DAIRY CONFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19599, 11 June 1935, Page 9

DAIRY CONFERENCE

ANNUAL REPORT.

INTERESTING STATISTICS.

GATHERING AT PALMERSTON

The forty-first annual report to be presented at the annual dairy conference to be held at tiio Conference Hall, Palmerston North, on June 26 contains some interesting facts in regard to the progress of dairying in the Dominion during the past year. The report states that the. total gradings for 11)33-34 season Avere .139,337 tons of butter and 105,139 tons of cheese, compared A\ T ith 127,779 and 100,998 tons respectively for the previous year, representing an Increase in butterfat production of approximately 8 per cent. The present season opened under normal climatic conditions and early indications pointed to a further increase in production. Later, however, the Avhole Dominion Avas subject to exceptionally hot, dry weather, the conditions -being almo-st unprecedented in the history of the industry. Driedup pastures and general shortage of feed Avere reflected in falling milk supplies, Avith- the result that'production fell considerably (behind the previous year. Fortunately the 'drought conditions terminated V viii;£ihbst- districts early in ’February, and , a favourable j late summer and autumn season was, assured, Avhich AVill In some measure j balance. the earlier sct-liack. The j gradings for -nine months lo tire end i of April show that there were 125,118 tons of butter (salted arid unsalied) compared with. 131,962 tons In the ■corresponding period of the 1933-34 •season, this representing a decrease of 4.90 per cent. For the same period this' season there were 84,111 tons of -cheese (coloured and white) against 95,094 tons in the corresponding period the previous season, this being a decrease of 11.55 pef cent. Quality Maintained. Grading returns indicate that the quality of both butter and cheese has been maintained at approximately the standard of the previous year. While a definite advance, particularly in the quality of cheese, Avould have been , more welcome, it must be recognised that during the hot weather, both production and manufacturing conditions were unusually difficult. With regard lo butter, some troubles Avere experienced Avith food flavours, while slit openness was again in evidence in the cheese,, but no complaints of a very serious nature have arisen.

Farm Dairy Instruction.

! The difficulties encountered this season have again emphasised the 'necessity for- the introduction of Dominion farm dairy Instruction, a reform -consistently advocated by the conference for many years past- The Royal Commission in its report recommended that farm instruction bo placed oh a' sound basis, and it is hoped that in spite of, the financial difficulties Involved, means can be found to put It into operation. Improvement in the quality -of the raAv product, and also more rational transport methods to eliminate overlapping, etc., must be brought about before it can be hoped to attain the higher level of quality in the butter and cheese Avhich is so essential under present trading conditions. Produce Prlocs. The follOAving is the monthly average of prices realised on the London market for the twelve month-s ending May 1 with corresponding figures for last year:— Butter.

Month 1934/35 1933/34 Juno .... 77/- 79/- 78/- 81/July .... 74/- 75/- 78/- 80/Augus t 79/- 81/- 88/- 90/September . 717- 73/- 98/- 102/October . . 66/- 68/- 96/- 101/November . 73/- 75/- 82/- 86/December . 73/- 74/- 68/- 71/January 81/- 85/- 60/- 67/February ... 85/- 87/- 69/- 70/March 74/- 75/- 71/- 72/April .... ■70/- 78/- 71/- 72/May .... 77/- 78/- 76/- 77/Cheese. 1934-35 1933-34 White. 48/6 49/47/- 48/48/- 48/6 48/- 49/49/- 49/6 48/- 49/47/6 48/51/- 53/49/- 49/0 49/- 50/51/6 52/50/- 51/45/- 46/48/- 49/46/6 47/45/- 46/47/6 48/43/- 44/45/- 45/6 43/- 44/4 4 / 6 4 5 / - 43/- 44/4 3 / 6 4 4 / - 44/- 45/Coloured. 1934-35 1933-34 46/- 46/6 52/- 53/43/- 45/6 51/- 52/46/- 46/6 517- 52/45/- 45/6 52/- 54/49/- 49/6 48/- 49/50/9 31/49/- 50/45/- 46/45/- 46/46/- 47/43/- 45/47/- 48/43/- 46/45/6 46/3 44/- 45/4 6 / - 4 6 / 6 i3/- 44/44/0 43/43/- 44/-