DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Southland Times, Issue 22998, 18 September 1936, Page 4

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Annual Report

RURAL INDUSTRIES FOSTERED THE YEAR’S OPERATIONS REVIEWED Co-operated effort is being made a keynote of the policy of the Department of Agriculture, states the annual report for the year ended March 31 last, which was placed before the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister, the Hon. W. Lee Martin. The report contains a record of the extensive and varied operations of the department in its work of furthering the efficiency and development of rural industries in full compatability with the national welfare. The report shows that during the first part of the year under review the advisory, research and regulatory activities have been carried out broadly in the manner and to the extent that have obtained in recent years, and that these activities have been productive of quite satisfactory results in that a growing knowledge about the improvement in farming methods and the results of research are being reflected in practice. It was being realized firstly, added the report, that complete co-operation and co-ordination within the department itself was desirable. That arose because of the innate complexity of farming, taken in conjunction with the fact that the farm was the business unit in rural industries, and advisory work to be fully effective must pay strict attention to that fact. While within the department there must continue to be much specialized endeavour, the fruit of that endeavour must be welded into a complex but unified whole for use in advisory work. Cooperation of the type that was desirable within the department was desirable also in respect to the relations of the department with all organizations concerned in the proper advancement of farming, and that was especially true of those who were most directly concerned—the farmers themselves and their organizations. A development that might be expected to follow naturally from the unified thought and cooperative effort that were considered desirable in the work of the department was a trend towards standardized practice, which, reflecting the best knowledge available, should lead to greater efficiency, begetting both increased production and improved quality in farm products. Farm Production. The report states:— Despite a markedly abnormal season over wide areas in the Dominion, farm production during the 1935-36 season has been most gratifying in that, in general, there has been a return to the high standard attained in the 1933-34 season. This is reflected in increases in the production of such major lines as butterfat, mutton, cereals, pork and bacon, while lamb killings for export for the first nine months of the production year ended September 30 are approximately equal to those of the corresponding period of the previous season. Further, in general the improved market position for the major exportable surpluses of farm produce has been reflected in appreciated prices, this being especially marked in respect of wool. The joint effect of the maintenance of a highly satisfactory standard of production and of appreciated prices is partly to be seen in the fact that during the first five months of the current calendar year exports of merchandise have exceeded commodity imports in value by £13,583,065, as compared with £9,520,197 during the same months of 1935. The weather varied greatly throughout the Dominion, and departures from normal conditions influenced production substantially. An outstanding feature in many districts was an unusually wet and consequently backward winter and spring. One result was a decline in dairy production during the early part of the season, the butterfat production up to the end of November being over 170,000 cwt. less than in the corresponding period of the previous season. Another, and quite general, outstanding feature was the wet summer. One striking result was exceptionally heavy dairy production; the decrease of over 170,000 cwt. at the end of November had been turned into an increase of nearly 140,000 cwt. of butterfat at the end of March in comparison with corresponding periods of the previous season. In short, from December to March the amount of butterfat produced in the 1935-36 season was approximately 35,000,0001 b more than in the 1934-35 season, and as a result the returns of the dairy farmers were approximately £2,000,000 greater.

A Cold Spring.

The wet, cold spring followed by a summer of unusually abundant rainfall had a material influence on fat lamb production. This is indicated by the fact that, while the number of lambs killed for export for the five months ended February 1936, was almost 600,000 fewer than the number for the same period of the previous season, yet the corresponding numbers for the nine months ended June 30 are practically equal, being 8,766,757 in 1936 in comparison, with 8,782,242 in 1935. Proportionately, the killings of sheep are essentially similar. In those districts which experienced the type of season under consideration it was difficult to achieve proper control of pasture growth, and for the exceptional conditions obtaining many farms were understocked.

