FARMERS' HEAVY LOSS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 42, 23 January 1945, Page 5

FARMERS' HEAVY LOSS

HARVESTING POSTPONED

Heavy rain which fell on Saturday brings the total for this montl? up to 8.0 inches- 2.24 inches of which l'ell on Saturday alone. According to Tourist Department , statistics tlie rainfall this month has already exceeded the figures recorded lor January during the. last ten years. Ihe wet month has proved disastrous for many farmers in the dis. trict so far as- the hay crop is concerned. Hundreds of acres of liaj are lying waterlogged anc totally ruined. Farmers avlio hac left their hay standing have been the luckiest although much of thii has also been flattened down by the ! rain. However, they will still be ■ able to make the best of a late harvest f although the future date at which this will take jjlace is entirely dependant on the weather. Conditions } which appeared more settled on Monday still held a threat of rain and as yet there can be nc guarantee of it staying fine lor any definite period. Stone fruit crops have also suffered heavily to the. extent that much of the fruit is rotting on the trees as well as on the ground. The continued damp weather has spelled ruin to the larger portion of the peach and nectarine harvests while the plum crop has also been severely Effected. While there is some blight in potatoes- grown in the district it is not yet very prevalent although in present conditions there is great danger that it Avill at any moment. Farm crops of swedes and carrots are looking well and have probably benefited by the rain. There has been phenomenal growth of grass everywhere for the time of the year and most garden crops appear to be doing well. > Reports from Waikaremoana yesterday indicated that although heavy rain has been experienced in that district the roads- were still in fair order ? although motorists are warned to exercise extreme, caution. The Te Whaiti district experienced heavy and several streams were but at. a late hour last night it was stated that there had been, no flooding. Fishing would be retarded, to a considerable: extent,