FARMING TOPICS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22612, 17 May 1945, Page 9

FARMING TOPICS

PRODUCTION INCREASE COMPARISON WITH LAST YEAR The high level of dairy production this season has been indicated by the figures for the eight months of the dairying season to the end of March. For this period butter-fat production was approximately 136,500 tons, against 119,400 tons for the same period last season. The industry has more than attained its wartime food production goal of an increase of 10 per cent over last season’s yield, the increase amounting to just over 14 per cent. There is now little ground to fear any marked setback in comparison with last season’s figures, in spite of the fact that April to July were good producing months last year. In the eight months to March the South Auckland district produced some 56,700 tons of butterfat. This was an increase of about 18 per cent over that of the same months of the previous season. While the highly favourable climatic conditions had much to do with the increase this season, another reason has been the magnificent rr.ponse of dairy farmers to appeals for increased production.

Pig From Campbell Island It was stated at last week’s farm school at Claudelands that a very interesting exhibit at the Ruakura Animal Research Station is a pig brought from Campbell Island, which comprises 44 square miles (28,160 acres) and lies several hundred miles due south of Stewart Island in the storm-tossed Antarctic. From time to time efforts have been made to farm the place, but successive efforts have been abandoned, owing to the bleak situation and difficulty of access. The pig is a descendant of pigs left on Campbell Island nearly 100 years ago, and as there were no later infusions of fresh blood the pigs there have deteriorated until they are almost unrecognisable as relatives of the modem bacon-type pig. The- object of having the Campbell Island pig at Ruakura is to afford an illustration of the need for breed improvement by judicious and planned infusion of fresh blood if the present-day bacon pig is to be still further improved. Machinery for Small Farms Mr A. T. Shannon, Field Economist, Department of Agriculture, was one of the speakers at the farm school at Claudelands, taking as his subject “A Co-operative Machinery Scheme for Small Farmers.” Mr Shannon said farm labour had become a problem with higher costs in all directions; that there was an assured trend to smaller farms and a larger rural population. It was therefore necessary to decide how best to procure and use farm implements and machinery to the best advantage. He outlined a scheme for co-opera-tion in procuring and using such implements as were needed. This would be more economical than each farmer owning and using particular implements for perhaps only a week or two in twelve months. Small farms to be economic units must be intensively farmed, and they would present every bit as hard a problem as did the bigger holdings in the past It would require more work on a small farm to produce a pound of butterfat than on a larger holding. The problems had to be faced, and increased mechanisation seemed to be one of the answers. The average small farmer would not be able to afford that machinery, except by cooperation. Mr Shannon told of the enterprise of the Kaikohe Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Limited, m initiating a scheme for producing machinery and farm implements for the shareholders to use co-opera-tively. The address provoked considerable discussion, during which the opinion was expressed that the scheme somewhat resembled that in use by the Native Lands Development Scheme, but it was claimed that such a scheme could better be managed by farmers themselves through their dairy companies. Dairy Production

At a meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Board a letter was received from the Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company stating that at a meeting of directors the production figures as prepared by the Dairy Board were considered and discussed, and it was noted with pleasure that there was every possibility of reaching this season’s goal of a 10 per cent increase in production. The directors considered, however, that the increase was due mainly to the very favourable season experienced, particularly in the Auckland province, and not to an increase in the number of cows being milked. They were anxious that a wrong impression should not be created among those in responsible positions, that all was well with the primary industries, and that a continued rise might be expected. In fact, it was the considered opinion of their directors that it would be difficult to maintain the level of production reached this season, for such favourable climatic conditions could not reasonably be expected, let alone increased to 10 per cent, with still a further increase in the season after that. They asked, therefore, that the Dairy Board keep this matter constantly before the Government and continue to press for increases in the manure allowance and endeavour to have retained in the industry those men who were best fitted to obtain the highest possible production. Board members expressed agreement with the general sentiments expressed in the letter. Cow Saving Scheme A cow saving scheme was launched by the Te Awamutu Primary Production Committee late last season when it became apparent that one of New Zealand’s main war efforts lay in the maximum production of primary products. With the decrease in the number of heifer calves kept for replacement and the large number of young sound dairy cows being sent to the works on account of not being in calf, it was felt that the Production Council should have made every effort to ensure that these cows were retained within the industry for a further period. The 1945-46 dairying season will prove the most critical for our cow population. The Te Awamutu committee, although starting late in the season when a large number of cows had already found their way to the works, was responsible for the retention of over 200 head, 90 per cent of which would otherwise have been

slaughtered. Whilst it is too early to give a detailed report, it is of interest to know that of the total 14 proved to be in calf and have been returned to the industry, whilst six have died through various causes. Accidents on f arms

Like every other industry, agriculture. too, has its occupational hazards, writes Mr P. S. Syme, in the Journal of Agriculture. These, as

shown by the Government Statistician, are by no means negligible, 25 ,

deaths being recorded in 1943. It j may be fairly assumed that for every • death there must also be perhaps as i many as 20 or 30 non-fatal acci- j dents, resulting either in permanent j disability or some less serious injury. | Viewed in this light, it will be seen j that accidents exact a heavy annual i toll. Admittedly, accidents will hap- j pen, but let it also be admitted that j many accidents need not have hap- 1 pened. Because of the human ele-1 ment, some accidents are as inevit- j able as they are simple. Falls in gen- 1 eral are a prolific cause of injury, j Often they just happen. But, if the fall was due to slipping on smooth, sloping concrete or a “wobbly” step, j then it may be argued that such an; accident could have been avoided j and was in fact due to contributory! negligence in so far as such traps; for the unwary invite an accident, i Considered from this point of view, ; there is no room to doubt that with j reasonable care the accident rate on » farms can be very appreciably re-! duced. The majority of farm ac- : cidents are associated with the use

of machinery, and it is a fairly safe assumption that a considerable number occurred in the harvest field. The mower, the stacker, and the simple pitchfork each year exact their toll of human suffering, and yet, surprisingly, such accidents are in the main the least inevitable and the most culpable. A FLAWLESS SKIN Is the Basis of Real Beauty But how often is beauty marred by distressing skin ailments which cause discomfort and embarrassment? A flawless skin is more precious than the finest gem —but it need not be as rare. The Klexema Treatment has. for the past thirty years, brought welcome relief from such skiand scalp ailments as Seborrhoea. Acnc Alopecia. Psoriasis. Eczema. Baby Eczema. Falling Hair. The Klexema method is unique in that it provides a complete scientific course of treatment varying with different patients according to the symptoms. The fully qualified Klexema nurse will gladly offer advice on YOUR skin trouble. The Klexema Rooms are in— National Bank Bldgs., Victoria Street, Hamilton. Phone 1611. All Anne Clare Beauty Aids obtainable. KLEXEMA (N.Z.), Ltd., Dingwall Bldgs.. Auckland. (i)