PROGRESS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 157, 8 May 1940, Page 8

PROGRESS

FURTHERING PIG PRODUCTION | SURVEY TAKEN j . i The Supervisor, Mr J. R. Reen- j berg, reported to the annual meet-* ing of the Bay of Plenty District Pig Council, and said: — "In presenting my annual report I have pleasure in recording that considerable progress, albeit of an unspectacular nature, has taken place throughout the territory. "One outstanding feature characterises the movement and that the enormity of the work to be done and the necessarily limited means with which to do it. r : herf is scope on the Rangitaiki Plains alone for the services of one man to be devoted profitably to furthering pig production. Progress Review. Under this heading a suitable vehicle for conducting the survey was compiled. For a fortnight or so various' forms were experimented with until something reasonably workable Avas evolved. A number of these' Avas collected and then a lab-r our clause Avas added while later a clause relating to calf rearing Avas included. Of the 100 forms collected 82 contained the labour clause and 28 of these contained the calf clause. RevieAvs haA'e only been attempted on ordinary dairy farms. Where buttermilk, town garbage, boiling doAvn units and such like factor? have entered into pig production no attempt has been made to investigate progress since that would rob the project of uniformity. All the returns \\ r ere solicited individuno forms being distributed to be filled in and sent to the office, for the Aveaknesses of that practise are notorious. While the number of forms collected only represents one fifth of the total club membership in the territory, they should indicate trends quite accurately,, not unlike the Institute of Public Opinion polls Avhich . are conducted in America and England and Avhich sometimes describe happenings Avith uncanny precision. If the findings of this survey are too flattering in relation to the knoAvn state of the general condition of the pig industry in the country, they can be regarded as a creditable indication of the progress pig club members are making as opposed to those outside Che movement. Tabulated findings are listed separately and reference will be made to' them throughout this report. Labour Problem. The progress -review slioavs that 68 per cent of club members approached are turning off more pig meat this year than last, and that 47 per cent are Avintering more pigs this coming Avinter. Resentment is being expressed at statements in the Press and from other sources to the effect that times are so good the farmer is not bothering about making a feAV ex'tra pounds out of pigs. The most important factor relatiA'e to profitably using skiinmilk is having the necessary labour. In this connection the most outstanding difference betAA r een these times and the depression, Avhen pig production boomed, is that then plenty of lower priced labour Avas available. To-day onlyj 59 per cent of the returns described the labour position as satisfactory. In the survey 81 per cent of club members stated that the Movement had been of advantage to them. By the other 19 per cent the reasons given for deriving no advantage are to be found on the separate sum-oy findings. With regard to the Maori Clubs this is a quotation from the report of Mr C. Walker, Instructor in Agrictulture, on the Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition, 1940? "The improvement in pigs has been quite marked, particularly in the direction of introducing pedigree stock of both sexes. In addition a few of the competitors have acted as custodians for pig clubs, Avhile others have purchased slock from pig clubs in order to improA'e their animals. There is no doubt that the standard so far as pigs arc concerned, is shoAving a marked improvement." Cropping and Feed Supply. At the outbreak of the Avar and on intimation of the fact that the British Government Avould require only bacon from Ncav Zealand, a circular Avas sent to all pig club members stressing the importance of making proA'ision for farm cropsuitable for pig feed. The survey shows that 81 per cent of club m;~m-

bcrs are cropping. Fifty per cent of these have increased crop production this year and 36 per cen. have not cropped at all until this year.) The most popular crops are :maize, kumi kumi, pumpkins, carrots, tur--nips, swedes and artichokes. Barley and pollard imported by the Internal Marketing Division is being used by 75 per cent of club - members, and in the Bay of Plenty; - costs a fraction over a penny per pound landed on the farm. Conclusion. During the year considerable good has been done. The policy of individually contacting, farmers is proving itself by far the most satisfactory method of carrying out the work to be done. Theorganisation is really an advisory service. The essence of any advisory service is that it is centrally situated and if it is worth anything, constant application should be made to it. For that interest is re-4 quired. Unfortunately too much time has to be spent in attempting', to arouse interest and this will continue to be the position until New Zealand is amply supplied with agricultural colleges where farmers may send their sons from six months--to a year, not to become professors, but to become farmers equipped 7 with the armament modern farm4ni§fV, requires for its successful proseSlr-f*,; tion. It is a well established facl}... that those who know most, most readily seek advice. From time to time the Department of Agriculture arranges for ajc series of lectures and screen showings to be made in the district .| The two tours over the past twelve months have covered the as comprehensively as is consistent with reasonable economy. Comment on them indicates that they are of" very real value, not only to those who attend the meetings, but alsoto those who hear second hand reports of them, in stimulating interest and providing an opportunityfor pig raisers to learn of current developments in their industry.. I wish to thank members of theCouncil and officers of the Department of Agriculture for helpful cooperation throughout the year.