FARMING TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 94, 14 January 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

FARMING TOPICS

Inquiries From Readers “Farming News” appears to be growing into a kind of unofficial service bureau. Among recent correspondence have come inquiries for first-class rye hay and one for super-quality clover hay. Also a fencer has inquired for the address of a farmer who complained that he could not get a man to repair his fences. We are only too pleased to assist readers in any reasonable way possible.

Sheep Sellers Reminded. The great store sheep selling season is now embarked upon. There will be sheep in tens of thousands travelling the roads and entering yards for public sale. It is timely, therefore, to remind those moving and selling sheep of two laws governing these operations. Consignment notes are necessary foe moving sheep, h ull details of this regulation were published in “The Dominion” on January 5. The second regulation referred to is that governing unhealthy sheep. In any case of doubt, farmers are advised to communicate with their district stock inspector Such sheep must not be moved upon the public highways or offered for sale. The incidence of foot-rot is classed as unhealthiness. The two regulations are provided under sections 2 and 3 respectively of the Stock Amendment Act, 1938. Potatoes in Demand.

A Manawatu potato-grower was this week offered £9/10/- a ton for promptlydug potatoes. This compares with £5/10/a ton, at which quite a quantity were sold forward in November. Those were, however, for main diggings, February-March. Crops are not yet fully developed and so would yield lightly. A good price is needed to compensate for digging immature crops. My informant estimates that his crop would gain almost a ton a week over the next two or three weeks. He realizes, though, that the price will come back. An interesting calculation may here be made. Which is best, Jour tons at £9 10/- or seven tons at £5/10/-? To work that out one must first deduct harvesting costs. An estimate of 30/- a ton for digging, sacks and cartage is about fair. Prices then become £8 and £4 net, respectively. So the return an acre net is seen thus: Four tons early dug at £8 gives £32 an acre; seven tons mature dug at £4 gives £2B an acre. The early digging shows the most profit, and it is safe. A market drop, or disease infection, is guarded against. On current consumer prosperity and growing crops, potatoes should be worth £6/10/- o.t. North Island, to growers supplying Feb-ruary-March demand. That was a recognized fair average price 10 years ago.

Buying Scottish Farms. I was most surprised to read in the “British Farmer and Stockbreeder” of November 11 that two New Zealanders had purchased farms in Scotland. A Mr. Forbes had bought the 138-acre East Harlan Farm, Inverurie. A Mr. Wilson was the purchaser of 224 aergs, Bellahill Farm, near Aberlemno, Brechin. Prices given for other properties indicate values as very low to the New Zealand comparison. Two farms of deep-soiled land sold as follows: 63 acres at £650 (equalling £lO/6/- an acre), and 190 acres at £920 (equalling £4/15/- an acre).