PRODUCTION FALLS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 6, 17 March 1947, Page 5

PRODUCTION FALLS

RAIN URGENTLY NEEDED PASTURES DRYING UP The steady fall in butterfat production on the Rangitaiki Plains is directly due to the continued dry spell which appears from figures released by the Rangitaiki Dairy Company, to be the only reason why the 1946-47 season would not have been a record one.

A noticeable falling off occurred in February, which though not as bad as last year’s parallel return (drought figures) show a 67 ton drop on the record year of 1940-41, with which it had up till then been comparing more than favourably. It is anticipated that there will be a rapid dwindling in the supply from now on, and that even should substantial rain fall, it will be too late to re-establish the pastures which in many places have reached a serious state of deterioration. It is also expected that after the change of weather a fairly cold spell will set in, bringing the autumn to an abrupt end. The following figures supplied to this paper by the Secretary-Man-ager of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company, and showing the manufacturing returns for the record year, 1940-41, the drought year 1945-46, and the present season will be of interest:— 1940-41 1945-46 1946-47 July 68 tons 60 74 Aug 229 236 277 Sept 443 421 460 Oct 443 586 636 Nov 674 645 683 Dec 704 633 714 Jan 646 521 642 Feb 543 348 376 Mar ■ 496 302 Apr 373 272 May 216 168 June 83 73 Totals 5102 4265 3962 to date