FARMERS SHOULD SMILE

Northern Advocate, 8 January 1936, Page 4

FARMERS SHOULD SMILE

Confidence in Northland’s weather as almost ideal for the primary producer, although somewhat disturbed by the highly unseasonable spring, has been more than restored by the beneficent rains of the past month. The downfall just before Christmas put a period to any fear of a drought, following the dryingwinds of October and November,

j ami now furl hoi* rain has come Ito aon soli date tin* position mud. ensure succulent feed for herds and flocks for weeks to come. While dairy production fell away appreciably during the spring, the decline has now been cheeked, and factory outputs, although i they are not likely to regain the j lost ground, should from now on | quite keep pace with last year’s monthly records. Equally important, moisture coming at this time will allow a second crop of hay to be taken, so that ample | reserves of winter fodder will be j built up. Fortunately. our j milder winter does not re-1 quire the same provision for sup-} plementary feeding as is ueeessary in other dairying districts. This notwithstanding, the wise farmer, remembering the experiences of last year, when greater stock loss was only prevented by the supplies of hay and ensilage available, will take advantage of what a bountiful Nature has nmy given him and so ensure himself and his stock against the eventuality of another exceptional season. While his production is swelled by favourable weather conditions, the gain to the farmer should be still further enlarged by the better prices now ruling on the Home market. The dairyman is given substantial grounds for a bright- : er outlook in the 25 per cent, appreciation in the butter market. For wool the price betterment is still more marked, recent sales showing an advance of 30 per cent. So far as the Northland breeder is concerned this improvement in price is particularly opportune, and will combat the loss he has sustained this year in his fat lamb trade. While, during the unprecedented slump in 1 wool values, the sheepman relied to an ever-growing extent upon better prices for the fleece, his second source of revenue is to be reduced this Reports to hand are to the effect that this year lias shown a decided shrinkage in the killing of well-finished fat lambs, not only in Northland, but throughout the Dominion. This is attributable to the cold 1 spring, when ewes, suffering in condition from the weather conditions, were not able to produce the milk supplies necessary to give their young the natural food necessary for building strong constitutions and for the eneour--1 agement of quick growth. However, the fleece is returning to the Northland sheepfarmer what the flesh has largely failed to do, and the sheepman,,too, can share with his dairying neighbour a much more optimistic prospect. More closely than in other countries the, standard of living in New ! Zealand is bound up with the Mate of external trade, and when 1 trade flourishes, internal business is buoyant and healthy. These developments in our trade, coupled with the contribution which Nature has offered, cannot but 1 help to have a far-reaching influ- ’ enee within a , short time on the internal condition of New Zealand, and it is to he expected that the rising prosperity of the farmer will lead to a general and perhaps fairly rapid increase in wellbeing for every section of our community.