NEW DAIRY SEASON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 August 1928, Page 9

NEW DAIRY SEASON.

CONDITIONS IN AUCKLAND PROVINCE. GOOD OUTLOOK FOR FARMERS. The outlook for the new dairying season in the Auckland Province is distinctly encouraging and in the various centre’s a good start has neen made, says the “’Herald.” Any mention of the prospects for the coming dairying season in the Te Anoka district would he incomplete -without special mention of the remarkable success of the Maiiawaru group o’f the New Zealand Co-operative Herd Testing Association. This group established a world’s record for the 1926-27 season and last season one of its members, Mr J. L. Clark, enhanced the district’s reputation bv heading the association’s list for herd average and for a single cow average. This success has greatly encouraged herd testing and few herd’s in this district are not now tested. Drainage boards are working earnestly on the low-lying areas, and an uutisual amount of work has been accomplished since 'the close of last season in this respect. There is no lack of fefd. especially on top-dressed areas. The stock has wintered well in all parts ■and the free u’se of fertilisers has enabled increase's to be made to herds on many holdings. There is a good demand for improved one-man farms, but the majority of owner’s arc firmly entrenched and not anxious to sell. Optimism is the prevailing note in regard to the new season’s prospects.

CA.UBIMDBE AND OTOItOHANCA Condition’s at both the Cambridge ami Brunt-wood Company’s factories are quiet at present, cream lorries running itliree days weekly. ’However, cows are coming in fast and soon farmers will be busy with another season, whic-h promises to he one of the best for a number of years. The Cambridge Dairy (Company expects to s't’art making the new season’s cheese next .week. Pastures and herds are in great, heart and [.•respects on the whole are exceedingly bright. Prospects for the coming dairying season in itho Otorohauga district are •of the brightest. ’Last season the local factory of the New Zealand Co-oper-ative Dairy Company made 1390 tons of butter, and this season it is anticipated that an increase of over 100 tons will be shown. Feed has been (plentiful all through the winter, and cows aro coming in in good .condition. Ample supplies of winter feed remain on hand, owing to the .plentiful supplies of green feed available. The receiving station for the Waikato Valley Dairy Company also reports a big increase for the coming season. Farmers are putting on larger quantities of manure. realising that top-dressing is the solution of tlie feeding problem in the dry se'asons. Herd-testing is growing ii, popularity, and more fanners aro joining the local group •which averaged 20 I .B’llb last season.

BRIGHT PROSPECTS IN NORTH

'l’lio rural outlook in the Far North i.j bettor than it. has been for a long l ime, says the “’Herald's” Kaitaia cor. respondent. The winter ha's been exceptionally mild, and feed has been plentiful, top-dressed pastures especial!'- showing considerable growth. Over HiOO tons of fertilisers have been shipped into tbe Kaitaia distiict (lining last season. The Herd Testing Association formed last year lias also been a great success. Mr E. King, secretary to the association, states that last season he had 90 herds under test; in the forthcoming season there will be 130, mer 1000 cows being listed.

The mild winter has 'been most favourable To lambing, no losses, having been reported. 8-lieepfarming is being extended in the district, much .new bush country being gras'sed. Business men in the town’ship report a general improvement. The county clerk reports rates to be coming in better than for sonic time. With the increased Government subsidy on highways flic local body will be able to give belter attention t.o back-block-roads, and much idle laud will come into cultivation. Flax-planting operations arc beiug successfully expended at Kaingaro’a. Another interesting imiovati'on is the tobacco plantation in the Hokiauga district, where 100 acres will be brought: into 'cultivation this year.