RAIN BADLY NEEDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 308, 31 December 1942, Page 4

RAIN BADLY NEEDED

PASTURES DRY AND BURNT PRODUCTION FIGURES DROP Lack of sufficient feed, due to pastures being burnt up by a succession of hot, dry days with excessive high winds, is retarding the drive for production in the Wanganui aaid southern Rangitikei districts. Lambs are not as forward as they shduld be, and in many instances their weights are below the average for this time of the year. Production from dairy herds has dropped and in some areas farmers are concerned because of insufficient water. “We have had no proper spring growth,” said a farmer yesterday. He explained that prospects were good in August, when the first growth appeared to come away well, but September was so wet and windy that further growth was retarded. A similar position obtained in October, but subsequent months have been noled for dry, windy weather. “I have never seen the countryside so bare at this time of the year,” said a dairyman who has lived in the Wanganui district for 50 years. Dairy herds were all down in production, some of them by as much as 50 per cent., he added. The average decline appeared to be about 40 per cent. Dry pastures and shortage of grass has resulted in lambs being backward, with the result that quantities being handled by freezing works are below figures for previous years. This is also borne out by railroad statistics, whicli show that fewer lambs have been transported this season than last. One Fordell farmer had 700 fat lambs in his first draft last year, the average freezing weight being 361bs. a carcase. This year his first draft did not exceed 170 lambs, their average freezing weight being 30.681b5. Another farmer sent 700 lambs to the works a month ago. the freezing weight working out at an average of 331bs. North of Batea pastures are in a better condition and farmers report that more feed is available than in the Wanganui district. In the high country north of Hunterville the growth this season is normal. Pastures in the southern portion of the Rangitikei district, however, are dry and withered. Fordell. up-river and Westmere farmers are concerned because feed is poor and the ground is baked hard. Hay crops are poor this season, a factor which may cause concern in the winter if conditions do not improve.