BENEFIT FROM RAIN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 5

BENEFIT FROM RAIN

Dairying Season In North Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, February 10. Rain during the past month lias been beneficial to pastures iu most parts of Auckland province, with the result that dairy production is reported to be higher. The prospects for the autumn are considered to be excellent. Some factories in the Waikato are now 10 to 12 per cent, ahead of last year’s 'production. But because of the unfavourable spring, it is stated, factories will be satisfied if they come out on a par with output in 1938-39. Pastures at Te Awamutu are in excellent condition. January production showed a slight increase on January, 1939, and prospects for the autumn are exceptionally bright. .More Money for Farmers. The output in the Morrinsville district last month was a slight increase on the figures for January, 1939. Recent rains have meant thousands of pounds to farmers there. Prospects at present are much better than :_i_t this time last year, when the countryside was suffering from a spell of dry weather. Rain has also improved the position on the Rangitikei Plains, in the Bay of Plenty. Production is reported to be ahead of that in the good year 1937-38. The increase for the past seven months, compared with the corresponding period in 1938-39, is just over 189 tons in tlie case of the Ran;_'itaiki Plains Dairy Company, and the increase last month was 49 tons on January. 1939. In the past few weeks there Ims been a marked improvement in the Galatea and Onepu pastures. Tiie Northern Areas.

In spite of the dry weather in the first fortnight of last month. January was regarded as a fair month as a whole in the East Tamaki district. The rain of recent weeks, it is considered, will give tlie autumn a good start. Last autumn was one of the worst for many years. In tlie Whangarei district, on the other hand, it is considered that there has been too much rain. When it begun production fell off, but it is now increasing. Nevertheless, there was a slight increase in production hist month cumpareil with January, 1939. The prospects for the season as a whole arc good, but sunny days are now needed. Sufficient rain has also fallen in Hie Bay of islands district. Production in tlie autumn, it is thought, will be a considerable increase on last .-mlnum.