FARMERS' PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 14

FARMERS' PLIGHT

ACUTE FEED SHORTAGE CANTERBURY DISTRICTS HERDS IN POOR CONDITION [BY TELEGRArH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] CHRISTCBURCH, Friday Farmers all over Canterbury will this winter be faced with a serious feed shortage, principally due to tho unusually dry weather in the province ever since the New Year. Because of tho abnormally low rainfall during this period and the continued hot weather during the late summer months, most pastures showed very littlo autumn growth, and if, as is expected, cold weather now sets in, there will be no relief until tho spring mouths.

The effects of this shortage of feed have already made themselves apparent in the rapid decline in the dairy returns for Canterbury. The dry weather in the later summer caused the returns to slump more rapidly than usual, and the cows were dried off in some cases two months earlier. The food shortage had the additional effect of causing dairy herds to lose condition, and many of the herds are now in poor condition to face any further severe weather beforo the new season opens.

Dairymen in many instances have been forced to hand-feed herds since the end of February, this having tho result of shortening supplies of winter feed. This is evidenced by tho price of hay, which, in contract to tho average price of £3 to £3 10s, has more than doubled to £B. Even at this price exceedingly small lots are available. Koot crops, which are also relied on as stock feed during the winter, have failed this year, and there are practically no supplies availablo.