DAIRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 14

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

NORTH AUCKLAND DISTRICTS NEW SEASON'S OPERATIONS. LARGE OUTPUT EXPECTED. The prospects for the new dairying season in North Auckland are said to be excellent. With a climate particularly favourable for dairying the North Auck-. land periinsula has experienced an unusually mild winter and the herds are coming to profit in good condition. The Herald correspondents in various parts of North Auckland report optimistically on the prospects as far as production is concerned. Northern Wairoa Conditions. The Northern Wairoa correspondent that prospects for dairying in' Northern Wairoa were never better than this year. The winter has been one of the mildest experienced for many years, and .as the majority of farmers had learned that it pays to grow winter feed and reserve stocks of hay and ensilage the cows are coming on in much better condition than in previous years. There is an abundance of spring grass everywhere, and as it has been growing practically all winter it is now sufficiently strong to withstand any set-back it might get from late rains, winds and a probable frost. The production, although probably no more cows will bo milked, is expected to be .much higher, as farmers are now culling heavily and also going in for systematic testing, so that only , the best producing cows are bring kept and milked. Much more top-dressing is now being done than formerly, although the district is handicapped through not being able to take advantage of cheap railway freights on limo and manures. All such heavy goods have at present to come by steamer and rail, entailing two freights being paid. Value of Better Roads. The Northern Wairoa Co-operative Dairy Company is actually turning out 50 per cent, more butter than at this period last year, and if present indications are any guide the season should eclipse all other years for output. The factory manager, Mr. T. Downs, was not too sanguine about the market, but said if prices remained as at present the increased output would more than compensate dairymen. He also said that the dairymen in the district were nil keen regarding grading, and he hoped that the factory grade would be up to the high standard of last season, when not a wingle box of second grade butter was turned out from the factory. This season, owing to better roads and the erection of a new bridge over the Wairoa River, most of the cream from the rich Horehore and Ruawai Flats will come to the factory by motor-lorry instead of steamer as in former years. The large steamer, Monica, which has done the down-river run for some years, has been laid up and the trip is being done by the small oil-engined vessel Lomen. The Norther Wairoa factory is also taking an interest in financing the farmers to purchase fertilisers, and is also giving its support to the newly-formed pig-marketing association, which _ is expected to revolutionise the pig industry in the district.

, At Ruawai the local dairy company is also prepared for a record season and already is" receiving much more cream than at this season last year. Farms on this, part of the Norther Wairoa-never looked better and the pastures and herds are in splendid trim. Both butter and cheese will be manufactured at the Ruawai factory this season, thus reverting to conditions which prevailed two seasons ago. On the whole the Northern Wairoa is in for a good dairying season. Whangarei County Prospects.

