LONG DRY SPELL

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

LONG DRY SPELL

PRODUCTION AFFECTED PASTURES ALSO SUFFERING. Taranaki has again experienced an unusually dry spring. On the higher country around the mountain the position has not been so serious, but on the areas closer to the coast the pastures have shown the drying effects of the hot spell that has been experienced, though fortunately there has been a comparative absence of the drying winds that are such a bugbear to Taranaki farmers. Streams during the week were rapidly diminishing and on some farms, where there was not a permanent water supply, it was found necessary to take the cows to water at nearby streams, while water has had to he carted for domestic use. Farmers and factory managers report that while the milk is holding up well the check will probably prevent the usual flush being experienced with, of course, a decrease in output. Even if there is a substantial downpour of rain shortly it is not expected that there will be the same flush. Another deplorable feature of the lack of rainfall is the effect that it has had on the pastures. The dry, hot weather has caused the grass fo shoot quickly up to seed, with the result that there is not the usual “bottom” in the grass. Consequently the ensilage crops will not only be so much lighter than otherwise would have been the case, but they will not possess the same nutritive food value. In the event of a dry autumn necessitating an encroachment on the supplies of fodder conserved in the spring and summer for winter use the position will become more serious. However, with the reversion to the plough that has taken place during the past two or three years dairy farmers will probably make provision by growing some supplementary fodder crops.