DROUGHT IN OTAGO
WORST FOR YEARS
WINTER FEED OUTLOOK. SAID TO BE SERIOUS. 'Ey Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN. February 27. The drought which is causing the city corporation concern as to its water supply is having a far more serious effect on country districts. In areas north of Dunedin and inland to the Maniototo Plains, rain is urgently required and. in fact, the drought is regarded as the worst experienced for a considerable time.
North Otago, in particular, faces a serious position concerning winter feed. The hot, dry weather has burnt up the feed alarmingly, and difficulty has been experienced by many farmers in getting their lambs away to freezing works. The stock, in the circumstances. have come through dry conditions remarkably well to date, but unless heavy rain is experienced soon the outlook is black.
Fine-woolcd sheep and particularly half-bred ewes are difficult to dispose of. but prices for open-woolled sheep have been well maintained. The Waikouaiti, Palmerston and Dunback districts are similarly affected and any feed available is being quickly used up. Even Taieri is beginning to show the effects of the prolonged dry spell, but southern districts have shown comparatively few ill effects up to the present. Everywhere, however, there is not nearly so much feed about as in other years, and rain is urgently needed in all parts of the province. The only redeeming feature of the dry weather from the farmers’ point of view is that it has been ideal for harvesting, and many outstanding crops are reported. Most of the harvesting is completed in’ northern districts, but operations are in full swing in other parts of the province.
To date there has been only about 1.5 inches of rain this month, and if the experience of the past two years is any guide the rainfall for March may be similarly slight. In March 1939 only .93 inches of rain was recorded, and during March last year only 1.29 inches fell. It is to bo hoped that heavier falls will be experienced next month for the sake of stock and the numerous farmers who are at present compelled to cart water for domestic use.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 3
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358DROUGHT IN OTAGO Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 3
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