GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

BIG DEMAND FOR BRAN. FOR STOCK FEEDING. SHARP RISE IN ONIONS. The Auckland district has not yet had any steady general rain, although there have been some fairly heavy showers in isolated districts and in parts of the Waikato the rain lasted for several hours. Even when a general downpour takes place it will mean some time before the pastures recover from the effects of the dry spell. Meanwhile dairymen have to hand-iced their stock, which has caused a big demand for both bran and sharps. Strange to say there is not much demand for hay at the present time. Buying onions for shipment to America resulted in a sharp advance in price this week from £9 10/ to £10 per ton to £12 10/ to £13 10/ per ton. Supplies of locally grown potatoes are getting short and already shipments have been made from the South for this market, which is much earlier than usual. The quantity shipped, however, was small. Potatoes. The position with regard to supplies of potatoes is becoming acute and it is now quite evident that the local crop will not be sufficient to fill the requirements oi this market until the new season's in the South Island arc ready for shipment in any quantities. Already as high as £3 per ton f.0.b., sacks in, has been paid in Christchnrch for potatoes for shipment in April. For March delivery £4 5/ per ton has been paid on trucks. Arrangements are being made by Auckland merchants to get potatoes from Rangitikei, but at present it is not known what quantities can be obtained from that place. An ominous sign is that Rangitikei merchants have withdrawn quotations for forward delivery. The crop of potatoes in the South Island promises to be an average one, but it is thought that the main yield will be later than it was last season, which means that few Southern potatoes can reach this market before March. Onions. Quantities of locally grown onions have been bought this week for shipment to the United States. Merchants, however, found it difficult to secure enough supplies to fill the orders in hand. In consequence of this demand for export, Pukekoiie growers of onions advanced the price considerably and as high as £9 per ton was paid by local merchants for onions on trucks at Pukekohe. The Canterbury crop of onions is reported to be rather backward tl is season,l added to which a smaller area was planted. The Canterbury Onion Growers' Association at a recent meeting had submitted to it a report from the Melbourne "Leader" on the damage done by out worms to the onion crop in Australia. After considerable discussion regarding the danger of this disease getting into this country through imported onions, it was decided "That a deputation consisting of Messrs. Goode and Hibbard wait on the Hon. D. Buddo, asking him to set ii.to touch with the Government regarding this disease." Maize. The local market for maize remains very firm and there is no alteration in prices. Ihe quantity of maize coming forward trom the Coast is not sufficient to meet the requirements of this market. Gisborne quotations for maize remain firm as the quantity of old grain now held on the Coast is stated to be smaller than usual at this time of the year. The statistical position with regard to maize is that there is not enough New Zealand grown grain to supply the market until the new crop ;« ready for shipment next June. At the time of writing nothing definite has been done with regard to importing supplies of maize. Fowl Wheat. The market for wheat is reported to be a little weaker, as Southern quotations have been reduced for prompt as well as forward delivery. North Otago reports that indications at present point to an average yield of wheat this season. Provided the weather is favourable an average of 40 bushels per acre is expected. In Canterbury the first wheat threshing for the season was reported from Waihari district, and the grain was sold at once for shipment North. It is considered there will be a shortage of short-berried wheat, particularly velvet, this year in Canterbury. It would appear that the price for wheat in New Zealand will rule slightly lower this season. Chaff. Prices for chaff show no change this week. In North Otago a good deal of the Algerian oats is being converted into chaff. In Marlborough the area under oats for chaff is reported to be smaller iliun that of last year. Oats. Old season's oats are now practically clone. Garton oats arc lower, practically the same area being planted in North Canterbury as last season. In Canterbury most of the oat crop has been cut. Threshing returns so far show a satisfactory yield. The future of the market for oats depends a great extent upon whether there is a demand for export. As Canada has a laree surplus to export, supplies for Australia may be drawn from there instead of New Zealand. Inquiries have, however, been made from Australia for A grade Gartons. Grass Seeds. Advice from Christchurch is to the effect that the prospects are that there will be a good yield of cocksfoot seed this season. Clover seed crops are looking well and the quality of Italian rye is good. Bran and Sharps. A phenomenal demand is reported for bran and merchants find it difficult to fill orders. The trouble at the present time is that neither bran nor pollard can be imported from Australia, as higher prices are ruling there. Hay. With such a dry season it would naturally be expected there would be a good . demand for chaff, but that has not proved to be the case so far. At the pre- • sent time hay is difficult to sell, but later farmers will probably have to pay higher prices to secure supplies for the winter months. Wholesale Current Prices. Sharps and Bran.—Local sharps, mill price, £8 5/ per ton; bran, £6 15/ per ton; oat pollard, £8 10/ per ton. Grain.—New Zealand oats, seed, B Gartons, 4/5; A's, 4/8 per bushel. Wheat: Australian, 9/. Maize: Ex store, 6/9 to 7/; ex wharf, 6/ to 6/3 per bushel. Barley. Feed, 5/9 per bushel; Cape seed, 7/6 per bushel. Maize meal, 15/6 per 1001b. Barley meal, 13/ per 1001b. Chaff. —Blenheim, g.b.0.5., £9 10/ per ton, ex store; Canterbury, £9 10/. Potatoes.—Table, new, £14 to £15 per ton, ex store. Onions.—l 2/6 to 13/6 per cwt.