the ban on wet and dry-mix D.D.T. had reached alarming proportions in some districts, said Mr Dunlop. The Agricultural Chemicals Board would inspect Canterbury In July. To achieve short-term control. Government help would be needed if farmers were to maintain, let alone increase, production. Already stocking rates had been reduced on! some farms. 1