Northland Starts Winter Well

Northern Advocate, 25 July 1938, Page 6

Northland Starts Winter Well

Winter has only just commenced for Northland farmers. Only three frosts were experienced during the past month, but that which occurred in the second week of July was followed by heavy rain, causing pasture growth to check for the first time. Mild conditions in the autumn and early winter months enabled the conservation of roughage and other feed, the benefits of which are now being fully appreciated. Supplementary feeding has only just begun very few farmers hitherto having to draw upon their stores of hay and ensilage. Last season feeding cut operations in most instances started at least a month earlier. Calving is proceeding apace and stock are coming in in excellent condition, having stood the winter better 1 than at any time for the past four or five years. Lambs and grown sheep also reflect the benefit of a pleniful feed supply. Use of Uplands. Little flooding has resulted from the phenomenally heavy rains, of the past ■ month but where farmers have concentrated all their efforts on to their alluvial flat country to the neglect of hillside cultivation, some are feeling the pinch. During the dry weather such wonderful returns are obtained from low-lying caountry. that there is an inclination to neglect the top country, the developement of which would provide fodder reserves and ensure that there would be no scarcity of feed during the winter months, when flats became silted and puddled. Such excellent results are obtained from'Northland's hill country that it is suprising that farmers do not spread their operations more, so that their flats could be used for grazing when they are at their best and capable of yielding higher returns. The value of turnips as a winter constitution builder is also lost sight of by many Northland agriculturists. Those prudent enough to plant swedes in December and January last are now reaping the benefit so far as their stock is concerned.