364 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 June, 1918. 



REVIEW OF THE BUTTER EXPORT SEASON. 



The Annual Conference of the Australian Butter and Cheese Fac- 

 tories Managers' Association concluded a four-days' session at Mel- 

 bourne on the 17th May. 



At the meeting on the 14th May tlip following review of the hutter 

 export season was made by Mr. E. Crowe, Exports Superintendent: — 



Although great hopes were entertained at this time last year, the 

 past season has been disappointing. The exports totalled 11,042 tons, 

 having a c.i.f. value of £2,009,644, against 14,099 tons, worth £2,763,598, 

 for 1916-17. 



The total exports of butter from Victoria since the inception of 

 the trade in 1889 has now aggregated 338,726 tons, having a value of 

 £37,940,079. 



Various causes may be assigned for the recent season's disappoint- 

 ing results. The climatic conditions were such as to make the season 

 later than was expected, whilst in one of the principal dairying dis- 

 tricts a pronounced shortage in production has recently taken place, 

 following on the dry weather experienced. 



Although the Department of Agriculture has consistently urged the 

 conservation of fodder, we find that most of the silos in the country 

 are at the present time empty, whilst some of the structures have 

 actually been dismantled. Upon looking for a reason, it is discovered 

 that dairying in the winter-time does not pay as compared with the 

 spring and summer months. It is well known that the production 

 of butter on a large scale in the winter-time involves the cultivation 

 of the land, the purchase of seed, the harvesting and saving of crops, 

 as well as labour in feeding the stock. In addition, in many instances 

 the purchase of fodder (such as bran, <Scc.) has been necessary. 



It is estimated that it costs at least 50 per cent, more to produce 

 a pound of butter in the winter-time than during the spring and summer 

 months. Manufacturing costs are also higher. It is obvious that 

 when a factory is turning out two tons of butter per week, the cost 

 of manufacturing each pound is higher than if the factory output be 

 ten tons per week. The manager, secretary, and engine-driver receive 

 the same rate of pay per week in the winter as during the summer, 

 whilst the cost of fuel and cartage cannot be correspondingly reduced 

 with the smaller output. Thus, it will be seen that, if the same price 

 rules during the slack period of the year as in the summer and spring, 

 there is a smaller amount available for distribution amongst producers 

 after manufacturing costs have been provided for. 



The slight increase recently fixed for the winter months, as compared 

 with the rest of the year, has had little effect in remedying the existing 

 artificial state of affairs. 



For the four years 1911-14 the arrivals of butter in Melbourne for 

 the months of May, June and July averaged 2,828 tons; whilst for 

 the last two years, 1916-17, the average arrivals for the corresponding 

 period were 1,595 tons. I have purposely left out the drought year 

 of 1915 in this comparison. For the four years 1911-14 there was an 

 average of 655,523 dairy cows in Victoria, whilst for 1916 there were 



