DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18170, 16 August 1922, Page 7

DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

NEW SEASON'S PROSPECTS.

OPTIMISTIC .VIEWS HELD.

LAEGE INCREASE PREDICTED

The dairying industry is of such great to tho Auckland Province that, prospects for the season juet onmoncing are being keenly discussed. Interest in the subject is by no means confined to those directly interested in the industry; it is shared in no small measure by the business and commercial sections of the community and others whose continued prosperity largely depends on the success of our great primary industries. Dairying has increased so rapidly in the province during the last few years that it has become the veritable sheet-anchor of the fanners at a period when other branches of farming are more or less under a cloud.

- Last season's output of butter in the district established, a record in production, considerably 'over 1,000,000 boxes being graded for export. This represented an increase of about 300,000 boxes on tho previous season's record, and reports received from various parts of the province indicate that with favourable weather conditions the new season's production will show a substantial increase compared with the record of the season just closed.

Prospects in Upper Waikato. The Te Awatnutu correspondent of the Niw Zealand Hekauj writes 1 as follows, regarding the prospects of the industry in the Upper Waikato:—The Upper Waikato, emerging from under the shadow of a depression, which brought about a slump affecting the primary industries of the Dominion to no less an extent than all other branches of the country's trade, faces tho approaching season with a spirit of renewed confidence in the promise of more prosperous times. The winter has been an exceptional one; indeed, it has been the best experienced for agricultural and pastoral pursuits for a generation. The dry season, tempered with just sufficient ram to ensure a proliflo growth of grass and crops till late in the year, provided an abundance of pasture, so that milking operations were conducted months later than in previous seasons, while the output of milk maintained a standard, so far as quantity was concerned, hitherto undreamt of. This productivity, combined with tho high grade attained, helped materially to counterbalance the effects of the depression in the earlier part of the year, while the recent rise on the London market finds its reflex in) an additional £250,000 coming to the farmers of this favoured locality through the New Zealand 00-operativo Dairy Co. This means an increased pay-out to the farmer at the final " clean-up," so that this fact alone will materially aid in stabilising financial conditions.

With the silvel* lining in the dark cloud perceptibly widening each day, the dairy fanner enters the new season confident of better financial returns and certain of a still greater production of dairy produce. For, despite the retarding influence of hard times, our primary industry has continned to grew. Closer settlement has resulted from the subdivision of a number of estates, while young men, imbued with the hardy pioneering spirit, are bringing into cultivation and profit the tush lands of the back blocks.

A Favourable Outlook. From all quarters come reporls of stock being in excellent condition, thanks to the | mildness of the winter and the abundance of feed everywhere. The cows are already starting to come in, there now being a few young calves around most farms, with the quota being daily added to. Indications are that the cows will come to profit in good condition—and early at that. This in bound to have an appreciable effect on the flow of milk, for the earlier a cow comes into profit the better, provided always that there is, as obtains in the present instance, plenty of good fodder. Large supplies of milk ana anticipated, and preparations are being made all round to diisai with it, not the least interesting development being the advent of -proprietary concerns into the ■ centre of cooperation. Quietly but energetically a battle is being waged between ihid two elements, but the average farmer regards the situation complacently, as "competition being the life of trade •" is not likely to harm him in the prices he is able to command for his product.

Better Days at Hand. The outlook is promising, concludes our Te Awainutu correspondent.. It can be said that the farmers who have survived the winter have " cot round the corner" and the advent ot better days is at hand. The fields are in excellent order, thanks to the succession of frosts cleaning them of all pests; in fact the miracle of spring is making itself manifest and the growth already apparent augurs well for the future supply of plentiful, succulent fodder. The cattle having wintered exceptionally well, start the season under better conditions than for m»nv years past, and, what is of the utmost concern, the market appears in a fair way to stabilising at a figure which will leave a good margin of profit to the producer. Once the new season is In full swing th& situation should ease up considerably, and money, in consequence, again be in greater supply. The trials of the pas! have caused more attention to be devoted to herd improvement, and more efficient methods on the farm and the beneficial effects thereof will begin to be felt in the coming season.

Outlook in Cambridge District. The Cambridge correspondent of the Herald writes as follows regarding the outlook in that district:—Dairy farmers in the Cambridge district, in common with other parts of the' Dominion, have experienced a bad season owing to the slump in the market during the flush of the season' However, this was to some extent compensated for by the remarkably good season. Frequent showers of rain caused a constant growth of grass right through the summer and early autumn, with' a result that the extra yields in some instances almost made op for the ereatly-reduced prices received. The -present winter so far has been remarkable for the lack of rain and the exceptionally heavy frosts experienced. The] rainfall in Cambridge for April, May, June, and July totalled only 7.31 in. or an average of considerably less than 2in. per month. Daring the past two months no fewer than 36 heavy frosts have been registered. During- late autumn and early, winter there was an abundance of feed throughout the districtj and the stock being in excellent condition, have wintered -well. Although the weather has been very cold at nights,-the days have been warm, and a few warm rains would soon cause a rapid growth of grass, as the ground is not nearly so cold as is the case after a wet winter. On all sides dairy farmers appear to be optimistic and cheerful. The general opinion is that the worst is now over, and the farms being in good heart, all are looking forward to a good season. Cows have wintered well. It is rather 1 early yet to speak authoritatively, for occasionally very severe weather is experienced in August, but provided we get reasonably good weather, with warm rains, there will be abundant feed very quickly, for it will come away rapidly after the winter spell. '•All the dairy factories in the district anticipate a considerably increased supply for the season, and are making provision accordingly. The Cambridge Co-opera-tive Dairy Company and the Bruntwood Co-operative Cheese Factory—the two companies that transact by far the greater part of the dairying business in the Cambridge distriot—are both looking forward to having a- very good season.