DRY WEATHER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26713, 6 March 1948, Page 4

DRY WEATHER

FARMERS HANDICAPPED LAMBS SUFFERING Farm operations in North Otago have been severely handicapped by the driest spell of weather which has been experienced for at least six years. From inquiries made by the Daily Times it was learnt that the conditions were having a marked effect on the fattening of lambs and the ploughing of land. Lambs on rape are doing particularly well, but there is an insufficient quantity of feed to fatten all the lambs available, and some farmers are forwarding their lambs to the works in an unfinished condition. Rain ir badly needed to ensure the second growth of rape crops where lambs have been feeding. A number of late rape crops, which a fortnight ago proved to be of good quality and were looking well, are now beginning to ripen off, and turnip crops are suffering for the want of a good rain. Many farmers are finding it difficult to work land for wheat sowing, and many who were willing to plough lea land are finding it an almost impossible The yield of wheat in North Otago this season is down from eight to ten bushels per acre, compared with yields taken over the past four seasons. Rain is also required to give the autumn-sown green feed a good start. During the past week lambs have been arriving steadily at the Waitaki Farmers Freezing Company's works. During the past two weeks their condition has been better than it was previously. It is estimated that about 22,000 were killed during the past week.