A YEAR OF AGRICULTURE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1932, Page 12

A YEAR OF AGRICULTURE

DOMINION’S GOOD RECORD

(SEASON’S CHECK ON PRODUCTION.

'YIELD PER ACRE BELOW NORMAL

"Taking the year as a whole, the Dominion has come through very we in the matter of production, considering the adverse weather conditions and the severe financial depression existing. This is the summing up of the agricultural position in the report of the Department of Agriculture for the year ended March 31 last, presented to Parliament yesterday 'by the Hon. C.■ E. Macmillan. The Director-General (Dr. C. J. Reakes) adds that notwithstanding the increased bulk of lamb, mutton and dairy produce shipped, the policy of the Meat and Dairy Boards in regulating shipments prevented any periods ot badly glutted markets occurring, activity in getting butter sold to, a greater extent in the Midlands and North of England being of material aid. Theie is still ample room for an increased distribution of New Zealand produce in portions of Great Britain whore hith■erto it has not gone .much into consumption, and greater activity is now ■being shown in seeking markets in ■other countries, a line of action which -is most desirable. . - Consequent upon unfavourable conditions in 1031,- the continued increasing production. which has been so noticeable during the'past few years was checked •to some extent. 'However, except- in | the case of arable crops, which showed a marked falling-off, the average yield per acre being much below normal, an increase has again to be recorded in our main products. In the case of dairy-produce yields can be best shown by taking the figures of each dairying vear ending on July 31. In the period. August 1, 1929, to July 31, 1930, the increase of butter-fat production oyer the preceding year was 10.40 per cent.; from August 1, 1930, to July 31, 1931, the corresponding increase was 2.50 per cent., and for the year ending July 31, 1932, the increase over the preceding year is 5.28 per cent. Considering the unfavourable season, this last-men-tioned aggregate, which represents nearly 9000 additional tons of butterfat, must be regarded, as very satisfactory. A well-marked decreased average yield per cow occurred, and this would naturally have resulted in a decrease in the aggregate production of butter-fat, but for the fact that it was more than counterbalanced by a greater •number of cows being milked on dairy farms, while a number of sheep-farmers started small dairy herds by way of assisting their finances in the face of low values' for sheep products. ■ The falling off of the average milk yield per coWs was undoubtedly attributable in part to. the .cold dry spring weather, followed by a dry summer in large areas of the country, and 'the effect of this upon supply of feed. Another factor of importance was the 'decreased use of fertiliser top-dressing : of pastures, due to the lowered pur-chasing-power of The provision of a subsidy, on superphosphate improved the position, and it is evident that top-dressing on a nipre extensive and reasonably adequate scale is being brought about. A feature of the year’s operations lay in the heavy slaughtering of sheep and lambs at meat-freezing works, the figures for the 12 months ’ending March 31 showing an increase of 042,885 sheep •and 491,707 . lambs, the proportion of 'killings to total stocks being higher than usual. A larger proportion of old ewes than usual is included in the sheep figures, and this is bound to be reflected in the number of breeding-ewes re-, turned in the next sheep returns. Owing to the seasonal conditions the woolclip was somewhat lacking , in style and character, while selling values reached a very low level. This, with markedly reduced prices for mutton and lamb, has seriously affected the finances of sheep-farmers. Additional trouble has ‘been caused by low values for sheep and .lamb by-products, and altogether sheep-farmers are having a very hard and anxious time. The heavy slaughtering already mentioned was doubtless the result of attempts to make as many realisations aS possible. 'While the anticipated large reductions in sheep stocks cannot be regarded with equanimity it may have some compensating effect in reducing .the bulk of wool to be marketed and' thereby helping to harden prices. The fruit crop of 1931 was a good one, and the quantity exported was some 20,900 cases of apples and pears in excess of the previous season’s shipments. The returns were good so far as sales in,Great Britain were concerned, but losses were experienced on continental sales, owing to the serious financial collapse in Germany and its reflection elsewhere. This is unfortunate, as the previous season’s continental sales gave good results. A call upon the Government guarantee ensued, the amount involved being £19,17’1. So far as the 1932 season is concerned the prospects are at present better from the guarantee standpoint. The poultry industry is still making progress, but is hampered by a lack of proper organisation. A strong effort is now being made to get th 6 industry •organised on a good basis, and, if successful, it should result in it being placed in the position so useful, an inindustry deserves. A relatively small quantity of eggs was exported, but the realisations were considered satisfactory in the circumstances. The leaders of the industry exhibit commendable enterprise, and, if assisted in their efforts to obtain better organisation, the endeavour to develop an increasing export trade should give good results. ■ In the case of honey, production fell ■heavily, the seasonal conditions being entirely responsible. The hemp industry is still languishing, the serious drop in manufacture recorded last year having been accentuated. Efforts are being made to find fresh avenues of utilisation of the products. Good work is being done at Massey College in the selection and breeding of plants from strains of proved high quality, and it may be hoped that better times are in prospect for this industry. The production of grass and clover seeds for export has become a useful ■adjunct to farming practice in areas where soil and climatic conditions are ■suitable, and the returns therefrom for the calendar year 1931, as shown 'by the Customs export figures, amounted to £155,410. The practice of Government testing and certification has proved a valuable factor in building up this branch of rural industry on a good basis.