AUSTRALIA’S WHEAT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22367, 2 April 1938, Page 11

AUSTRALIA’S WHEAT

CROP OF NEARLY 175,000,000 BUSHELS YIELD Otf 12.70 BUSHELS AN ACRE In a . summary of the wheat situation in Australia for February, the Commmonwealth Statistician says that the area sown to wheat for grain in Australia for the season just ended is estimated at 13,755,000 acres. Compared with the previous year, this figure shows an increase of 1,439,000 acres, or 11.6 per cent. It is, however, about 490.000 acres, or 3.5 per cent., below the average area sown for the 10 preceding seasons. The wheat production figure* for Australia for the season 1937-38 has been revised to 174,630,000 bushels, a net increase of 4,600,000 bushels on that previously forecast. This increase is due to the Victorian production figures being raised from 40 to 45,000,000 bushels, whilst those for Queensland have been reduced by 400.000 bushels. The estimate for Victoria, however, may require some revision when the final figures become available. The production of 174,600,000 bushels is the greatest since 1933-34, when 177,000,000 bushels were harvested, but it is well below the peak quantity of 214,000,000 bushels obtained in 1932-33. The average yield an acre for Australia amounted to 12.70 bushels. This return an acre is more than one bushel higher than the average of 11.43 bushels obtained during the 10 previous seasons. Details of the area sown to wheat for grain in the various states are;— New South Wales, 4,463,000 acres; Victoria, 2,700,000 acres; Queensland, 402.000 acres; South Australia, 3,200,000 acres; Western Australia, 2,968,000 acres; Tasmania, 20,000 acres, and Federal Capital Territory, 2000 acres, a total of 13,755,000 acres. SHOW DATES Oxford—April 7. Temuka and Geraldine, at Winchester—April 9 Flaxbourne. at Ward—April 9. Mackenzie County (Fairlie)—April 13. Malvern, at Sheffield—April 21.