GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 13, 16 January 1926, Page 6

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

SOUTHERN MARKETS. THE SEASON'S rROSPECTS. I i'Ey Telegraph.—Special to "Ftar.") CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. ; Information gathered by the North Canterbury district branch of the I Farmers' Union shows that so far as [ Canterbury is concerned the yield of oats ! will be very short. Indeed, reports were i tha: mnnv farmers will not have a surI j plus after providing for tneir own (requirements. Reports gathered by trade ; interests also point to a scarcity, added ' to which is the fact that the Dominion : area in oats is 87,000 acres less than : was the vase last year. In Southland and Otago the crop is going to be very lato. but it is too early yet in their : instance to predict the outcome of the ' yield. Significant, however, is the fact that Southland merchants are not prepared to quote forward. Under these ' conditions it is not surprising to rind in Canterbury that sellers are reluctant to quote forward. Although buyers are not abnotmally keen, an attitude which is pronounced in other classes of produce, business has been done in forward i oats at 4/0 a bushel f.0.b., s.i., for As. and 4/3 for B's, and there are higher quotations. Prompt oats are fairly firm. B's being quoted at 4/7 to 4/8, and A's at 4/10. The greatest demand, however, is for feed Algerians and undergrade white oats, the range of prices being from 3/10 to 4/3 a bushel, f.0.b., s.i. Very few parcels of this season's oats have been offered by growers. Some Algerians have come forward.. merchants offering therefor 3/0 to 3/0 ou trucks. Xo white oats have appeared. Auckland is inquiring for oatsheaf chaff, and it seems as if there will be no competition there from Australia. The f.0.b., s.i.. quotation for April-June is £8, a price which would permit £5 5/ to £o 10/ a ton on trucks being paid to producers. Reports that the potato crop is not looking well cannot be substantiated. There was a good deal of late sowing, and the appearance of such crops may create a wrong impression. The recent rains will stimulate growth, although there is a danger of blight owing to the muggy weather. The market is fluctuating. Buyers are offering £6 a ton f.0.b., s.i., for April, £3 12/6 to £5 15/ for April-May-June, and £3 10/ to £o 12/G for May-June. Not a great deal of business is being done, although some contracts were settled yesterday for April-May-June Some growers have sold forward, accepting £4 to £4 2/6 on trucks. Some forward selling of peas has ■ taken place, reports varying between • 6/S to 7/ a bushel f.0.h., s.i. As the ! price delivery is for April-May London i is inquiring, and some sales from stocks 1 have been made. A fair inquiry exists for ryegrass, ' 27-281b perennial being quoted at 6/3 a bushel f.o.b. The farmers have the idea ■ that prices will be high, and are ask- * in" 5/ on trucks. They have been i offered 4/9 a bushel for 22-231b seed. 1 It must not be overlooked that the 1 North Island has been buying, and must - hold fair stocks now on past season's 1 seed.