In the main grain-growing area, the South Island, the season was most variable. While the winter was practically normal, conditions through the growing season were good, and though final figures are not yet available, the position is advanced enough to indicate that relatively heavy yields have been produced. Included among the outstanding features of the farming industry for the year are:—' L An increase of 4.283 per cent in the production of' butterfat for the 11 months ended June 1936, as compared with the correspanding period of the 1934-35 season, and the probability that the production for the complete season ended July 31 would be only about 0.8 per cent less than the record production attained in the 1933-34 season. This increase in total production is associated with an increase in the average butterfat production of all dairy cows, which, in its turn, is correlated with the better feeding, resulting' mainly from the .more abundant pasture growth in the | latter half of the season. Wool Sales. 2. Sales of wool have been record ones in respect of quantity, and have been characterised by solidity of demand and regularity of price, the fluctuations in prices from first to last being small indeed. It is of some moment that the quantity disposed of included a considerable amount / of wool carried over—it is estimated that 49,000 bales of wool are carried over from the 1935-36 season, whereas 186,679 bales were carried over from the 1934-35 season. As a joint result

of increased quantity and improved price, the gross value of the wool sold in 1935-36 was £10,083,297, in comparison with £4,486,480 in the 1934-35 season. 3. A substantial increase took place in the number of carcasses of pigs killed for export, 662,754 being killed during the nine months to June 30, 1936, in comparison with 566,459 in the corresponding period of the previous season. The increase in the weight of pig meat for export is greater than the above figures suggest, this being due to the fact that baconers constitute over 70 per cent, of the increase in •number. 4. There was an increase m the killings of wether mutton for export from 940,401 in the nine months ended June 30, 1935, to 1,143,311 in the corresponding period of 1936. 5. A decrease took place in the killings of ewe mutton for export from 1,179,092 in nine months ended June 30, 1935, to 735,962 in the corresponding period ended June 30, 1936. These killings confirm impressions obtained from autumn sheep sales in indicating that the breeding ewe numbers have been built up by retaining in the flock ewes that normally in the past would be slaughtered on account of age. 6. A relatively large increase took place in the killings for chilled beef, which, however, continue small in comparison with other quantities of meat exported the figures being 119,653 quarters for nine months ended June 30, 1936, compared with 49,297 quarters for the corresponding period of the previous season. 7. An increase occurred in the quantities of apples and pears exported to 1,228,286 cases in the 1936 export season from 1,063,420 cases in the 1935 season. The Wheat Crop. 8. There was a substantial increase in the wheat crop. Up to the end of May 82 per cent, of the total estimated area had been threshed for a total yield of 7,619,126 bushels, this giving an average yield of 38f bushels an acre, the corresponding figures for the previous season being 5,410,857 bushels and 27 bushels. As a result of flood damage, part of the unthreshed area may reduce the average figures. 9. A substantial increase has been recorded in the oat crop. Up to the end of May 1936, the total threshed was 3,227,525 bushels, giving an average of 47.7 bushels an acre, the corresponding figures for the previous season being 1,847,390 bushels and 36.68 bushels.

10. Increased deliveries of fertilizers by rail were made for the Dominion as well as for each island separately, the Dominion total being 664,330 tons in comparison with the previous corresponding year. 11. Record deliveries of lime by rail were made for the Dominion; these, however, involved a decrease of 9610 tons in North Island deliveries and an increase of 11,130 tons in South Island deliveries for the year ended March 31, 1936, in comparison with the corresponding previous year. _ 12. An increase took place in the honey exported to 10,446 cases valued at £34,258 for the year ended March 31, 1936, in comparison with 5427 cases valued at £17,844 in the corresponding previous year. Increased Efficiency. Investigations of the economic role of fertilizers has continued, and has yielded evidence confirming that previously obtained, extending its application and indicating that in many parts of the Dominion there is economic justification for increased use of fertilizers on the basis of current returns and costs in farming. Hence the trend towards increased _ use of fertilizers as indicated in the increased quantities of fertilizers carried by rail for the year ended March 31 was well warranted and indicative of improved farm practice. As is so advisable, the development of pig keeping as an auxiliary to butterfat production continues to receive increasing attention. The rise, during recent years, of pig products as an important item in the export trade has been somewhat phenomenal. In 1924 the killings for export numbered slightly fewer than 5000 carcases; 12 years later, in nine months of the 193536 season, they have exceeded 660,000 carcasses, and seem likely to approximate 710,000 carcasses for the complete producing season ending September 1936. Assuming export prices of pig products remain constant at about the current level, further substantial increases in production are economically sound, and seem extremely probable. Among the matters which promise to be prolific of future problems which are now receiving attention, and which warrant continued and increased attention, are (1) the more effective use of dairy by-products, which is likely to develop along the line of increased exploitation of pastures, pasture equivalents, and grain crops in pig keeping; (2) the production of carcasses of the weight and type best suited to the needs of the market—this is likely to involve an intensification of the swing-over to the production of baconers, which is already taking place; (3) the prevention in preference to the cure of diseases and disorders, which, judging from the history of live stock ventures, is likely to become a more acute problem as our pig population becomes more dense; (4) the evolution of strains of pigs in which good carcass type is associated with economical conversion of feed into flesh under the conditions of feeding and accommodation which it is economic to provide in the Dominion.

