FARMING AFFAIRS

Lake County Mail, Issue 44, 7 April 1948, Page 6

FARMING AFFAIRS

This column is supplied 'weekly by Federated Fanners of New Zealand). The information given is official but any views expressed are those of the federation and are not necessarily those of this newspaper. PIG MEAT PRICE If the dairy industry would favour the reallocation of the dairy farm income as between butterfat and pigs so as to give further incentive to pig meat production, he would be prepared to make adjustments accordingly, said the Minister of Agriculture, in reply to representations from Federated Farmers for an increased pig meat price. He could not, however, in view of recent increases and the allowance provided in the guaranteed price formula, agree that an increased price would be justified on costs. The cost of producing pig meat was included in the guaranteed price structure for butterfat, said the Minister. An amount of 1.54 d per lb butterfat was offset as representing the gross returns for pig meat on butter-supply farms. Since that figure was arrived at, gross returns for pig meat had, however, increased by 65 per cent., on increase in line with increased butterfat prices over the same period. If, therefore, the true gross pig meat returns, on to-day’s prices, were used in the calculation of the guaranteed butterfat price, that would necessarily be approximately Id per lb butterfat lower than it was. The returns to dairy farmers were, said by the Minister, in advance to that extent, therefore of a price justified by proven costs of production, as submitted by the industry for the average efficient farmer. This aspect of pig meat production will be considered at the next meeting of the Dairy Section Council of the federation. Lime Transport Subsidy Initial representations to the Minister of Agriculture to have the lime transport assistance scheme back dated to October 12, the date of the cancellation of the original subsidy, have not been favourably regarded. In fact, the Minister has replied to Federated Farmers that it would not be possible to have the present scheme made retrospective from November 24, when the new scheme was made operative. The Minister’s reason for refusing the federation’s request was that the date of operating the new scheme —November 24, was the subject of most careful consideration and was agreed to by the Statutory Boards and by the Dairy Products Marketing Commission. As the farmer himself pays 85 per cent, of the new subsidy from the various industry stabilisation accounts, it is not likely that the Minister’s decision, made in consultation with the board, will find favour with producers in general. A special committee of the Dominion Council of the Federation has the matter in hand arid direct representations are to be made to the Prime Minister to have the subsidy back-dated to October 12. PENICILLIN SUPPLIES Information has been received by Federated Farmers that the Department of Agriculture is actively sponsoring the manufacture in New Zealand of penicillin preparations suitable for the treatment of mastitis. Discussions are taking place with the Health Department regarding the best method of arranging for the sale of such products. That information was received from the Minister of Agriculture in reply to a dairy section Council resolution asking for increased supplies of penicillin being made available for farmers. It is anticipated that there will be no shortage in future. Gymkhana Postponed Owing to a very wet day, the gymkhana to be held on Easter Monday was cancelled. This is the first occasion on which any event has been cancelled owing to weather conditions in Arrowtown.