DAIRY PRODUCTION

Franklin Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5, 15 January 1943, Page 3

DAIRY PRODUCTION

IVJAJNTAINING AVERAGE SHORTAGE OF TOPDRESSING The polenlial total volume of but(erfal production for the current season is giving rise lo a good deal of speculation among farmers and dairying interests. Indications are that with a good autumn the season's production should compare quite favourably with that of an average year. Although production In date is a little below the output for Ihe corresponding period of last year il has lo be remembered lliat last year and the year before were phenomenally good seasons, and provide records lo be broken rather than standards lo be achieved. One factor which has lo be considered is Ihe tapering off in lopdressing which became necessary as the development of the war situation 111 : 11 1 <* supplies of artificial manures harder lo obtain. As a dairy farmer said last. week. "Last season with Hie rain corning just al Ihe right lime the grass grow and kepi on growing. Farmers reaped the benefit of the liberal lop-dressings they bad given their pastures in Ihe past when manure bad only lo be paid for to be obtained. But with siqqdies of manure limited last year il is only reasonable f,, “Xpeel a diminution of growth s.ioiot or later." The farmer went nil lo comment that those larniei's who bad been in the habit of using ihe more lasting manures. such as boiwdusl. over several seasons would S' ! b'dr pasl nres maintained in led -

1,.r heart Ilian Hie men who had enn>isl"ntly used Ihe quicker acting and cheaper superphosphates.