FARMING FORECAST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 207, 2 August 1937, Page 6

FARMING FORECAST

WEATHER HOLDS THE KEY. SHEEP VALUES MAY RISE. “Weather conditions, after all. govern the whole cycle from beginning o end,” remarked a Palmerston North business man in close touch with tlie stock markets, at the conclusion of an interview with a “Standard’ reporter to-day, in which he spoke with intimate knowledge of the outlook for the farming community in the new season. Under good growing conditions, he expressed the expectation of best wethei hoggets, before shearing, reaching ous a head and best ewe hoggets betteung 40s—unusually high prices. “The sheep question is one of those difficult things to analyse,” he said. “Wool and mutton prices are remarkably good. They appear to be holding and the sheep fanner seems to be going into another splendid season, the cold, bleak winter experienced here has cleaned up the settlers’ grass, preventing local farmers from purchasing ewe and wether hoggets, but the first of this local competition was seen at the Feilding sale on Friday and it is reasonable to expect, basing values on those of hoggets last year, to see best wether hoggets bringing 30s before shearing and best ewe hoggets past the 40s mark. Generally speaking, the breeding ewes have come through the winter rather well and they give promise of a very good lambing. In the Down country (the foothills and on the lighter land) there has definitely been a swing from the Southdown to the Romney. That is a very good thing, as good quality ewe hoggets will be retained for breeding purposes. “One point that has been noticeable lias been the continued active enquiry from the Waikato for sheep. The farms there are carrying more sheep, due to a slight reduction in the dairy industry and also the bringing of more land into production.” THE CATTLE INDUSTRY.

“The opinion that seems to bo abput is this,” the informant said, speaking of-the outlook for cattle: “There is some chilling going on, but the supply is not very great and there is every indication that all the chilling beef will be out of the country before the spring fattening supply is ready—which must have an effect on the market. Last season, in the younger beef cattle for chilling four-year bullocks were not plentiful. This year that scarcity will be more acute, ft appears that the Gisborne area, which is one of the main breeding grounds for cattle, has had two big selling years. It farmers have a good ‘growtliy’ spring there they will not be putting out nearly as many cattle, and at the moment appearances point to fattening bullocks not being over plentiful. “Extensive breeding has been taking place, both last year and the year before. Consequently there is a noticeable shortage of beef. Of course, much depends on the growth this spring. An early season will make the position worse. The grass would be available here on the heavy country and the cattle supplies only coming in later, while the farmers would be faced with buying to keep the pastures down and in good order for the sheep.” Touching on’ the development of the chilled beef trade, the informant said it was most evident that the hill country farmers, at sales of bulls recently, had been paying high prices for good stock. This must give good results, and the better class cattle, provided they were not worked too hard before being sold to come on to the plains, would naturally mature at an earlier date for chilling. “Of course, all of this can be upset by one good touch of dry weather, which could easily occur on any part of the East Coast.” he concluded. “That would immediately force the holders of cattle to sell. Weather conditions, after all, govern the whole cycle, from beginning to end. ’