SPRING PASTURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22493, 10 August 1936, Page 10

SPRING PASTURES

CHECKED BY FROSTS PROSPECTS OF GOOD SEASON FINE WINTER IN THE NORTH Although tho recent heavy frosts have retarded growth of spring pastures, the especially favourablo summer son son has resulted in stock, which went out in excellent condition, looming through the winter well enough to make prospects good for the coming season. In the North, indeed, farmers consider the winter has been tho most favourable for many years. Stock is in splendid condition compared with last year, when the winter was abnormally wet in this district, and the pastures have kept in good heart and are nlreadv showing evidence of an early spring, being more advanced than in recent years. The check to growth by frosts, of which there have been more than for many years, has been outweighed by the good they have dono in killing insect pests.

Stock Winters Well A good deal of top-dressing was done in the autumn, and country so treated has responded particularly well. Areas that were seriously aftected bv floods last summer are now fairly dry. Dairy factory managers report a large increase in cream in tho past week. Store cattle have come through the wintor with little loss of condition. Lambing is in full swing and losses so far this season are very small. With a continuance of present weather a splendid return in lambs is expected. Except for damage done by frosts to early potatoes, crops also are doing well. In spite of frequent heavy frosts dairy stock in tho Waikato has withstood the winter without severe loss of fat. Although pastures began to make progress a fortnight ago. when there was a temporary cessation of frosts, and rajn fell for several days, they were checked again last week by severe frosts amounting to as much as l».6deg. The grass has been picking up again during the fine weather of the last few days.

Good Supplies of Fodder Farmers have been well supplied with supplementary fodder, and there is still a good picking of grass on many farms as a result of the prolific growth of last autumn. Calving is proceeding satisfactorily and it is not anticipated that tho production yield will be below the excellent returns of last season. The heavy crops of hay and ensilage harvested last season have proved more than sufficient to maintain stock in the Franklin district in good condition. On many farms the supplementary fodder has extended to a ration of roots. Milking capacity on some farms is suffering just now, however, through the growth of new grass being retarded by frosts. Because of this, and also because herds are not coming in so early this year, the amount of cream being sent to factories is reported to be lower than at the samo time last year, The milder weather of the past few days, however, has transformed many pastures, which are now showing a good growth of new grass and giving prospects of a favourable season. The lambing season is well under way, and on the whole percentages are very satisfactory in spite of some losses through frosts. The prospects for the coming dairying season in the Pacroa and Hauraki Plains districts as far as production is concerned are viewed optimistically by a large majoritv of farmers in tho district. Swamp Country Benefits The winter has not been a very severe one and the long spells of dry weather in the early part of the winter were favourable to the drained swamp country. There has been more than the average number of heavy frosts. The majority of tho dairy herds have wintered well, and with plentiful supplies of hay and winter feed the cows are commencing the new season in good heart.

Spring growth has been a little slower this season, but there has been an evenly sustained growth all the winter. Generally speaking the prospects for the new season are bright. There has been considerable development. in bringing in new country, especially in the Awati district and along the foothills on the Coroninndel range between Paeroa and Thames. The additional areas will assist in the increase of production for the district in the future.