NO SLACKING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 13, 6 February 1942, Page 5

NO SLACKING

TARANAKI FARMERS

WILL CROP SAME ACREAGE

With production about 10 per cent less than was the. case this time last year, dairy farmers in North Taranaki are showing no disposition to slacken their efforts, although the labour problem has reached an acute stage. Inquiries made recently at New Plymouth indicate that sales of grass seed, as well as seed for the usual autumn and winter crops, have not fallen to any appreciable extent below those recorded for the last twcj years. Those years were peak sea* sons for production, when farmers as a whole were responding to the call for more butter and cheesp, more beef, more mutton and more bacon. Labour had not then become the troublesome question of to-day and a larger programme of ploughing was undertaken than had been the case during the past two decades. Moreover, a greflat deal of unproductive land was brought in from a rough state, herds were increased, and all kinds of cropping marclied in step with the needs of the stock. The evidence of similar sales of seeds indicate that, despite the loss of assistants and the handicaps associated with -carrying on any trade or business while the country is on. a war footing, nearly the same acreage is, or will be. under cultivation again this season. When the drain on manpower became apparent nobody expected the farmers to be able to continue so steadily the plans they had prepared! two years ago. ft appears, however, that this is exactly what is being done. Fathers of families: whose sons have been taken from the land into either overseas or territorial camps have accepted the position, and with such assistance as they can get are still striving for high production figures. With almost the same extensive acreage under feed crops as was necessary during the years of record production, dairy herds in North. Taranaki are expected to be capable of a long lactation and to winter well in preparation for the ensuing season.