AGRICULTURAL YEAR

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 82, 31 December 1934, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL YEAR

Returns From Primary Industries EWE FLOCKS INCREASE Rise In Average Butterfat Production SURVEY BY DR. REAKES I Climatic conditions during 1934 have-not been conducive to maximum output of grassland or arable farming products. This statement is made by the Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. C. J. Kealies, in a review of the primary industries specially prepared for "The Dominion.” The late summer and autumn of the 1933-34 season was dry, and this resulted in a falling-off in dairy production and lower yields from arable crops. These adverse conditions! he said, had persisted during the .spring, and were now being reiiectei particularly in milk products. Dr, Reakes said chat after some years of extreme depression, the sheep industry made a remarkable recovery during the 1933-1934 season. This recovery was the result of keen competiiton for wool and a buoyant meat market in Great Britain. The opening of the present wool season has not_ been so bright, and although prices had not receded to the 1931-1933 level, the drop, if continued, would result in some millions of pounds less being received for wool by New Zealand farmers than in 1933-1934. Fortunately, meat prices continued at a payable level, and the diversification of sheep farm products should enable the industry to be maintained with a fair degree of prosperity. The decline in sheep numbers, which was a feature accompanying the price depression, had now been arrested, and a period of recoupment had set in. This was illustrated by the fact that the total number of sheep enumerated as at April 30, 1934, was 28,649,038, compared with 27,755,966 in 1933. Thus a, recovery of almost one million sheep had taken place in one year. The recovery was of greater importance when it was realised that ewe flocks were again being gradually built up, the figure as at April 30, 1934, being 17,571,426, compared with 17,209.697 in 1933 and 17,063,060 in 1932. High Lambing Percentage. This movement, with an accompanying high lambing percentage estimated at 89.24 per cent, for 1934, must be regarded as satisfactory. The lambing percentage quoted above would give a total of 15,680,000 lambs, compared with 15,457,302 the previous season. Coincident with an improved lambing position, slaughtering of sheep and lambs for export had shown a decline during the past two seasons. The figures for the season’s killing (12 months ended September 30) compared with a similar period in 1933 (in parentheses) were: Mutton, 1,825,909 (2.010,159); lamb, 8,75J»677 (8,794,906) ; total, 10.580,586 (10,805,065). The total declared export values of sheep products for the 11 months ending November 30, 1929 to 1934, inclusive, were as follows • —

In addition to the above, the export values of principal items of by-products of the sheep industry were of importance and indicated a healthy tone in such trade. The values for eleven-mouth periods ended November 30, 1929-1934, inclusive, were: —Casings: £615,709, £736,643, £379,456, £260,654. £372,539, £599,439.. Wooied sheepskins: £346,600, £291,135, £151,256, £125,745. £375,773, £497,789. Pelts: £1,408,343, £1,159,484, £610,470, £532,311, £595,183,. £715,480. The Dairy Industry. Discussing the dairy industry, Dr. Reakes said the rapid increase in the milking herd of the Dominion had been an outstanding feature of the period of price depression. “This movement,” he added, “has added approximately 100,000 cows to the milking herd each season. The nufliber of replacement heifers will ensure that the milking herd for the current season is at least 60.000 in advance of 1933-1934. “Tlie number of cows milked last season was mainly responsible for an increased output of butterfat, although the per cow average also showed an improved position despite a poor autumn production. The total butterfat produced for the 1933-1934 season was 427,000,000 pounds compared with 397,000,000 pounds the previous season, while the per cow average rose from 215 pounds to over 220 pounds. Had the season finished off with favourable weather conditions, the increase in per cow, and in total production, would have been much greater. “The present season has opened with a falling off in total output, and should adverse climatic conditions persist, the drop in total output may easily account for a reduction of some thousands of tons oF export butter. Unfortunately, also, topdressing has not been maintained in ratio with the Increase in cows, and a poor growing season will tend to show, up any .depletion of fertility.” Dairy Produce Exports. The ex[x>rt values of dairy produce for the eleven months ending November 30, 1929-1934, inclusive, were: £17.360.441, £16.534,336, £13,108.611, £13.585,348, £14,511,168 and £13,530,642 resixvtively. Thus the total national income from dairy produce had not varied materially, but the net returns-to farmers had been affected, due to 'the Increased number of milking herds and to the greater gross cost of producing a larger volume of butterfat. Depressed dairy produce prices had forced farmers to a realisation of tho value of pigs. As a result the numbers of breeding sows on farms had risen rapidly, the figures as at January 81, 1934, being 98.299. compared with 87.686 in 1933 and 75.409 in 1932. Those increases in breeding sows wore reflected in the export value of pig products. the position for the eleven months ended November 30. 1930-1934. inclusive, being: £460.899, £269.506, £'245 122. £555,512 and £1,015.625 respectively. Since January last the number of

