EXCELLENT YEAR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 225, 5 September 1928, Page 5

EXCELLENT YEAR

NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURE INCREASED PRODUCTION; ENHANCED VALUES. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. [Special to "Tribane.''] WellingtAi, Sept. 8. The annual report or the Department oi Agriculture presented to Parliament yesterUay says taat the New Zealand agricultural year ot 1927-28 mav be iairly described as an outstanding period, haring been marked both by increased production of our primary staples and enhanced market values for the produce. This dual movement was reflected in the Dominion's exports which increased substantially in volume and value, the latter increment appioacnmg ±I9,OOO,UUV. On the pastoral side sheep etocks incieqj>ed bv over If million head during the year and now stand at the bigness numerical level in the Dominion’s history. Alter commenting on the satisfactory returns to siieep-farmers both tor wool and lamb, the report says that with the help of pasture topdressing and other favourable influences there seems to be no reason why our flocks should not reach the 35 million mark in the near future. With better prices ruling lor beef prospects are more encouraging and it is hoped that cattle-raising will regain its former stability even if only to fill the requirements of pasture management on rougher grass lands. BITTER AND CHEESE. A further advance in the dairy industry's main lines of production took place, an appreciable increase in butter more than counter-balancing a slight decrease in cheese. The exportable surplus of butter and cheese had now reached the impressive quantity of 75,000 tons for each of these products. The country’s stock of dairy cows is again on the up grade in point of numbers, while herd improvement activities are speedily gaining in volume and practical results. The veal export trade premises to become quite a large business, especially when combined with the value of calf skins and the manufacture of gelatine as a related industry is an important potential development which is being investigated.

PIG-RAISING. Big raising and pork production are showing all-round expansion and the season's exportation of pork, promoted by a co-operative enterprise and assisted by a Government subsidy on shipping and freight, increased by nearly 70 per cent. The country has set out to win on merit a much larger share of the market for pig products provided by the Motherland. A good honey crop was secured by beekeepers in general and the exportable surplus of this product seems likely to increase. In line with the Government's policy of promoting the smaller rural industries it has been decided to extend financial support to the beekeeping industry in connection with the export trade. “With the steady growth of our population these minor rural activities are every year gaining in extent and scope.” remarks the report. “The development of a strong force of small-holders in this country, complementary to the larger scale of rural industries, is eminently desirable.” RESEARCH WORK. After stating that the increased volume of production of farm products during the last year or two could be traced largely to the increased use of fertilisers and stating that negotiations are in train to ensure ample future supplies, the report mentions that a very marked advance on the scientific side of agriculture took place during the year only as a result of organised and coordinated action on the part of the Department of Agriculture, the Research Council and the Cawthron Institute. Agricultural Colleges and certain university workers. Most value contacts bad also been made with various acirntific institutions in Britain. Appreciation is expressed of the grants in aid of these activities made by the Empire Marketing Board.