THE LATE GRAIN YIELDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 6

THE LATE GRAIN YIELDS.

During the last few weeks a good deal of discussion has taken place in connection with the discrepancy between the estimate of the crop yields by the Agricultural Department and the actual returns of grain obtained from the threshing mill. There is not very much to take exception to in connection with the matter, because the forecast was made when everything was promising and the weather conditions favourable to a good harvest; but, unfortunately, after this came a and in several districts considerable loss was sustained through caterpillars, and these factors have had the effect of very considerably reducing the crop yield. On the other hand, if the season had been a propitious one, the returns of grain would probably have been quite up _to, if not above, the yield estimated by the Department of Agriculture. While we have on many occasions had to differ with the members of the present Administration who control the. Agricultural and Lands Departments, we do not think that at the present juncture any exception can be taken to the estimated yield of grain by the Agricultural Department which was given as the probable average yield some few months ago. In Otago certainly the yield has been below what was expected by farmers and others, but in Canterbury some of the settlers reoort their returns as normal, while others again place them below the average. On the whole the Agricultural Department is to be congratulated on the methods xaken last year to,, arrive at the estimated yield. Under the present system we are informed that the departmental officers of the Agricultural Department use their best resources to secure reliable information from the farmers, and which, on the whole, bears evidence of being more correct '-nan under the old system, when subenumerators were employed sat considerable expense. Under the new system the whole business of compiling the estimates is, according to Mr Mackenzie, done for a quarter of what it originally cost the Dominion, as is perhaps quite ai, if not more correctly done than previously. The last grain season was unfortunately not up to the average expected when the information was gathered, but this is almost entirely accounted for by unfavourable weather. Mr Mackenzie says he is endeavouring to find a satisfactory substitute for the old system, and mentions that Australia is following on the same lines as New Zealand. Oh the whole, therefore, credit should be given to the Minister of Agriculture. for adopting a system, in compiling agricultural estimates which promises to save the country a considerable amount of unnecessary expense and is likely to prove quite as reliable as the system it has replaced.