breeding sows had still further increased, hence pork and bacon pigs available for export would reach a new high level. The future of the industry depended largely upon the United Kingdom market. It was apparent, however, that pig products from dairy farms were worth at least one penny per pound on all butterfat produced, and dairy-farmers could not afford to lose this advantage, and in this connection the baconer quota arranged with the United Kingdom for 1935 had been on a sufficiently liberal scale to augur well for an expansion, in production of this class of carcase. Pasture Topdressing. “It is fully recognised by dairy-farm-ers and by the Government,” Dr. Reakes continued, “that soil fertility and production are closely linked up with the use of artificial fertilisers. Thus everything possible has been done to encourage their use, but the economic position of farmers has been such that the quantity used has not kept pace with the increase in dairy cows, but nevertheless the tonnage has been remarkably well maintained. The figures for artificial fertilisers, delivered for the period January-November, 1929-1934, are as follow: 408,000 tons, 360,000 tons, 299,000 tons, 380,000 tons, 301,000 tons, and 351.000 tons respectively.” The board of administration set up under the Poultry Runs. Registration Bill had been engaged in an attempt to organise the industry during the year, and it was hoped that their efforts would gradually improve the position of egg producers. Some 11,522 cases of eggs had been exported during 1934, compared with 12,106 cases in 1933. Apples and Pears. During the 1934 export season some 1,448,809 cases of apples and 126,103 cases of pears were exported compared with 1,303,831 cases of apples and 126,682 cases of pears in 1933. The marketing of fruit presented some difficulties, particularly as Great Britain was becoming overburdened. with apples during the period of arrival of Southern. Hemisphere produce, while the Continental market was at present uncertain. Nevertheless the prices realised during the past year were well above those of 1933. Last season’s production of honey was slightly below normal, but tho quality was well up to standard. In early months of the present year climatic conditions were unfavourable, this being mainly responsible for the falling off in production. Since the present productive season opened in the spring the conditions had been good, and the outlook for a good season’s crop was so far satisfactory. During the year prices obtained showed an improvement over those in 1933. The work of certifying pedigree grass seed had become a stabilise! branch of the department’s activities. In 1934 some 13.236 acres of perennial ryegrass were under certification, in addition to small areas of other types of seed. The area under observation this season was'approximately the same as last year. Arable Crops. The total area of wheat threshed last season was 256.271 acres, giving an average per acre yield of 36.54 bushels per acre iu 1932-33. The area to be threshed this season was estimated at 225.600 acres. The total area under oats for chaff and threshing iu 1933-34 was 296.498 acres, compared with 375.500 acres tho previous season. The poorer production season was reflected in the per acre vleld of 41.39 bushels, compared with 44.1 bushels i u 1932-1933, The total estimated area tor all oats for rhe present season was 364.729 acres. Barley occupied an area of 29.607 acres in 1933-34 and was estimated st 22.600 acres this season. The area devoted to potatoes was subject to but minor tluctnatlons from season to season. For 1983-84 an area of 25.028 acres was grown giving an average yield of 5.24 tons, compared with 24.606 acres, and an average yield of 5.25 tons in 19824933. The estimated area tor t>,e current season was 20,300 acres.

Wool. £ Lamb. £ Mutton. ■ £ 1929 .... 14.544,141 6,625,142 1,748,143 1939 .... 7,305,374 6,908,727 2,275,396 1931 .... 5,194.162 6,059,076 1,328,680 1932 .... 5.298.535 5,794,269 1,441,477 1933 .... 0,659.809 6.066„781 1,265,522 1934 .... 12,278,338 7,460,912 1,542,091 Wool, lamb, and mutton totals: £ 1929 . 22,917,426 1930 . 16,549,497 1931 . 12,582,818 1932 . 12,534,281 1933 . 13,992,112 1934 ........ . 21,281,341