DAIRY PRODUCTION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 January 1928, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCTION

EFFECT OF DRY WEATHER.

SEASON GOOD TO DATE.

Throughout the South Taranaki district the returns for the dairy factories show a falling off.in milk supplies, as was only to be expected, but a satisfactory maintenance all round- and a good record of butter-fat. Genci a 11.\ butter-fat is above last year, and an all-round increase is recorded for the season. , . ~ Figures for December for some ot the factories show as below (1926 figures in parentheses): „ lvaupokonui.—Butter-fat, 395,0001 b (374.1101 b); milk, 9,538,0001 b (9,249,5501 b) Ararata. —Milk, 38,4001 b (39,0821 b). A Tel rose.—Milk, 17,4581 b (20,5281 b). Mel Is. —Milk. 44.3021 b (43,0011 b). Meremere. —Milk, 40,772-lb (43,1311b'). Riverdale.—Butter-fat, 122,6501 b (109,0731 b); 12 per cent increase. Normanbv shows a slight decrease for December as compared with 1926, hut a fair increase, over 2 per cent, of butter-fat, and an increase also in milk arid fat for the season. Hawera also discloses an increase in milk for December as compared with 1926, and a* quite satisfactory increase in butter-fat for the season.

Overseas dairy produce shipments are covered against nearly all risk, such as fire and -shipwreck, but the recent floods in London have disclosed one which- the producers have to stand themselves. A cable- yesterday reported flood damage at a London wharf to Australian butter, and this is not covered. The loss will probably be pretty heavy on the particular district of Australia.

The factories expect to pay out from Is 3d to Is 6d for December supply. On a failing supply the prospects' do not appear quite -so good as last month, and a solid rainfall would be a godsend at t’ae present time.

EI.THAM MSTTUCT

On January 20 the Eltham Dairy Company will pay out for December’s I jji v as follows:—In 4*d per lb -butterfit lor whole milk (clieesemaking) and Is 3d ior lb butter-fat- (cream).

The total butter-fat fur Deeem- > r was 356,8981h5, being an in- -. ?asf or 63 per cent over the corref-.-mdnur month last year.

L attv-i -rat received during the six monthas end-inrr December 31 showed an ncn-ea-e of 3.29 per coup over the same roil last year. in consequence of the continuecl dry, hot weather the milk .supply at the Eltham factory has fallen slightly, though not to a very material degree, and immediately the bulk of haymaking and- saving operations are concluded there will be heard a 1-ong, loud cry for rain. The want of rain is more, apparent in t/e low-lying areas in the vicinity of Eltham than is the case with country further up the mountain slopes. Round about Lowgarth, Mahoe, Rowan, Cardiff and- the high levels on 'the Kaponga side the position is not nearly so acute, due in a great measure to the- heavy night dews. Nevertheless, a heavy downpour in any or all of the localities mentioned would do an incalculable amount of good. Pastures generally are dusty, and root crops could do with a drenching. Meantime the- farmer is getting his hay in and not saying much.