DAIRYING PRODUCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20599, 25 June 1930, Page 13

DAIRYING PRODUCTION.

REASONS FOR INCREASES. BENEFITS OF TOP-DRESSING. POSSIBILITIES OF FUTURE. HIGH QUALITY OF BUTTER. [BY TELECEAPH-—OWN CQEUESPONTDEXT.] HAMILTON, Tuesday. The part that top-dressing and the use of fertilisers have played in increasing the dairy production of the Dominion, and the benefits that have resulted from herdtesting, were emphasised by Mr. A. Morton, president of the National Dairy Association, Limited, in his address at the annual meeting to-day. " One cf the most pleasing features of the season was the very large increase in output." said Mr. Morton. " Output is to some extent ' dependent on climatic conditions, and iu is possible that the very fair season Las been partly responsible for the increase. Lut there is tittle doubt that it is largely accounted for by the more intensive use o£ fertilisers and topdressing, and the increase in the number of farmers who have made. Us<! of herdtesting associations. " A few years ago comparatively little was done in top-dressing apart from hay paddocks. By many it was considered to be foolish, but to-day farmers are endeavouring to get the best from their farms and herds by doing their whole acreage, in some cases twice a year, and these are the ones who are getting the best results.

Figures for 10 Years. " The increase in production during the past 10 years is rather remarkable. In the season 1915-20 the butter-fat production was 137,000,0001b., in 1925-29 it was 282,000,0001b. and last season there was an increase of 11 or 12 per cent., bringing the figure to over 000.000.0U01b. The industry has from time to time doubled its production. If that can be done in the past, without the application of manures ;n some cases, what does the future hold 1 1 feel certain that with the knowledge we now have of the results from the use of fertilisers and herd-testing that we will again doable oar production." Mr. Morton gave the following figures showing land top-dressed in the North Island last year:—Auckland, 342,000 acres; South Auckland, 866,000 acres; Taranaki, 317,000 acres; Wellington, 231,000 acres; Hawkers Bay, 101,000 acres; Gisborne, 38,000 acres. The Auckland figures were very much larger than those of other districts, he said, but it had to be remembered that the area of the Auckland Province was alone actually greater than the others combined. In the Auckland Province there were 17.000.000 acres, compared, for instance, with 2.500.000 acres in Taranaki, which on an average basis of the whole district therefore top-dressed twice as much. It was interesting to note the great advance in the importation of fertilisers. 11l 1913 76.950 tons were imported, 249,000 tons in 1927, 310.000 tons in 192S and 552 000 tons in 1929. In addition there were the manures manufactured in New Zealand. " One thing is quite clearly shown," Mr. Morton said. " Thai is, that by a liberal and proper application of manures we will be less dependent upon climatic conditions." Advance in Herd-testing. Referring to the advance in herd-test-ing, Mr. Morton said thai since it came into operation the production per - cow had risen from 1601b. to 2151b. of betterfa,:, with only a small proportion of cows tested. With a greater number under test, there was no doubt that the average production per cow would be increased very largely. It had proved a profitable business for the farmer, and it gave him a good return for whatever it might cost. "In the production and disposal of produce, the production figures are very satisfactory, but when we come to disposal the results are very disappointing indeed," Mr. Morton said. • " Unfortunately there has been a considerable world-wide depression, which we have been drawn into and from which we have suffered accordingly. There have been die ciash on the stock market in New York and the crash in financial circles in London, which have resulted in a reSex action it was impossible to escape. To some extent the low prices _ are due to the fact that our competitors are pushing their trade and advancing the quality of their produce until it is now almost as good as ours. is natural under those conditions that lower prices will have to be accepted, but few anticipated that they would be as low as they have been daring the past few months. However, at the present time \ thinzs are more hopeful, but we will have to be prepared definitely to accept a lower range of prices for both cheese and butter, particularly butter. An in- j crease in production per cow and per acre will lessen the cost of production as_ a whole, and to some extent compensate for the lower prices we will have to accept in the future.

Goal cl Best Quality. " There is nothing to be said against the quality of butter being produced," Mr. Morten said. "It is still holding the reputation it has enjoyed on the British market, and I think that reputation is perhaps higher than it was five years ago. There has perhaps been less use of neutralising materials during that time, and the butter has thus had a fuller flavour. Unfortunately the position regarding cheese is not quite the same. I do not propose to say much on the question, as ire will have a full day's discussion on it. " If following the discussion it is necessary to take some steps, I have no doubt that the industry will be equal to the occasion, so that complaints will be reduced to a vanishing point. "Whether it relates to butter or cheese, it pays us every time to turn out the best quality. If we turn out the best we can safely leave it to the market to give the best prices."