OTAGO HARVEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22983, 10 March 1938, Page 21

OTAGO HARVEST

HIGH YIELD EXPECTED EFFECT OF DRY SUMMER PROBLEM OF WINTER FEED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN. Wednesday The summer of 1937-38 will be remembered as one of the hottest and driest ever known in Otago, and arising out of this the harvest yields wjll be the highest ever obtained in the district. The most serious aspect of the dry spell, which has been more acute in Otago than in any other part of the Dominion, is the effect it is having on winter feed. Where grass should be long and lush only burnt stubble exists, and unless heavy rain comes within the next fortnight there cannot be any improvement in the position. Creeks have dried up and, apart from the shortage of feed, there is now a pronounced shortage of water. Stock have been removed to more fortunate parts of the country, and herds have gone to Canterbury. If rain does not come within a fortnight the greater part of Otago's stock must be artificially fed during the winter. Most of the acreage devoted to autumn sowing is unworkable. Consequently this important part of farm work is at a standstill. Many farming operations are being interfered with, and men are being dismissed because there is not work for them. There are more idle farm workers at this period of the year than there have been for many years.