DRY PASTURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 12

DRY PASTURES

SOUTH AUCKLAND AREA PLIGHT OF THE FARMER SHARP FALL IN PRODUCTION SHORTER DAIRYING SEASON [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. "Wednesday The .farmers of the Waikato are faced with one of the most serious situations they have experienced for many years on account of the prolonged spell of dry weather and the rapidly falling production. Since February 1 only 2.06 in. of rain has fallen, 1,47 in. being recorded in February, and 59in. in March. No rain has so far fallen this month.

Some idea of the fall in prodi ction can be gained from the records cf the New Zealand Co-operative Herd-tosting Association. In March, tho association tested 80,030 cows, which yielded an average of 4551b. milk and 23.41b. fat. For the corresponding month last year the 96,371 cows tested produced an average of 5201b. milk and 26.51b. fat, while for March, 1937, the 102,96 C cows tested gave 5311b. milk and 27.21b. fat. Herds Drying Oft

The yield of 4551b. milk and '!3.41b. fat given last month compares unfavourably with the average of 5781b. milk and 28.31b. fat recorded in February of this year, and demonstrates how rapidly the cows are drawing to the close of their lactation period for this 6eason.

Several frosts have occurred in the j Waikato during the last week, and, coining as they have a month earlier than usual, they have provided a further check to pasture growth and to production, and have dashed the hopes of farmers that early rains would yet eave the autumn pastures.

Many farmers are already feeding out hay, and it is likely that stacks of supplementary fodder will bo exhausted before the arrival of winter, for which period they wcro intended. The grass throughout the district is rapidly deteriorating, and is changing colour to a yellowish brown. Turnip Crop Fails

Owing to the cold, wet spring, the paspalum pasture did not come a way as usual. The turnip crops have proved a failure, owing to the lack of moisture and the prevalence of tho white butterfly, which has eaten the foliage and bo checked the growth of the roots. Referring to the position to-day, Mr. C. J. Parlane, general manager of tho New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, stated that it was probable there would be little production during May, and it was evident that the dairying season would close much earlier than usual. Many farmers, in fact, would be drying off their cotvs this month. Fat stock and sheep graziers are also feeling the effect of the dry spell, and are unable to fatten beasts r owing to the lack of succulent pasture. The water supplies on many farms are becoming exhausted, and even artesian , bores which have never previously run dry are failing.

LOWER RIVER LEVEL [DIFFICULTIES IN WAIKATO LAKE TAUPO DAM SCHEME LARGE NATURAL RESERVOIR [from ottb own correspondi Jft] HAMILTON, Wedr esday Advantage was taken of the Easter holidays and the cessation of iteamer traffic on the Waikato River to fill the headrace at Arapuni. There was a comparatively small demand for power during the holidays owing to the commercial load being at a minimum, and in ■consequence a greatly reduced volume of water passed through the turbines and into the river downstream from the power station. The water in the headrace rose 4ft., and was 6pilling over the weir crest during the week-end. The river level at Hamilton has never been 'as low, in the memory of old residents, as it is at present, except when the Arapuni lake was first filled about ten yen :s ago. ' . . . There was no shipping on the river during .the fiolidays, but the Roose Shipping Company's paddle uteamer JRawhiti is due to leave Port Waikato ion Friday with a cargo of general merchandise. It is expected that the 80-mile irip upstream to Hamilton will be a Jong, one owing to the difficulty of ke'eping eff sandbanks and in negotiating the narrow channel. '}. '/For many years past I have been trying to persuade the Public' Works Department to erect a dam where the Waikato Rivdr leaves Lake Taupo," 6&id Mr. Caesar Roose, managing director of tho Roose Shipping Company, Limited/ when' referring to the present low level of the Waikato River, arid the difficulties his company was experiencing. Mr. Roose said that with such" a dam the level of Lake Taupo could be raised appreciably, and tho level of the river could be regulated during dry spells. Not only shipping, but farming generally would bo benefited by raising the xiVer level during the long spells of dry weather, he added. Mr. Roose expressed the hope that this year's experience would cause the department to do something in tho direction he had indicated.