THE BETTER YIELD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 October 1926, Page 6

THE BETTER YIELD.

In the principal dairying districts throughout New Zealand, the output for the. first three months of the new season is not quite up to. the record, hut the great, increase in production in September in many parts, indicates t T la.t with normal weather conditions a new record in butter production will be established before the peak months are readied. Warm rains in many districts have stimulated growth of pasture and, in the main, the milking herds have greatly benefited by the favourable climatic conditions. In tlie Auckland province the lAitter production increases monthly by leaps and bounds. Says a recent report: Butter received for grading at the stores during September totalled 125,383 boxes, compared with 111,226 boxes for tho corresponding month of last year, an increase of 14,157 boxes. Tho butter receipts for tho season to tho end of September totalled 183,733 boxes against 164,398 boxes for tho similar period of last season, an increase of 19,335 boxes. Tho following table shows tho monthly receipts of butter at tho grading stores during tho three months just ended, compared with the first quarter of the season 1925-26:—•

1926-27 1925-26 Boxes Boxes. July .... 9,583 9,706 August .. . 48,497 43.466 September . 125,383 1Fq226 Cheese received lor grading for the first three months of the season ended September 30 totalled 11,292 crates compared with 11,714 crates for the corresponding period of last season, a decrease ol 422 crates. During September the cheese receipts wore 8610 crates compared with 9565 crates for September of last year, a decrease of 955 elates.

The Auckland figures for September reached record dimensions, exceeding- tlie previous record of September, 1924, by 3415 boxes. The figures for the Dominion are available only up lo August. Generally speaking the returns were well up to normal. In August, 1925, o,l6ocwt'.. of cheese and 30,026 cwt. of butter were received into grading stores, compared with 4,214 cwt. of cheese in 1926, and 32,946cwh. of butter. Tlie shipments, for the month of August, 1926, were, however, considerably in excess of the, previous year (which was (he year of the shipping- strike), namely 41,933ewt. of batter ami 32,3780wh. of cheese, compared with .12,34-lew!.. of butler and 2,795 cwt. of cheese in August, 1925. Some idea of the importance of the Dominion’s dairy industry will he gained from tho official.returns in the “Monthly Abstract of Statistics, - ’ which show that in eight mouths ended

August, 192 G, the butter and cheese exported represented a total value of £10,000,000, compared with £10,050,000 in th« corrcfsponding- period last year. Whilst it is recognised that the outlook for the dairy industry is not as cheerful as the army oi gemiine producers could wish, nevertheless, it is gratifying to note that climatic conditions are distinctly favourable, and a, record yield may in some measure compensate the producer for smaller financial returns.