DAIRY PRODUCTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22005, 11 January 1935, Page 14

DAIRY PRODUCTION

INCREASE IN THE NORTH PHENOMENAL GROWTH OF FEED [from our own correspondent] KAITAIA, Thursday This season has seen a most phenomenal growth of feed in the northern districts, especially paspalum. The humid weather has stimulated the growth of this grass to a remarkable extent. The dairy production this season so far has exceeded that of last season. Although there was a slight falling away of tho cream supplied to the factory during the short dry spell at the beginning of December, this production rose again toward the end of the month and is now keeping high, with no sign of falling off. Tho wet weather just before Christmas and during tho holiday period spoilpd a lot of hay that had been cut and some had to bo burned. Such is the growth of grass, however, that in most cases a second cut from the same paddocks will bo made shortly, so that thero is no fear of a shortage of hay or ensilage for the winter. This time last year the effects pf the dry summer were beginning to be felt, not only by dairy farmers, in the falling off of production, but by householders, in the shortage of water in their tanks. Now. however, tho majority of tanks are nearly full.

The heat during the daytime has been trying, the thermometer reaching 94 degrees in the shade. Also, contrary to the usual experience in the North, where the nights are usually cold, they have been oppressively hot. GOOD RAINFALL AT OPQTIKI GRASS VERY PLENTIFUL [BY TKI..EC: KAI'II OWN CORRESPONDENT 1 OPOTIKI, Thursday It is many years siuco there has been such hot weather in Opotiki. As there has been a good rainfall, however, the grass is in great heart and very plentiful. <s