The Future of the Dairy Industry in the Auckland Province

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 684, 8 June 1929, Page 17

The Future of the Dairy Industry in the Auckland Province

(Written for THE SUN B y

WILLIAM GOODFELLOW

ROOKING back over the past 20 years one realises what tremendous strides have been made by the Dairy Industry in the Auckland Province in particular, and New Zealand in general. Radical changes have taken place both in the manufacture and transport of both milk and cream, and under Government farm instruction and grading at the port the quality of the dairy produce has steadily improved, and a remarkable degree of uniformity obtained.

Four important factors have greatly helped to make the dairy industry what it is today: an ideal climate, easy finance, fertilisers, and herd testing, and they will undoubtedly continue to play a v.ery important part in the future development of the industry.

Our climate is our greatest asset, and authorities agree that New Zealand is the finest grass land country in the world. Long term Government loans with easy repayments and Rural Credit advances will continue to encourage development, and to provide for the purchase of fertilisers, in increasing quantities, if our pastures are to be maintained and improved. Systematic herd testing is well established by the group system, and will continue for many years to increase steadily the average butterfat yield per cow. Economists consider that world values of primary products will fall considerably during the next decade. It is, therefore, important to know that several British grass land experts who have recently visited the Dominion, predict greatly increased production by the use of nitrogen to stimulate winter growth. It is always .difficult, and sometimes dangerous, to predict future development, but one would not be surprised to see the output of dairy produce in the Auckland Province double during the next 1 5 years, and it is reasonable to assume that any further drop in world prices will be more than offset by the increasing production from the existing improved farm lands. In the future, the output of butter and cheese will be accelerated somewhat by better roads and by electrical development, coupled with ample funds made available by the State Advances Department and the Rural Credits Board. World prices may fall, but with an ideal dairying climate, and a rapidly increasing output of dairy produce, there is every reason for both Town and Country being optimistic regarding the earning power of the dairy industry and the future of Auckland City and Province.