AFTER THE STORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26275, 5 October 1946, Page 3

AFTER THE STORM

The Farm

SETBACK TO PROVINCE CULTIVATION DELAYED A FORTNIGHT SOME LOSSES OF STOCK By Rusticus Otago farmers have been taking stock this week of the damage and general set back created by the severe storm of last week. It was a bad storm and it came at a time when prospects were exceedingly bright. The winter had been mild and everything was favourable to a most successful season. Flooding in various parts of the province and the cold that came with snow down to the coastal hills interfered seriously with lambing and caused some losses among early-shorn sheep, and cultivation has been given a check of some consequence. Nevertheless, a review after the storm suggests that the damage generally was not as widespread as was feared. The urgent need now is for some sunshine and wind to dry out sodden land and enable a start to be made with the task of catching up. The first three weeks of September were ideal for cultivation and in keeping with the excellent conditions which Otago had enjoyed throughout the winter. The heavy rain. which set in on September 23 caused flood conditions in the Dunback, Maheno and Incholme districts of North Otago, the Taieri plain, and at Paretai and Kaitangata. More than 10 inches of rain was recorded at Whare Flat, and lesser readings, although they were still considerable, were taken throughout the province—all within 36 hours. Cold and changeable weather persisted for some days after the steady rain stopped, and there was little opportunity this week for land on lower levels to dry out. Some Heavy Losses

Losses were heavy in some flocks which could not be moved away from the flooding Kakanui, Taieri and Clutha Rivers in time, but taken over all, they were not unduly heavy. Spring cultivation and crop sowing throughout the province have been delayed at least a fortnight. Autumn-sown wheat crops in North Otago, which were making good growth, have been checked, but no scouring has been reported in that district. Spring sowings, both in North Otago and on the Taieri, were well established; but resowing will now be necessary in many cases, and it is not unlikely that early indications of a good average acreage in wheat will have to be revised in consequence of the unsatisfactory soil conditions. The few early sowings in the Balclutha, Gore and Invercargill districts struck well, but there, too, growth has been retarded. Reworking of Soil Preparations for spring sowings of oats have suffered a similar delay. Not many crops were in before the storm, and most of the soil now will have to be worked again. Autumnsown barley crops in Central Otago had got away to a good start, and cultivation in preparation for spring sowings was well advanced. Here again the whole process has been delayed. Early crops of potatoes on the Taieri have been set back. Main crop plantings had been begun in other districts, and there was every indication of a good acreage. It would be difficult to predict what effect the storm will have had in this respect. Feeding off turnips and swedes is practically completed, and as soon as conditions allow, preparations for spring sowing will continue. It is reported that dry rot is particularly prevalent in Southland crops at present, and that there is also a fair incidence of clubroot. Check to Pastures Pasture growth throughout the province was excellent during the first part of September, but the unfortunate change last week brought in its wake a severe check and some damage. Some newly-sown areas will have to be resown. Flooding and some scouring of pastures occurred in the valleys and plains bordering the Kakanui, Shag, Taieri and Clutha Rivers; but it now appears that the damage is not as widespread as was expected. A spell of wind and sunshine would be invaluable in reducing losses in pasture production to the minimum. Losses in lambing and of early-shorn sheep have been fairly general, but, except in more or less isolated instances, they have not been on as heavy a scale as there was reason to fear. Where shelter was available and supplementary feed was sufficient, they were relatively slight, even among early-shorn ewes. Farmers who were not able to move their sheep in time suffered heavily, and there have been some instances of serious losses. Recovery May Be Rapid Supplementary feed for stock is now almost disposed of, and the full extent of the check to pasture growth will depend on the weather in the near future. Pastures and sown crops generally were so well forward that recovery should be rapid—if only *the weather will return to its former mood of co-operation. Taking everything into consideration, the consequences of those few drenching days may not be as desperate as they promised to be. That is small consolation for the losses which have been suffered, and the work which will have to be done over again, and it certainly will result in a late season. But it might have been much worse.