FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 36, 14 July 1939, Page 3

FARMING NOTES

TARANAKI STOCKMARKETS BUOYANCY CONTINUES ' » i I>EMAND TOR DAIRY CATTLE Messrs Newton King Ltd's stock market report for last week states:-' Although signs of winter are now more it cannot be said that any adverse influence on activities lit the livestock market has as yet been noticeable, and apart from the minor fluctuations that sales are al- | ways subject to, the tone in most branches suggests that the existing firmness will * be maintained until heavier supplies are uncovered. Dairy sales continue to give satis. faction, great interest being manifest f at all sale centres and while it is not possible to declare any improvements in values for late and lesserbred cattle, those ruling for average to good quality early calving sorts are very firm. With the clearing sale season almost at a close, it is expected that a wider search for replacements will soon begin and with a scarcity of really good heifers stitonger competition; for lesser grades may soon be in evidence with perhigher price levels in associailon. With so many in_calf heifers having been sold, replacing of supplies for next season's requirements is now being more seriously considered by graziers and yearling and two.year empty Jersey heifers are enjoying freei* inquiry with some improvement in values accompanying the movement but here, too, there is a definite shortage of top cattle, itt fact it could be said that all grades stein in short supplj'-. The store sheep section shows little alteration from the preceding week.

The earlier appreciation in values in this branch is being maintained but only occasional inquiry is being encountered. Supplies of Beef. Although there does not seem any probability of an immediate shortage of beef, supplies are not overplentiful and gradual improvement In price levels seems assured with the advance of winter. Trading since our last Report in this branch has been on a par with last week's fig-, ures. This can also be said of the fat sheep in which branch supplies of prime sheep are scarce while plainer sorts ar*e not in good supply and values are definitely on the up grade. Business through the medium of private treaty since our last report has been ma,inly confined to the dairy cattle section, in which branch good rumbers have changed hands. Sales include 70 two and three year dairy heifers of average to good quality at. £!), 66 good quality two year dairy heifers, a little light in condition, at £8, 36 average to good quality two year heifeHs £9 one truck of top two year Jersey heifers £12, one truck of good cattle £10, 13 two year Jersey and Jersey cross heifer s £9, 13 two 3 r ear Fricsian heifers at £9 15s, 30 back country dairy cows at £9 10* and 21 a t £8.

HEIFERS IN DEMAND

Owing to a shortage of top dairj'heifers In North Taranaki Waikato buyers are filling their requirements with selected early calving cows. Two trucks of these from Mr E. Maxted's clearing sale, held by the Fanneis' Co-op. at Pukearuhe, were sent north lecenlly.

NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE

' AYRSHIRE'S RECORD The first Ayrshire cow to produce 70001b butteri'at during her life, according to the Ayrshire is the Canadian owned Macdonald Dorothy, a hard-working, capacious, me. dium.size cow, bred, owned and developed by the Macdonald College } Quebec. On January 15, Dorothy's credits totalled 1, 0031b butter Co » from 165,6331b milk. At that time she was still going strong, producing 431b milk per day, testing 5.5 per cent, and promising to greatly in. crease her record.

WINTER STOCK FEED

Although hay is stated to be in fairly short supply in many districts no serious winter feed problems are expected by farmers in the Auckland district. Pasture growth exceeded most expectations in the earlier part of the winter, but the feeding out of hay a,nd ensilage is now general throughout the province. With production at its lowest ebb comparatively few cows are now being milked.

EAST COAST DAIRYING

A distinct revival of interest in dairying is apparent in the East Coast and Wairoa districts and next .season many more cows arc expected to be in, milk. New herds are to be brought on to some properties where dairying is not being carricd out at present while others milking cows intend increasing their herds.

SPRAYING RAGWORT

j From tests made at Ruakura it I has now been proved that spraying (the leaves of ragwort with poison 'does not always definitely kill the plant. The poison soaks down, some way into the but as ragwort roots are not impervious to water the poison usually disappears about 12 inches doivn or even less. It had been discovered that below the point where the poison left tho roots, the plant sprouted again, but whether this sprout would eventually come to the surface had not been proved as yet.

NOT INTERESTED

Tliat farmers in the Hastings district interested in the raising of pigs are not so interested in the formation of pjg clubs was shown when the total attendance at a meeting called to consider the formation of one or more such clubs was attended by the supervisor of the Tairawliiti Pig Council district, two farmed and two newspaper reporters. The number of farmers between Napier and Takapau who are concerned in pig-raising is between 120 and 150.

i products distributed

America is trying an experiment in the distribution of farm products. To persons in receipt of public relief she is giving tickets which will enable them to collect sixpenny-worth of certain surplus foodstuffs for every shilling they receive of public funds. Thus a person who draws £1 a week in "dole" can, also draw ten shillings' worth of ccrtain foods. The chief commodities concerned at present are grapefruit and dairy products, but it is possible ihat meat may also be included later.

DUNEDIN MILK PRICES

For the next three months, the Dunedin public will pay Id a quart more for milk. An intimation to this elfect has been made by the Dunedin Milk Retailers' Association, which ''regrets that on accouut of the increased cost of production, and distribution and the cost of living, it finds if. neccssary to ask its customers * to pay an increased price/" So far as can be recollected, this is the first occasion on which milk has soared to 7d a quart.

OTAGO WHEAT SOWING

The weather in Otago continues to prove favourable for the sowing of wheat. It is some years since farmers have had their ground in, such excellent order for ploughing operations, and a fair quantity of wheat has already been planted. Given continued good weather, there will be a considerably larger area, sown in wheat this season in the Otago district. Farmers are alive to the fact that wheat growing under the Gov-» ernment guaranteed price is one of their best paying activities at the present time.