FARMING COSTS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 14

FARMING COSTS

Increases In Herds <K.Z Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, May 15. Twenty years ago a herd of 40 cows would provide a comfortable living for a farmer and his family, but today, in spite of increased efficiency and higher production a cow and an acre, a farmer had to milk about 70 cows to achieve the same standard of living, said the chairman of the Wellington District Pig Council (Mr E. W. Harrison) in his annual renort to the council today The decrease in farmers’ living standards, he said, had been largely brought about by the “vast” increase in production costs.

"Many of these increases in costs have been due to Arbitration Court action In never-ending wage claim adjustments. and to the political pampering extended to secondary industries and manufacturers,” said Mr Harrison. “If it were not for the diversification of farming returns offered by the pig industry, many of those farmers milking less than 70 cows would have no option but to accept peasant status in amalgamated small-farm units.

“If present trends in production costs continue at the same pace for the next 20 years, then the minimum herd necessary to reach bare living standards will be approximately 100 cows,” he said.