, The Whangarei correspondent states that winter this year has treated the Whangarei county kindly. There have been a. number of fairly cold snaps at intervals, but they have been by no means severe, as evidenced by the fact that the growth has been very little interrupted. Well-informed settlers consider "the risky period" has been the most favourable experienced during the past seven years, and the optimistic forecasts for a good season in the forthcoming months are distinctly refreshing. Incidentally, the mild winter has been a boon in another respect, apart from ensuring a plentiful supply of fodder for the time when cows are coming in. Rarely, if ever, before have settlers been able to make so much use of their access roads, even where the march of progress has not substituted metal for clay surfacing. That alone signifies that the winter has been good compared with its predecessors. Early spring, following upon plenty of feed during the winter months, leads settlers to report that their cows are now coming in under favourable climatic circumstances and in excellent condition. That alone signifies a good dairying season ahead, but there are other contributory factors to be taken into account. Success achieved by those settlers who realised the value of top-dressing has led to the adherents to that method of achieving better ; results steadily increasing numerically. I/imittg. is becoming a generally accepted farming operation, although there are many who believe that the right time to undertake it is in the autumn, when top-dressing benefits by the rains. Another factor is that testing and winter cropping have been more utilised by the dairy farmers. Progress of Drainage, In most districts where the cream waggon runs three times a week during tho flush of the season, bi-weekly trips are being made already. August and September are the usual months in which calving, takes place, so that the present season is not a particularly early one, although in many instances fully half the herds are already keeping the milkers busy. It is, however, the fine condition of the cows that will toll the tale later, when the butter-fat cheques are issued. Last season most of the local buttermaking factories showed a decrease on the previous year's output. Whangarei was 88 tons short, and others showed a drop of smaller quantities. Land which had gone back is being rapidly reclaimed and prospects of a marked increase in the dairying industry are distinctly bright. In the northern part of the county the progress made in the drainage operations at the Hikurangi swamp is the principal cause for optimism regarding butter production. A considerable area has already benefited, and properties which were bogs last winter are now carrying dairy cattle and other stock. The big steam navvies used by the Lands Drainage Department are making good progress and one of them is located some four miles from the point where operations were commenced. It will be 12 months before the full benefits of the drainage become apparent, but once the extensive area is rendered reasonably free from flood and becomes workable, it is estimated that there will be'an addition of 7000 cows supplying the Whangarei or Hikurangi factories, while there is already talk of the establishment of a cheese factory in the Tanekaha district. Generally speaking, indications are for a considerable increase in dairy production this season. Outlook at Kaitaia. Owing to the climatic conditions feed grows here practically all the year round, states the Kaitaia correspondent. Although, of course, winter is the most dormant period. Settlers in the past have depended on the pastures for their cattle feed, but the dairymen are alive to the advantages of top-dressing. Last season probably 500 tons of mannre came into

the district, the dairy company obtaining over 300 tons for its suppliers, besides the quantities that were purchased through the local stores. In some parts ol the district basic slag has been found to be the more suitable manure and in others superphosphate. Nearly all the farms require lime and this season a scow load will be brought up from the Silverdale lime works. There should, therefore, be a considerable improvement in the pastures in the future and an increased supply of cream sent to tho dairy factory. Not many of the suppliers make provision for winter and early spring feed, apart from the pastures. When they go in for growing special crops, and they will do so in time, the increase in the output of the factory will grow and keep on growing. A number grow millet for autumn feed and for winter hay. Further group herd-testing was started last season and this will in time eliminate the unprofitable cow. Otamatea and Warkworth, It is many years since tho settlers of Otamatea experienced a more genial winter, states the correspondent, and everything points to an early and productive spring. Partly owing to the absence of cold, wet weather in July, and no doubt mainly owing to a largely increased amount of top-dressing, the pastures are green and feed is coming away nicely, while stock is in splendid condition. The main industry is dairying and already a large number of cows have freshened, and everything points to an increased butter production during the coming season. The dairy farmers of Maungaturoto and' surrounding districts are to bo congratulated on last season's factory operations. Not a single box of secondgrade butter went into store and the payout averaged Is 6d per . lb. of butter-fat for the whole season. The Warkworth correspondent states that the Rodney co-operative factory at Warkworth commenced operations by receiving cream early in July. Although naturally the supply, at first was limited it is now rapidly increasing. The winter as a whole has been very mild and consequently grass has started off early and stock is in good condition. Additional plant has been installed in the factory to cope with the expected increase of supply and to deal advantageously with several grades eof cream. A largo amount of top r dressing has been done during the winter and the paddocks are now feeling the effect. Expansion at Albany. The Albany correspondent states that what was a few years ago essentially a fruit-growing district is now becoming largely dairying country. The new season has already opened with a fair supply and the prospects promise a marked increase on last season's output. Several farmers whose herds totalled 25 to 30 last season are making preparations to double that number this season. The pastures throughout the district are showing good growth already. In Dairy Flat and Albany 10 new machines are being installed. A number of dairies in Albany are now turning their attention to producing milk for town supply and are sending milk to Devonport.