DAIRYING PASTURES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 18 April 1934, Page 7

DAIRYING PASTURES.

EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CONDITION. PAYMENTS FOR BUTTERFAT. Dairying pastures in the Manawatu are reported to be in exceptional condition at present, and there is still an abundance of growth. Three and four cuttings of green crops have been taken off some paddocks this summer and autumn, and the grass is continuing to come away well, but the advent of really cold weather would check this. Stock are in splendid condition and after a completely favourable season should winter well, as good reserves of feed are held. Production has increased enormously. Undoubtedly the remarkable rainfall, which is nearly 50 per cent, above the average for January, February and March during the past ten years, has been a factor in the situation. The average rainfall for these three months in the past decade has been 7.98 inches, but this year it was 11.72 inches, showing an increase of 3.74 inches. The dairying season has not tapered off from the peak period as sharply as in former years, and some factory returns for April are stated to be nearly equivalent to those for a normal January output. This month the Kairanga Dairy Companv is showing a 35 per cent, increase over the production for the same period of last year. Showing an average increase of 40 per cent, over the whole season, and 50 per cent, for this month, the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union factory has produced 1040 tons of butter to date this season. Still manufacturing at the rate of 135 boxes daily, it expects to reach 1200 tons by the end of the season. Advance rates for butterfat supplied during March for butter have been fixed at 7d per lb by the Cheltenham, Kairanga, Awahuri, New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union, Rohgotea, Rangitikei and 'Whakarongo factories. The forward market is reported to be quiet, though f.o.b. offers of 9id per lb are still being received, it is stated. This is well above the market parity of about Bd.