BRITISH FARMERS' PROBLEMS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 February 1947, Page 5

BRITISH FARMERS' PROBLEMS

( Sp ec i al C 0 rresp 0 n d e n t . ) LONDON, Feb. IS. Farmers consider that the elfect Oi 'the present weather upon Britain 's autunnv-.sown crops may be extremelv userious if a thaw conies quickly amt exposes ground sown with corn to tlu direct etl'ect of heavy frosts. At pre. sent, the heavy coating of snow which is still lying ori most of the farmlahds is acting as a protective covering. There have been some losses of sheep reported in the hill country, and short | ages of winter fodder are bec.oming acute. Last season 's hay erop was otu* of the worst on reeord, and ricks in al. parts of the country are now* alarminglv depleted. Because of the rationing of animal foodstuti's, there is little pros ■ pect of obtaining supplies of concen trates to relieve the shortage. . The agrictiltural correspondent of the jYorksliire Post says that many farmers ] in the north are blaming the Govern iment for not establishing reserve stocks ] of feeding stufl's, and claim that tlu authorities gambled on a mild winter. ! There is considerable discontent be cause of the action of the Ministry o. -Food in allocating 50,000 tons of barle.. to whisky distillers, .as the farmers point out that this stock could havi been used to help theni in tlie present emergenc}'. It is expected tliat, as a result of the severe weather, lambing percent ages vvil^ show a considerable drop. Most of the hill-country floc.ks whicii have been seriously affected by tlu snowfall are breeding ewes. It is considered inevitable that thefc will be heavy re-sowings of wheat, barley and oats because of the extensivc areas in whiyli germination h a.s been stopped by the cold. The sugar-beet erop has now been harvested under conditions which farm ers describe as a ' ' nightmare. ' ' The results were generally disappointing. As a result of the cumulative effect.s of the very bad summer and the very severe winter, farm work in all parts of the country is very intvch in arrears, and the situation is made worse by the shortage of labour.