FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1920, Page 8

FARM AND DAIRY.

BUTTER AND CHEESE OUTPUT. JHE AUCKLAND PROVINCE. The output of dairy produce in the Auckland district this season promises to at least equal that of last season; notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions that prevailed during the early part of the present season (says the Auckland Herald).

As a, result of the extremely dry weather in the spring and early summer the returns from the butter factories to the end of January were considerably lower than the figures for the corresponding period of the previous season, but, the rains that fell throughout the district in February have caused the butter returns to improve, and an exceptionally good autumn is anticipated by the dairy farmers.

During the current season to the end of February the quantity of butter received at the Farmers' Freezing Company's grading stores amounted to 365,549 boxes, as compared with 415,788 boxes for the corresponding period of last season, a decrease of , r >0,239 boxes. Usually the quantity received at the grading stores represents the total output for the district, but owing to the acute shortage of butter in the south at the beginning of this season much of the early output of the district went straight into consumption. This amount is estimated at approximately 20,000 boxes, which makes the decrease for the current season to date approximately 30,000 boxes. Providing the present favorable weather continues to the end of the season it is possible that the present deficit will be made good by the end of June.

As indicating the .manner in which the butter supply has recovered, owing to the rain, it is interesting to note that though the quantity received at the grading stores last month totalled only 56,000 boxes, as compared with 60,000 boxes for February, 1019, the decrease occurred during the first two weeks of the month. During the last two weeks of February this year the quantity received showed an increase as compared with the last two weeks of February, 1919. The output of cheese this season has been slightly greater than that of last season throughout the whole period. The quantity received at the grading stores to the end of last month totalled 109,5G9 crates, as compared with 101,784 crates to the end of February, 1919, an increase of 7785 crates. During last month 17,250 crates were received at the stores, as compared with 15,900 crates in February, 1919.

In considering the butter production for the season it has to be borne in mind that certain areas that previously supplied butter factories are now dovoted to the manufacture of dried milk, and that this branch of dairying is being more extensively cultivated each year. The figures relating to the dried milk production are not available, but it is stated by dairy experts that the reduction in butter production this season is in part attributable to the extension of the dried milk industry. The total value of the butter and cheese production of the Auckland district for the year ended .Tune 30, 1919, was approximately £3.187.000. The value of the butter and cheese received into the grading stores to the end of February this season is approximately £2,530.090. Making an allowance of £90,000 for the butter that went straight into consumption in the early part of this season, this loaves an amount of £547,000 to lie made up by the end of next June if the present season's values are to equal those of last season.