WINTER DROUGHT

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1940, Page 8

WINTER DROUGHT

Australia Suffers EVERY STATE INVOLVED. SYDNEY, July 24. Every State in Australia is feeling the effect of the prolonged lack or rain, which is retarding growth everywhere. Agricultural as well as pastoral areas are suffering, and in many districts the conditions are becoming critical. In a review of the general outlook the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council pointed out that more and more stock owners are being forced to resort to handfeeding, and agistment country ualmost unprocurable. Grazier authorities are of the opinion that the wool clip for New South Wales will, be down in quantity at least 10 per cent, compared with last season Reports from various districts m New South Wales suggest that there was a good autumn lambing, but. absence of green feed is having an adverse effect on the lambs, and authorities forecast that there will be * shortage of prime lamb for the mrnr trade this year.

No Demand for Cattle.

Stock agents report that there Is at present no demand of any consquence for either store sheep or store cattle,

due partly to the war uncertainty, but mainly to the disquieting seasonal conditions.

Serious conditions have developed as a result of the prolonged dry period in Victoria. The whole agricultural areas require rain urgently, and conditions in the pastoral areas range from- acutely precarious to lean. Owing to the favourable conditions before the present dry- spell, it is not expected that the current season’s wool clip will be affected materially, but other forms of animal production will suifer.

Soaking Rain Needed.

Good rains recently throughout tire settled areas of South Australia relieved the dry position in the agricultural country, but soaking rain, is badly needed in the pastoral country. In Western Australia, drought conditions continue over a big portion or the pastoral and agricultural areas. The position in the western grazing areas of Queensland has deteriorated, and relief is needed in the southern border districts. Tasmania’s rainfall has been considerably below average, and a lighter yield of wool can be expected. One of the most severely-affectea districts in New South Wales is the normally-rich South Coast, where dairy and other cattle are in serious plight. Deaths from starvation have occurred among them, and only a relatively mild winter has prevented heavy mortality.