FARMING TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

FARMING TOPICS

Basic Slag Supplies

Feurs are entertained in Home quarters, both among fertilizer o-upplierw and users, that future deliveries ot basic slag may not be seen for some time. 1 lie foundation for this- fear is the import licensing U suggested that the Government's advisers might elaim that super is "just as good.” He observed that, on pure analysis, this might appear so, but in the opinion of hundreds ol users -■s-la ,r has something the others haven t irot.” And faith in that opinion is backed bv hard cash, for this past season slagusers had lo pay well above super price, but still they stuck to it.

Lower Butteri'act Production. Cheeking up the outputs to tile end ot November of about a dozen herds- in the Manawatu and Waikato, it is lotind that the butterfat yield is approximately 19 per cent, down on last seasons. Cow numbers are almost precisely the same for each season. 'Hie owners do not expect to catch up the loss in the remaining mouths.

“A Bad impression.'’ Last winter it was reported objections were being raised among dairy executives to the use of the word bonus, to describe the final payouts of dairy companies. It. was claimed that the term bonus looked like “money lor nothing, a free gift.” and so created a bad impression upon the general public. Now I hear a sheepman's complaint, on similar lines. He read last week these newspaper headlines : — “Big Sum For Farmers. “£330,000 To Be Distributed In Auckland.''

“I don't like it. the public will think we sheep-farmers arc rolling in wealth.” Psychologically that idea is sound. The public do get such ideas. They quite forget that the great sum is gross, not net. Also that it is for an “annual harvest.'*’ not a monthly cheque. Wool-growers are today getting little better than pre-war prices. Few people are getting pre-war incomes at any other business, and wages generally are 100 per cent, above pre-war. £31,000 Saleyards. An age-old market conducted in the streets of Spalding, England, entered new premises on October 18. These, costing some £31,000. are the last word in design and equipment. An illustrated account of the layout in the “Farmer and Stockbreeder,” shows much of interest. Subdivisions are generally of steel tubing. A great portion of the yarding is roofed over. All facilities have been most carefully designer! by nn architect, and the result appears most workable., A feature of the fat-cattle selling ring is the large weighbridge scale dial. The weight of each beast entering the ring is seen by buyers and auctioneer. This is a plan' that might well be adopted in New Zealand.. Our “guessing competitions” are out-of-date. No important beef country in the world now follows that archaic method.