WHEAT MOVES UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 87, 13 April 1933, Page 4

WHEAT MOVES UP.

LIGHT AMERICAN CROP,

LARGE ACREAGE ABANDONED.

WASHINGTON, April 11

Confirming repeated reports of unfavourable crop conditions, the estimates of the Agriculture Department predict the lowest winter wheat yield since 1904. The present condition of the crop, based on observations on April 1, is only 59.4 per cent of the normal. This is the lowest ever recorded. The estimated yield is 334,087,000 bushels, compared with 462,000,000 bushels actually harvested in 1932, and 589,000,000 bushels, the average for. the five years, 1924-28. Though the condition of the crop is lowest in the hard red winter wheat area of the great plains and Pacific north-west, it is below the average in all sections of the country, with the exception of parts of the Ohio River Valley. The Department's report reveals that, in addition to drought conditions, much abandonment of acreage lias been effected, or is expected. The drought conditions which prevailed throughout the winter are still unrelieved in many areas, with the result that abandonment will be exceptionally hie' . It is believed that about 30 per cent of the acreage sown last autumn has been, or will be, abandoned. CANADA BENEFITS. WINNIPEG, April 11. Influenced by United States crop reports, foreign buyers boosted purchases of Canadian wheat on Tuesday to more than a million bushels" There was the largest export business for some weeks. Wheat futures reacted strongly to close lVfc cents higher in all futures. May deliveries are quoted at 52% cents, July 54 cents, and October 55!4 cents.