BACKWARD SEASON IN SOUTH OTAGO

Southland Times, Issue 23988, 1 December 1939, Page 3

BACKWARD SEASON IN SOUTH OTAGO

Right throughout South Otago at present are to be found evidences of a backward spring, and most farmers are two or three weeks behind with their seasonal operations. Pasture growth has been slow lately, and in some districts, although there is a sufficiency of feed, grass seems to have made no movement at all in the past few weeks. The ground is still very cold, and in most districts the greatest need of the moment is warmth. In the Heriot, Kelso, Crookston, and Tapanui districts high cold winds have been very general lately. The position was summed up by one farmer who said, “I wouldn’t care if we didn’t have another drop of rain until after Christmas, if only we could get some calm, sunny weather. The lambing has been pretty good right through this district, but stock need warmth.” Lambs, like everything else in the western districts of Otago, are two or three weeks behind this year, and the success of the fattening season will depend almost entirely upon an immediate change in weather conditions.