Evidence of the trend towards improved farming continues to be provided in the maintenance of a relatively heavy, and in several instances, an increasing use of certified seed. In the 1936 harvest there were record acreages devoted to the production of certified seed of potatoes, wheat, white clover, cocksfoot, and Italian ryegrass, while the perennial ryegrass acreage increased in comparison with that of the previous harvest. The major portion of the certified seed produced is used by the farmers of the Dominion, and from the superior characters inherent in certified seed, its use makes possible increased production of crops and pastures. While the chilled beef position has not altered materially during the year in comparison with the previous year, the trade in chilled beef, though small, continues to expand, and our knowledge about it grows. For the nine months ended June 1936, the killings for export provided 119,653 quarters, the corresponding figures for the previous year being 49,297'quarters. Tlie Dairying Position.

A more buoyant condition has marked dairy affairs generally, and this practically from the opening months of the 1935-36 season. The stocks of butter in cold storage in Great Britain have been low. This has been due primarily to reduced production rather than to increased consumption, and the consumption of imported butter by Britain has remained steady. The prices obtained for butter have advanced appreciably. The year 1935 was marked by a decrease of 14,000 tons in the imports of cheese by the United Kingdom, this being due mainly to substantial falling off in the New Zealand supplies, but the Canadian supplies, which have been declining steadily for several years continued to decline. Apparently, in the main because of the change in the supply position, the New Zealand returns from cheese advanced. The figures for 11 months ended June 1936, of the current dairying season indicate that there is an increase of 4.283 per cent, in butterfat production in comparison with the corresponding period of the 1934-35 season, and the trend in seasonal yield points to a production for the complete season i

ended July that will be within approximately 0.8 per cent, of the record production of the 1933-34 season.

For the 11 months ended June 1936, the salted butter graded was 138,054 tons, and the unsalted 6713 tons, a total of 144,767 tons, compared with 129,007 tons, 4942 tons, and 133,949 tons respectively for the corresponding period of the previous season—an increase of 8.08 per cent. The quantity of cheese graded for the 11 months ended June 1936, were white, 58,041 tons; coloured, 27,156 tons; a total of 85,917 tons, compared with white, 63,300 tons; coloured, 28,953 tons; a total of 92,253 tons for the corresponding period of the previous season—a decrease of 7.65 per cent. The increase in the production of butterfat proportionately is substantially greater than the increase in the number of dairy cows. Hence, the year was marked by an increase in the average butterfat production of all dairy cows in comparison with the previous year, when the average was 2101 b, but it is estimated, in the absence of definite date, that the average butterfat production of all dairy cows for the 1935-36 season will be approximately 2181 b; that of 1933-34 was 220.81 b.

The quality of dairy produce has been well maintained. An increase in the proportion of cream delivered daily in conjunction with considerable improvement in dairy buildings, both on the farms and at the factories, has contributed towards improving or maintaining quality in the creamery butter.

Sheep Fanning.

The somewhat unsatisfactory condition of sheep farming in 1935 was replaced in 1936 by a remarkably buoyant one, comparable to that of 1934. The change was due largely to the great

change in the wool position. The wool sold reached a record quantity, and the prices obtained in 1935-36 showed a marked improvement in comparison with those of the previous year. 'Hie production of wool in the 193536 season has been computed as: greasy wool, 625,240 bales; slipe, 91,992 bales—a total of 717,232 bales. The end of the season found a very small carry-over in the stores, the estimated total being 49,400 bales, as compared with a carry-over of the 1934-35 season. A feature of the 193536 wool season was the constant demand for all classes offered, and the relative uniformity in prices from the beginning to the end of the selling season. The destination for the year ended June 1936, of only approximately 35 per cent, of the number of bales sold was flie United Kingdom, whereas, during the year ended September 1934, over 56 per cent, of New Zealand wool, and in the year ended September 1935, over 58 per cent, was exported to the United Kingdom.