BRIGHT PROSPECTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21200, 24 August 1940, Page 6

BRIGHT PROSPECTS

FARMING IN WAIKATO INCREASE IN PRODUCTION IDEAL LAMBING CONDITIONS The drive for increased production in the Waikato has opened auspiciously. More favourable weather conditions compared with this time last year have been a big factor in the higher butterfat returns being reported by the various dairy companies in the district. Most companies report an increase of at least 20 per cent for the first two months of the new season, June, July, in comparison with the returns for the same months last year. The spring of last year was very unfavourable, and dairy companies’ figures showed a drop in comparison with previous years. However, there was a very distinct improvement later in the summer and the autumn was one of the most favourable on record. As a result, production over the whole season showed a substantial advance.

The favourable nature of last autumn and the general mildness of the winter in most areas have been responsible to a large extent for the splendid start of the present season. Herds generally are in excellent condition and pasture growth is coming away. Substantial Increases To the end of July, the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Company wal showing an increase of 21.07 per cent over last season, this figure is growing to 22 per cent this month. An increase of up to 32 per cent in butterfat for the months of June and July is reported by the Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Company. The Te Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company showed an advance of no less than 50 per cent for the month of June and 29 per cent for July. Conditions are reported to have been particularly favourable in the Te Awamutu district, the very mild winter ensuring a heavy increase in returns.

In commenting on the position this morning, Mr C. J. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Ltd., said the season to date had h'ien highly favourable and the returns compared with the spring of last year were most satisfactory. This spring altogether had been one of the most favourable yet experienced by his company. Lambs Doing Well Early lambs throughout the district are doing particularly well. Conditions have been ideal for them and they have been able to make greater headway than was the case last year. Although it is yet too early in the season to arrive at a reliable estimate of the lambing percentages, it is expected that these will compare more than favourably with those of previous years. Twin lambs are not unusual, and some producers report that they have tailed record numbers. With a continuation of the present mild conditions, it seems likely that a record number of early lambs will be despatched from the Waikato this season.