PROSPECTS FOR FARMERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 15 June 1926, Page 2

PROSPECTS FOR FARMERS

MEAT ANLMVOOL FIIICES

Dealing with the prospects ahead for the man on the land, at the annual conference of tho North Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union the president, Mr J. D. Ilall, said: "The past season, so far as the sheep industry is concerned, has been a disappointing’one, as tho continued wet weather in the winter resulted in stock losses and poor returns in lambing to a very serious extent. Many reasons for this are given by different farmers, but), most agree that poor reti/rns are largely due to wet weather and shortage of winter feed. Turnips in North Canterbury to-day are not what they used to be, and the use of green feed, such as Italian rye ami oats; means a large, increase in cultivations to give as much l'eftd aS used to be provided by turnips. ‘The matter of diseases in our turnips and rape, and the cost of growing green feed are matters for investigation and reseateh by some institution or Department which could tell fanners why many of the turnips of the current, season are a success, but during the previous seasons have been failures, and also whether there are varieties of roots which are immune from the blight which is damaging the soft, white-flesh-ed variety largely sown tod-ay. “Prices for meat and wool are substantially lower than last yeai, but they appear to be steadier, and not subject to the fluctuations which were previously experienced, especially with wool. Grading of lamb under present conditions presents returns which are, to say the least of it, unpopular here. The old grade of 36-421 b lambs is what tanners believe suits their farms and /stock, and it,seems a change that might oe preventable to cut the highest'price lambs to a maximum weight of 361 b. It is bad. enough to have the price of a 421 b lamb reduced this year by 8s 9d (i.e:, from i2d to 9£d per lb) without having another 2s 6d taken off, because the highest price for first quality lambs is restricted to 361 b.

"This may suit graziers' ' turning off hulk lambs at the Tower weights, but it does Wit suit farmers who are growing rape as part of their farm rotation, and aim at turning off a 421 b lamb later in the season. It may be true that the English consumer can detect something wrong with the. class of lamb whicli nas been exported from Canterbury for many yearss, but it is hard to believe that this should be so. In any case some one has to accept the responsibility of deciding ,whether anything can be done, or whether the price in England for the various weights is going to be left entirely in the hands of meat exporters and Kmitlifield dealers. Freezing companies will open the works in December of farmers will guarantee 5000 lambs; this is a matter which might he referred to the incoming executive to report upon. "The deterioration of our ewe flocks lor lamb producing purposes requires very careful consideration; the fact .mu about 80,000 North Island ewes have been sold in Addington this season;, and that they are mostly Romneys or a Renlney cross does not promise well for maintaining the type of our Canterbury lamb. There seems to be ho answer to the advice so often given that farmers should not sell their best ewe lambs, and trust to Providence to get breeding ewes for the next year. Keeping 20 per cent, or even 15' per cent of his good ewe lambs would ensure a fanner maintaining a regular and healthy Hock of breeding ewes, instead of having jxi buy ewes of the type we have been*getting from the north this year.