RAIN NEEDED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18992, 17 April 1936, Page 3

RAIN NEEDED

TARANAKI'S PLIGHT INCREASE IN PRODUCTION Concern is being felt among fanners in the Tarauaki district over tho absence of rain. Prolonged dry weather at this time o! the vear is most unusual for Taramiki, ami is reflected in the lower milk production in the past few days. Many tanks arc dry, and the owners have to curry water for household suppiv. farmers find that small creeks which provided water for some of their paddocks have dried up, with Ihe result thai stock has' to be moved to oiher paddocks in order to got water. .In some instances the only water available is at the sheds. During the past fortnight there has been practically no movement in pastures, and while feed is still more plentiful than usual for April, the grass is getting short, and this has had an appreciable effect on milk production, though the daily output lit must of the factories is still rather higher than for the corresponding period of last year. _ , Twenty-four hours of good ram would no doubt result ill the grass coming' away well again, and would mean that production, even though it might not increase, would maintain its' present level for some time yet.

Many farmers are faced with another difficulty. Heavy shipments of' slag- arrived recently, and farmers took full advantage of the favourable climatic conditions lo topdress paddocks. Now they are awaiting rain in order to wash in the manure before thov can utilise these paddocks for grazing, and proceed to apply fertilise!' in those paddocks which are at present, accommodating their stock.