JOTTINGS OF INTERESIT TO FARMERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20150, 19 May 1928, Page 10 (Supplement)

JOTTINGS OF INTERESIT TO FARMERS

JOTTINGS OF INTEREST TO farmers.

South American Wool. Official figures relative to wuol shipments from South America (luring the year ended September 30, 1927. show that 365.210 bales were exported from Argentine, and 130,099 bales from Montevideo. The corresponding figures for the 1925-26 season were 358.196 and U 3.884 bales respectively. A South American bale contains approximately 1251 b., or nearly three times as much is Australian bale. The Butter Market. The quotations for butter have deelined lately, but this is not of much importance, as there is now very little New Zealand butter reaching the London market. The reported drop in prices is probably due to favourable climatic conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be interesting to natch Siberian developments since the Union Cold Storage Company is financially interested in the progress of that country. Jerseys and Herd Testing. The last issue of the New Zealand Fanner says: —“A marked feature or group herd testing is that the greater its popularity the greater the popularity- of the Jersey cow. Indeed, the systematic testing of the grade herds of dairy cattle has revealed more than anything else to the general farming community the merits of the Jersey breed.” It points out that at Otorohanga Air Phillip’s herd of pedigree Jerseys led the 60 groups tested by 23 herd testing associations allied with the New Zealand Co operative Herd Testing Association, for the month of January, with an average yield per cow oi 49.731 b. fat. being at least 71b. ahead of the next highest herd. Also it points out that a grade Jersey herd in the same locality of 50 cows yielded an average of 57.401 b iat. for the month of December. Another remarkable yield is that of the grade Jersey herd of Messrs Farrow Bros., of Waihou, where 55 animals produced 22,1151 b. for the season, thus making an average production p« r cow of 4201 b. An outstanding feature of this record is that the figures given are for the factory returns, and do not include the house milk or that used to feed the calves—the latter quite a quantity, for Mr Farrow does his calves well, and quits them at g<»od money. Another feature affecting the herd is that it includes six two-year-old heifers and 31 second and third calvers. The herd was started six years ago. and is headed br a pedigree Jersey bull. Campbell K.C.. whose daughters are proving phenomenal producers. Record Sydney Wool Prices. The following statement, prepared by the Sydn -y wool selling brokers, shows th-! record prices obtained in the Sydney market dining the 1927-28 season, together with those of th - previous

The demand for frozen m at < t late has shown a decided improvement, and values all round have risen. This mav t>e partly attributed to the agreement reached by Argentina shipped, which has put a stop lo the . w ssive ship ments of .-hi11..,1 1,e..f t„ the I.on.ion market, whi.h Lad th.- effect in >!><■ oast- of depressing the market for all description-. of imported m-.-at. Xow

that shipments are regulated to meet the demand, prices have firmed all round. A second factor influencing prices is the increased purchasing psv-er of the masses consequent on greater industrial activity. The improvement in the meat market enhances the prospects of New Zealand freezing companies, and this is to some, extent reflected in the Stock Exchange quotations for the shares. American Meat Packing. The complaint appears to be growing in America that, while a large volume of business is being done, profits are either extremely small or are non-exist-ent. Thp four leading companies which dominate the American meat packing industry—Swift, Armour, Wilson, and Cudahy —are a good illustration of this. There is a widespread impression among the agricultural elements in the United States that the big packers are able to set their own prices for live stock ami to manipulate their profits at will, but this is crtainly not borne out by their balance-sheets. The operations of the “Big Four” for 1926 and 1927 (the financial year of all companies ending either in October or November) show that the sales in 1927 aggregated 2.243,325,368d01. (£468,665073). as compared with 2,126,726,645dol. (£425.365,329) in 1926. and the net profits amounted to 15,242,022d01. (£3,048,404), against 31,115,066d0L (£6.223.013). Thus, notwithstanding an increase in sales of £43,299.744, profits declined by 50 per cent. The dividends were maintained at 23,000,000d01., but only by drawing on the reserve fund. Probably in no large industry are losses so easily incurred as in meat lacking, ami during the past decade these have been colossal. The figures for all meat packing companies reporting to the American tax authorities are even more remarkable. Since 1924 the figures for packing companies have been combined with other companies producing food products, but for that year and the preceding six years it is clear that for every dollar made by the companies who were fortunate enough to be on the right side of the ledger there were losses amounting to 98 cents by the companies which reported losses. The New Zealand and Australian meat companies that have reported losses in recent years have been the victims of a general decline in values, and their experience has not been singular. The Wool Trade. There is now a lull in wool and activity is not to be expected until the new clip is in sight. In another eight or 10 weeks shearing will begin in Queensland, and gradually spread to the other Australian States. Even at this early date experts express the opinion that lhe demand fur wool will b strong and that prices will be maintained. Support of this view is furthcoming from the United States Department of Agriculture. This de- • <•< nimissioned aMrJ. J. Walker, consulting specialist, on co-opera-tive marketing to visit wool produc- ! in-; countries, ami report on wool conditions. Mr Walker, who spent 12 I • onth- ia this study, in his report to lit*- department, says that world pro-; dilution has not kept pace with the de- • n;and for r nsumjition. and that stocks ! ar»‘ extremely low. with no apparent > surplus .>f wool anywhere. He is of . • ■[onion that th.* wool yield of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa has already reached a point, which cannot ! be expended in consequence of limita- i tions of climatic and geographical fac- j tors. This, considers Mr Walker, gives 1 the 1 oiled States wool growers an op- j portunity tn place their industry on the ! best financial basis in its history. He | urges that the market methods of Aus- I India. New Zealand, and South Africa -hould be adopted by United States, growers. The report estimates that South Africa is carrying 35,000/100 head of sheep—a total which agricultural authorities there declare is 5,000,‘*oo over its safe carrying capacity. Australia is stated to be carrying more -beep than at any previous time, except 1891, ;i nd further expansion in N- w Zealand is declared to be impos- - blp ow-ing to lack of space.

cason;— Greasy. ]< 1926 Fleece, merino 41 40? Neck.', mc.iuo . . . . i Broken, merino . . . . •’«» 1 Lambs, im-iino .. .. 1 1’4 ‘ Pieces, merino .. •’s Bellies, merino Locks, merino . . 1«t -■* 1 ” 1 Pead, merino *’ 1 Fleece, crossbred .. 301 Lambs, crossbred - 31J •>.> 1 Fleece, comeback . . ”■1 * •’if Lambs, comeback .. 1*9 j — Scoured. Fleece, merino .. Combing. merino . . 4tV. Clothing, merino Pieces, merino . . Necks, merino. .... 3 j * Lambs, merino .. .. 1’S . 7 Bellies, merino .. . . " 4 3 Locks, merino .. .»() Dead, merino . . . . •>») i Skin, merino . . Crossbred, merino .. 17! The Meat Market.