Farm Production

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 5

Farm Production

INCREASE IN SHEEP PIG INDUSTRY EXPANDING A further increase of over 1,000,000 sheep in the Dominion’s flocks, one of tho best harvests in recent years, and an increase in pig production, are shown in the report on the agricultural and pastoral production of New Zealand for 1935-6 compiled by the Census and Statistics Department. The report states that returns were made of 84,547 holdings of an area of 43,282,093 acres. Compared with 1934-35 holdings have decreased by 320, while the total area occupied has increased by 177,534 acres. Freehold and leasehold was returned in the proportions of 48 per cent, and 52 per cent respectively, and compared with the previous year the freehold acreage increased by 191,000, but the area of leasehold land decreased by 14,000 acres.

The figures for 1935-36 show that holdings used principally for dairying purposes constituted 47 per cent, of the total and decreased from 4.1,898 to 40,067. Sheep and cattle grazing holdings comprised IS per cent, of all holdings and decreased from 16,572 to 3 5,589. Holdinngs devoted to mixed farming, which formed 20 per cent of the total, increased by over 3500. More Wheat and Oats. The harvest of 3935-36 was one of tho best recorded in recent years. Areas of crops were generally higher than in 1934-35, and yields, both aggregate and per acre, were also higher iu practically all cases. Wheat production amounted lo 8,859,223 bushels, compared with 5,933,245 bushels in 1934-35. The oats harvest was 3,302,642 bushels, compared with 3,890,145 bushels. All told, the yield of produce from 375,700 acres threshed amounted to 9,118,000 bushels. Root crops yielded well, the increase in the ease of potatoes being from 109,123 tons to 121,004 tons. Compared with 1934-35, an almost negligible increase from 057,771 acres to 711.280 acres occurred in the area of grasses and clovers harvested for seed. Yields, however, were generally higher, giving au increased production of approximately 18 per cent over all variet-

A further increase of over 1,000,000 sheep is shown in the 1936 return, compared with 1935, the total being 30,11?,704 against 29,076, 754 in 1935. Only once previously has over 30,000,000 sheep been recorded—in 1930. The increase is largely confined to breeding ewes, which increased during the 12 months by 850,000. Wool Production. Wool production on a greasy basis during the 12 months ended June 30 oi' last year amounted to 316,500,0001 b from all sources. This quantity, which exceeds production in any previous season, was 14.7 per cent, better than the 275,900,0001 b produced in .1934-35. The total number of cattle iu the Dominion decreased slightly from 4,293,499 to 4,254,078 on January 1, 1936. The Dairy classes have declined appreciably particularly in replacement stock under two years old. On the other hand, eattlo for beef purpqses exceeded the numbers similarly classified in 1935.

The record number of 808,463 pigs was recorded in 1936, giving an increase of 6 per cent, over tho 1935 total of 762,755. Pig production has increased rapidly in recent years, and since 1931 their numbers have risen by 70 per cent.

Since 1911, when the peak number of 404,000 horses was recorded, their numbers have tended to decline, but in 1936 thei ncrcase was from 272,986 to 270, 170. Horses in the farm-working classes account for the increase.