ON THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1923, Page 8

ON THE LAND

AGRICULTURAL YEAR. BR GHTER PROSPECTS AHEAD. BETTER PRICES EXPECTED. A review of the year’s operations, by Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director-General of the Agricultural Department obtained by a Dominion reporter on Christmas Eve, reveals that better prices and brighter prospects are in store for the men on the land, and that they can look with hope and confidence to the coming year. “The year, on the whole, has been a good one,” said Dr. Reakes. “Wool is improving in price, and dairy produce, mutton, and lamb have maintained good standard values. Fruit-growers had a good crop last year, and overseas sales to the United Kingdom came out satisfactorily. Shipments of fruit to the Argentine, however, had a setback, owing to the market being over-loaded, with the result that returns were a good deal below what had been hoped for. This year a special export committee was set up, which has done excellent 'work, and seems to possess the confidence of the fruitgrowers. This committee is taking steps to regulate South American shipments so that the over-loading of the - market should be a satisfactory one this year.” PROGRESS IN DAIRYING. One of the features of the year’s work, added Dr. Reakes, had been the great expansion of the herd-testing system amongst the dairy farmers. This was bound to have its effect in increasing production on the dairy farms already in operation. In addition to this, dairy farmers had also given more attention to winter feeding for their cows, thus bringing about- an increased volume of dairy production. At the end of November the revenue in the butter-f.at equivalent was 1.2 over last year, while there was a .decrease in butter production of 5.4. The increase in cheese production, however, was 85.7, which represented an increase of 1.2 in butter-fat production. Up to last week the effect of the drought was not apparent. Showers In different parts of the country had no doubt stopped the decline which might otherwise have taken place. THE MEAT MARKET. The quality of fat lambs, the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture proceeded, was being well maintained, but, having regard to the competition which had to be faced on the British market from South American producers, sheep-owners in general must be on the alert not only to maintain the present standard, but to improve upon it as much as possible, as there was always a possibility of the standard going back. With due attention to breeding, and with proper grading, there was no reason why New Zealand lambs should not always maintain their premier position on *h/> Home markets. The beef position, unfortunately, had shown no marked improvement, but here again the more attention that was paid to quality the better the chance of improvement in the near future.