FARM AND STATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19990, 15 July 1939, Page 11

FARM AND STATION

DAIRY SEASON STARTING

GOOD YEAR PROMISED booby calf collections COMMENCING NEXT WEEN

The now dairy season in the Gisborne district is now starting, and promises to be one of the best for a long time, provided normal weather conditions prevail. A number of early cows are .already calving, and bobby calf collections will commence on Monday and will be continued' twice a week. Mondays and Thursdays. This is approximately the same date on which collections in Ihe district commenced last season, a start being made then on July 18, but it is understood that in some areas, particularly in Patutahi and Manutuke, more calves should bo available than 12 months ago. These, at least, are the earliest calving districts. Tiie Gisborne and East Coast Bobby Calf Pool Committee, which was formed recently, will take over the entire bobby calf industry in the Gisborne and Tolaga Bay areas. The committee has delegated its powers of collection and marketing to the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association. Pool Area Defined A Gazette notice has just been published declaring a bobby calf marketing area in the counties of Cook, Waikolui and Uawa, together with the area lying between the boundary lino of the Mala and Tokomaru survey districts. There was some doubt at the inaugural meeting as to whether Tolaga Bay would be permitted to come into the pool, but arrangements have been made for the committee to control that area, also, although no collections will be made there at present until sufficient calves are available. The season is usually a little later in starting in Tolaga Bay than in the Gisborne district. Effect of Mild Weather As a result of Iho mild weather, which ruled right up to the middle of last week, there has been sufficient feed in most of the pastures to assist the herds to recover some of their condition lost during the severe summer. Most- of the herds now are in fair order. The majority of the cows have had a long spell, and this has helped in the recovery of condition, so that the new season should be commenced with every prospect ol' the herds coming to full production more quickly than for some years. The rainfall this winter lias been well below the average, the total for April, May and June being only 9.2,fin., compared with the average of 14.(Min. for those three months. There lias been sufficient, however, to maintain a good growth during the mild weather that has ruled almost throughout, without leaving the paddocks damp enough to be cut up by the tramping of stock, but a good soaking this month would help to relieve the minds of farmers concerning the spring. For that reason, the rain litis week will be welcomed.

(Ev The Glenrter”)

MARKETING OF MAIZE

NEW INCREMENT SCHEME CO-OPERATION ESSENTIAL GROWERS AND .MERCHANTS A number of points calculated to facilitate the operation of the new maize marketing scheme in the Gisborne district have been placed before the Poverty Bay Maize Growers' Association by the Gisborne Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants’ Association. Co-operation between the growers and the merchants is regarded as essential for the proper working of the scheme, in which monthly advances from July to December are made in the minimum rate the Internal Marketing Department has agreed to fix, and in order that the merchants’ difficulties should be understood by the growers the .Merchants’ Association explained in a letter to the Growers’ Association the marketing methods to be adopted under the scheme. "Although in full agreement with the Marketing Department’s scheme of a monthly increase in prices,” the writer stated, “members of my association consider it advisable to record that the arrangement introduced the possibility of quite -! lot of trouble arising between growers and merchants, and between merchants and outside buyers. But it is thought that if the actual marketing positions is understood by all parties the scheme should work smoothly mid satisfactorily.

Commission Earnings “In the first place it is thought desirable to point out that although local merchants were referred to as buyers they are in reality not principals but growers’ agents, remuneration coming not from profit on reselling but from bare commission, of which 25 per cent is paid to city brokers. "Whether maize is handled on consignment or bought at a straight figure by a local merchant, the position remains the same. The Government i.o.b. price is the one and only figure at which maize may be bought and sold for shipment, and each merchant is under_ an obligation to provide for the same rate of commission, store charges, if any, cartage, wharfage, weighing, consigning, branding, sampling, etc., whether these charges are deducted from account sales, or are allowed for in arriving at a net price per bushel. "It is also essential for growers to understand that in finalising a sale with an outside buyer, the local merchant has to enter into a definite and binding contract to supply a evtain number ol sacks of first quality grain during a specified month, the actual date of delivery being at buyers' option any time between Ihe first and last day of the particular month.. “To growers these conditions may appear unreasonable, but they are part of the terms of sale upon which all grain, seed and produce transactions throughout the Dominion arc based. Weather No Excuse “Broken weather and other causes of delay in shelling do not in any way release local merchants from obligations entered into on behalf of growers, and irrespective of cost contracts have to be carried out in every detail. “With outside buyers holding the right to nominate shipping date, it ■ will be appreciated that merchants cannot always arrange for maize to go direct from crib to wharf, and growers must bo reconciled to paying the usual store and cartage charges when these are unavoidable. *“ln this connection, however, ii may Ijc noted that it does not suit or pay merchants to handle maize through store, and this being so growers can rest assured that at all times every effort will be made to effect direct shipment. "The conditions outlined above, of course, have been in operation for quite a while, and if thoroughly understood present no particular difficulties.

Increment Complication “With regard to the forthcoming season, however, matters tire complicated by the fact that shipment value increases month by month, and with a view to guarding against trouble in this direction, the Merchants Association asks you to impress upon growers that when a sale is confirmed providing for supply in, say, August, delivery in September will not entitle a grower to an increased price, but, on the other hand, possibly may involve certain expenses for non-fulfilment of contract. It is very essential that it; offering their crops for sale, growers should not over-estimate the number of sacks which will be available, and be sure that delivery can be given on the date specified. "As indicated earlier in this letter, there tire also other difficulties to be faced in connection with the marketing of maize, and although these do not directly concern growers, merchants are doing everything possible to ensure that the Government scheme shall work satisfactorily and with full benefit, to local producers."