Rain averts early drought

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33094, 8 December 1972, Page 9

Rain averts early drought

Judging by the unsettled weather in the last two weeks Canterbury is not in for another drought season—or at least an early summer drought. However, up till early in the week some of the drier areas in central and North Canterbury were still in need of more rain, and according to Mr R. G. Jolly, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Christchurch, some farmers in the central area had still been unable to make any hay because they had to graze areas that might have been saved for hay because of the dry conditions earlier. Once again the rainfall has been highly variable and while by the beginning of the week some areas had had quite useful falls others had had only small quantities. However, on the heavier land in South Canterbury Mr W. A. McKellar, of the ministry in Timaru, was

saying that they had had enough. But in Mid-Canterbury Mr D. D. Collie, of the ministry in Ashburton, said that the outlook now seemed to be for above average crop yields and also for enough feed to finish off lambs. In the Timaru area Mr McKellar said that farmers would be able to put a little more weight on their lambs. Nearly everyone was expecting lucerne to respond to the moisture, although burned off pastures mignt not. But the ministry officers were inclined to feel that the recent rains had come a trifle late for light land wheat crops and Mr Jolly said that in the central area grass seed crops were showing white tips on seed heads indicative of early drying off. In South and Mid-Canter-bury there was mention of quite a bit of mildew in wheat crops. Dr R. C. Close, of the Plant Diseases Division of

the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Lincoln, said this week that severe mildew infections could have an effect on yields. In a number of field trials being conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture

and Fisheries, chemical firms and his department, Dr Close said that a study was being made of the effects and benefits of spraying against mildew. Some of the new systemic fungicides were very effective, he said.