GREATER OUTPUT, BUT FEWER FARMERS

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 1363, 26 January 1950, Page 6

GREATER OUTPUT, BUT FEWER FARMERS

DAIRY BOARD’S REPORT High Butterfat Production The annual report of the New Zealand Dairy Board for the 194849 season, just released, discloses that since the pre-war years the number of dairy produce suppliers has dropped by no less than 24 per cent.—from 70,300 in 1937-38 to 53,000. In spite of the drop in producing units, butterfat production was the second highest achieved (the record was in 1940-41), and dairy produce exports, headed by a record butter figure of 144,000 tons, were only just below the 1940-41 export totals. The reason for the very good figures of 1948-49 is that the amount of butterfat received from each farmer-supplier reached a new high level of 74001 b, total “at the pail” production amounting to 461,000,0001 b, a rise of 41,000,0001 b on 194748. in spite of a falling-off in the number of suppliers. Downward Trend The Dairy Board points out that though there has been no substantial change in the number of suppliers during the last four seasons, the long downward trend has continued. Areas principally affected by the decline are those where owners of small dairy herds ceased dairying, and to a lesser extent where farmers have changed from factory to town milk supply. It emphasises that the total decline of 24 per cent, since pre-war should not be interpreted as a major drift from dairying. Butterfat per supplier last year was 74051 b, an increase of 34 per cent, on pre-war and a record. In the North Island the figure was 94251 b, while in Taranaki an excellent return of 13,3901 b per supplier was noted. An average of 22501 b foe the South Island indicates how these returns reflect the size of the supplying herds, mixed farming being widely prevalent in the South Island, and emphasises that this is the principal factor to be considered in comparing district variations. Markets for Produce Outside the United Kingdom which under contract takes 97 per cent, of New Zealand's exportable surplus of dairy produce, small shipments of butter, totalling 1100 tons, were sent to Canada, 1300 tons of butter and 200 tons of cheese to the Caribbean area, and 1100 tons of butter and 200 tonk of cheese to the Middle Bast. Unspecified markets absorbed 1700 tons of butter and 2300 tons of cheese. The principal markets for processed milk products, which have grown in importance in recent years, were the United Kingdom, Malaya. India and Egypt.

The North Island shipped 93.8 per cent, of the butter and cheese exports, the South Island exporting, the balance. Auckland handled some 58 per cent, by weight of all dairy products shipped during the season.