GOOD PROSPECTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 225, 14 October 1940, Page 5

GOOD PROSPECTS

OUTSTANDING DAIRYING SEASON FAVOURABLE EARLY GROWTH With that greatest of all hazards to the primary production industry, unfavourable weather, safely behind them, the dairy farmers in the Bay of Plenty arc anticipating an outstanding season. It is the opinion of farmers that the season has had a 'flying start." Following upon the unusually mild winter, an early spring and the recent beneficial rains, the season is said; to have commenced about a month earlier this year, In practically all districts the cream and milk production for butter and' cheese-making is said to be about 2f> per .cent higher than at the same period last year. Great Response to Rain A short time ago there was some concern over the subnormal rainfall, and -fears were expressed regarding a shortage of feed. The recent heavy rains and the intermittent showers have allayed those fears and ensured a .bountiful growth. Pastures have responded amazingly to the warm rains, and, with some farmers, the keeping of feed within bounds is a problem.; In the normal course, additional stock is acquired in the spring, but the present high prices of cattle make this less easy of achievement. It was generally agreed that a sufficiency of feed, was ensureduntil early in December, and in some cases until Christmas. With a satisfactory rainfall in that period, the season would definitely surpass average figures of production. The ensilage and haymaking seasons would undoubtedly be earlier, and in some districts it would not be long before ensilage cutting would be undertaken^