COUNTY WHEAT YIELD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 135, 20 March 1930, Page 4

COUNTY WHEAT YIELD

LIGHTER THAN LAST YEAR. EIGHT TO TEN BUSHELS LOWER. It is the opinion of grain merchants in Ashburton that the average yield of wheat in the County will be from eight to ten bushels less than last year. Canterbury produces the bulk of the Dominion’s wheat and its figures are .similar to the New Zealand figures, and it is on this basis that the estimate lias been arrived at. This decrease is equivalent to about 15 per cent, of last year’s figures. In one district last season two mills threshed 75,000 bushels each, but this year their total output was only 80,000 bushels. Occasional yields of over 60 and up to, 69 bushels nave been reported, while in some districts it is stated that as high as 7U bushels haye resulted, but tiie latter figures are not confirmed. During the last two or three years the wet seasons have suited the light and medium lands, and good results were obtained. The dry spell, prior to Christmas, however, has had a deterrent effect. Crops along the coast have shown a general decrease. Comparatively few crops of oats have been threshed, but it is anticipated, from reports from farmers, and from actual results, that this commodity will also show a decrease, bpt not to the same appreciable extent as wheat. Small quantities of .each variety of oats have been threshed, and the yields are considered fairly good, but not so large as last year. It is only in rare instances that greater yields than last year have been experienced. It appears that some farmers with a surplus have put their lines of oats Tnto stack, with a view to chaffing or threshing whichever will be more profitable. The reason for such a small area of oats being threshed is attributed to the majority cf mills concentrating on the wheat, and until this is finished oats will, to a great extent, take second place.