DROP IN PRODUCTION

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 114, 25 November 1938, Page 3

DROP IN PRODUCTION

GISBORNE DAIRY OUTPUT UNFAVOURABLE SEASON The drop in dairy production in the Gisborne district continues. Mien- having' been a. surprisingly heavy fall "in comparison with the output ol the early part of the past season. Towards the end ol October and at the lieginuilig of the present month there, were hopes ol a recovery. Pillowing the light rains, which freshened the pastures considerably. Prior to that the ground had baked hard under the influence of high temperatures and strong winds, and pasture growth was at a standstill until Ireshened by the rains ol a lew weeks ago.

At present, however, the ground is nearly as dry as it was during October, except that the surface is not so hard, the rains of a few weeks ago having helped considerably in loosening the surface. Production, which commenced to rise rapidly at the beginning of the present month, has suffered a further check, and the seasonal increase is much slower than at this, time hist year.

Up to the present, Gisborne’s dairy production is from JO to 10 per cent, lower tlia.ii. for the corresponding months last year, the figures-lor which were lower than those of the previous year, so that Gisborne s dairy output for the season to date must he only about half of that of two years ago, up to a. corresponding date.