District farmers set for winter

District farmers who had been preparing to face a winter drought now could expect one of the most prosperous winters on record.

SINCE the beginning of April about 55mm (220 points) of rain has broken the drought and encouraged good pasture growth.

Deputy president and state representative of the Victorian Dairyfarmers Association Mr HJ Roberts of Lillico said it was “marvellous” the rain had come when it was needed so badly.

He added: “The sunshine which followed the tremendous rains will provide even better fodder for the cattle.

“During the past three weeks the outlook has completely changed from very dry to the green it usually is.

“This is almost a repetition of what happened last year except this year the rains have come later.”

The drought broke last year at the beginning of February when about 125 mm (five inches) of rain fell in about 48 hours.

Mr Roberts said this year the rain had fallen over a longer period and the sunshine that followed would make it more effective.

Mr Roberts, who has just returned from a holiday in New Zealand, said the same thing had happened there.

“The drought they had over there was a lot worse than ours - it has been their driest period on record.

“They got a break in the drought about the same time as we did but their production after the drought is not improving as quickly as ours.

“Because of this difference in production there will be a shortage of dairy products and prices will be good.

“Overseas markets will be especially good because this year there will not be as much competition from New Zealand farmers.

“Prospects for the farmer now seem really good and it seems we are ready for anything.

“All round, farmers can expect prices will be good and the availability of markets for dairy products will last into the foreseeable future.

WORTH SEEING

A Warragul housewife telephoned The Gazette to report having seen the planets Venus and Jupiter “to the east of Warragul” early this morning.

MRS Bernice Taylor, of Charles Street, said she was wakened at 3.45am by the glare of two bright lights in the sky.

“It was a brilliant, absolutely amazing sight,” she said.

“So I woke up my husband, Gene, and the children so they could all see it.”

The children are Wayne, 9, Grant, 8 and Jodie, 5. A niece, Tracey Pedersen, of Skinner’s Road, and Mrs Amy Taylor, Mr Taylor’s mother.

Mrs Bernice Taylor said the planets “stayed fairly close together and from time to time sparks came from one on the lower level.”

Mrs Taylor said that when she phoned a Melbourne daily newspaper she was told that Venus and Jupiter had risen at 3.02 am today.