THE MAN ON THE LAND

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 82, 4 February 1928, Page 3

THE MAN ON THE LAND

ITEMS OF INTEREST, EFFECT OF DRY SPELL. (By “FARMER.”) The dry weather being experienced at the present time is becoming very serious. it rain does not come soon 'and the cows keep going down in milk as at present it would not be surprising if i( will 'be necessary to milk only once a day before long. * * Tile unemployed will be more in evidence this winter than was the case last winter, as farmers will not he able to keep their men employed with such prospects as present exist. -X- * It is a good thing the ppc,cs for our cheese butter and wool are good, otherwise it would b e very serious for some of our primary producers. Farmers in this district are being “smacked to leg” this year, what with the dry weather, power board rate, increased county rates, and a possibility of a Harbour Board rate next year. * * There are offers floating round of Sid for cheese up to the end of the 'season. This was a fair price at the beginning of the season, but at .present, with the production falling so rapidly it is not a good price. Those in the know estimate a drop in production of at least 25 to 30 per cent, if the weather remains dry for another fortnight. Even for January, taking the whole of New Zealand into consideration, it i s estimated that a shortage of 12i per cent, will ho shown as compared with last year, therefore price a are likely to go higher before long. * -* One factory in the Stratford district. made 1919 cheeses in January, 1927, and in January, 192 S it made 1956 cheeses, an increase this year of 37 cheeses for January, but for February Ist this year three cheese Per day les a were being made as compared with last year. This goes to show how rapidly the milk yield i 3 going down.

The tests this year are very low at almost every factory as compared with last season. One manager said it took 9.921bs of milk to make a lb of cheese on Ist of February this year, a a against 9.libs of milk last year. He attributes this to lack of moisture and nutriment in the grass.

On small factory in the Stratford 'district has sold practically all its cheese to the end of the season for S l-4d per lb, whilst another has been offered Sid, but I understand there is nothing doing.

A farmer i n the Patea district who is milking 130 cows, who took over 40001b s of milk, per day in the flush, is now down below lOOOlbs, and is feeding soft turnips to gain the last-mentioned results. Some farmers in the Patea district are feeding hay, ensilage and turnips on ac r count of shortage of feed. What will become of the cows in the winter months when the winter feed ha s to be fed now i s a question which will have to be faced later on.

A farmer in a big way in the Waikato, and a chairman of a large factory, wa s on a visit to Stnatford last week. In discussing dairyingmatters with a local farmer, he said: “Why, you don’t know there i s a drought on here. The grass is so green. Up our way there is not a green blade of grass anywhere, and the paddocks have a brow n appearance.” * * , Cow s require a good deal of shelter in the winter, and during the present dry and hot spell (after they have had their fill) they make for the shade of the bush or hedge, as the case may be. * * In discussing roads with a Waikato motorist the other day, a. local farmer was told that the Taranaki roads were a pleasure to motor on. He said our worst roads we re about equal to their best, but, the Waikato man said: “We are going to get the bulk of the money from the petrol tax from the Highways Board, and then we will have good roads.” If this is so, the Taranaki farmers should get a refund from the Highways Board, as ■ they have rated themselves to make good roads, and are now being called upon to help those in the north (who have, not H 0 rated themselves) to make their roads. Wake up, Taranaki, and don’t be imposed upon!