WHAT FARMING PAYS BEST?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 847, 20 June 1910, Page 8

WHAT FARMING PAYS BEST?

A SOUTHLAND. CALCULATION. A farmer in the western district of Southland lias been telling the lnvereargill "Times" that ho has arrived at the conclusion that oat-growing at current prices is not so favourable as either sheep or dairy farming. To cope with tho high prieo of labour, ho was . of opinion that nothing less than' 2s. 'per bushel for oats gave a fair profit, whereas ho had not secured more than Is. 3d. for his. harvest of 700 bags of sparrowbills. Ho based his argument of preference for sheep or cows on the claim that his land would carry two cows to three acres, and three ewes to tho acre. Taking a return of £W per annum for each cow meant £20 for threo acres, or £& 3s. ii. per aero, tho farmer and his wife being able to look after (ho cows. Sheep ho worked out at Bs. per head for wool and 12s. per lamb (five months old), a total of 205., which, based on the average of three ewes to the acre, meant £3 for wool and lambs, no labour being required. For grain' ho estimated a fair yield as at 40 bushels to the acre, which, at Is. 9d. per bushel, produced £'1 10s., labour having to be deducted from that amount. He accordingly summarised his figures as:—Dairying, Ji3 Ms. Jd. per acre;, sheep (no labour), £'i per. acre; and grain-growing (heavy labour), ,C 3 10s. per acre. Ho was aware, he Paid, | that he was only dealing with actual results, and was not taking into account tho initial outlay, nor the fact that cows and sheep required turnips, and that lamlis required, rape. He had reduced his cropping area for ono or two s«asons nast, and in no way. regretted. Iris-action..