ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 22008, 6 May 1933, Page 5

ON THE LAND

WEEKLY REVIEW WINTRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE FEEDING OF STOCK Work on the farms of Southland has practically remained at a standstill during the. week, the weather never remaining fine for long enough to allow major farming operations to be gone on with. The cold conditions have affected stock severely and dairy farmers especially have found early winter feeding necessary. The stormy conditions experienced throughout April naturally checked farming operations, and work has piled up on all farms. Farmers were hopeful of more settled conditions during the past week, but their hopes were not realized and many potato crops are still in the ground, drains have not been cleared in readiness for winter storm water drainage, hedges have still to be trimmed, and autumn ploughing has been out of the question. Apart from having a harmful effect on stock, the stormy weather has checked the growth of feed, and the earlier calls on winter feed must necessarily shorten the supply. Many farmers have already started to feed turnips to their stock, and one farmer stated- during the week that his stock required twice the feeding that they did at this time last year. Winter feed in Southland is moderately plentiful, but if a demand sets in from the north it may not be more than adequate to supply demands. The drafting of lambs is still ahead of the space available, and farmers have frequently to wait for a week before they can get lambs into the works. On the whole lambs are being finished off very well in spite of the climatic conditions, and it is probable that at the end of the season it will be found that a smaller number of unfattened lambs are carried over than usual. A number of farmers are retaining at least a portion of their ewe lambs in order to replenish their stud flocks, and this, of course, is a very prudent action. The rams have now been put out with most ewe flocks in the province, but there is still an occasional ram required. The rams most in favour with Southland breeders this seasofi have been Southdowns and they have been readily saleable, but latterly a good number of Border Leicesters and some Romneys have been sold, although prices were exceedingly low. The dairy produce market, still continues io be very quiet, and it is probable that the weather will reduce the. milk flqw to such an extent that the cheese factories will find it expedient to close a litttle earlier than usuab The low prices offering will also contribute towards an earlier closing because the present prices will scarcely pay for the delivery of small quantities of milk to the factory. Farmers in the main are not rushing to sell either grass-seed or grain, but a number’ are meeting the market, having evidently come to the opinion that no immediate rise in prices is likely. Crops generally have been good and both the seed and grain are of good quality. Although there has been a fair amount of potato blight in Southland this autumn, especially in the Tuatapere district, the crop should be a fair one if farmers could only get sufficient dry weather to harvest it. At present prices are low and a rise in the future will depend on whether or not the Australian embargo is lifted. Naturally Australian growers do not want to see New Zealand tubers arriving to compete with their produce, and they are doing all they can to prevent the removal of the embargo. They claim that the New Zealand potatoes are affected with corky scab, but there are large quantities of tubers in the Dominion quite free from this disease, and there can be no doubt that every care would be taken by the Department of Agriculture to see that only clean potatoes went overseas. It is also certain that the Australian authorities would examjne imports as they arrived if the embargo is lifted. Taken generally the week has been a very disappointing one for farmers, who have been compelled to remain more or less inactive while work is waiting to be done. Stormy periods are always utilized for the cleaning up of indoor jobs such as the mending of harness, sacks, etc., and the overhauling of hurdles and machinery, but the present spell of broken weather has continued for so long that all odd jobs have been exhausted on most farms.