FARM WATCHWORDS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21144, 20 June 1940, Page 10

FARM WATCHWORDS

DAIRY PRODUCERS CHEESE AND PIG MEAT BRITAIN’S LOW BUTTER NEEDS (By Telegrapn.—special to Times) PALMERSTON N., Wednesday Watchwords for the dairy farmer were passed on by the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, Mr A. H. Cockayne, when addressing pig, butter and cheese producers at Massey College. They were as follows: Adequately feed all available cows to produce their maximum. Adequate top-dress, particularly on all cheese farms. Increase room for other forage crops, growing particularly for pig feed. Save adequate hay and ensilage. Grow more grain in the North Island, particularly those farmers not dairying. Save more calves this season and save the best. In connection with the last appeal, Mr Cockayne said that the Dairy Board was developing a scheme whereby more calves would be saved, but this would not affect production until 1942-43. However, when the war ended there would be a great demand for New Zealand produce as a result of the herds of Western Europe suffering as a result of the war. Butter Not So Important Mr A. H. Cockayne emphasised that the production of more cheese and pig meats could be looked upon as war work of the greatest significance. As regarded butter, he pointed out that even if Britain’s Northern Hemisphere importations had not been cut off she would have required reduced quantities, for the less that was spent on food the more money there was available for war purposes. Margarine suited her admirably, as the raw materials used in its manufacture could be stored without the expenditure of expanding cool store accommodation. In normal times Britain imported 500,000 tons of butter, but she could do with less than 250,000 tons, margarine filling the gap at half the cost. This reorientation of fat consumption meant that £20,000,000 a year was saved, enough to pay for 2000 aeroplanes costing £IO.OOO each. Much as New Zealand might dislike the position, it had to be accepted as a sound war measure in Britain.

There was a different picture as far as cheese and pig meats were concerned, as there were no substitutes. Mr Cockayne said that he was convinced that the Dominion’s herds were capable of greater production, for everyone knew that the cows were not adequately fed last season. The production of more cheese would handicap the pig effort, but every effort was going to be made to produce more grain and root crops.