THE MORE WHEAT APPEAL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23771, 17 October 1942, Page 3

THE MORE WHEAT APPEAL

OBJECTIVE OF 350,000 ACRES

SYSTEM OF BROKERS* CONTRACTS

Ah important feature was enjjtodied in the appeal made this week by the Hon. D. G. Sullivan to farmers to sow 350,000 acres of wheat in 1943 for the following harvest. This is to utilise the brokers, otherwise the firms handling the farmers’ business. It has been a mistake all along to ignore this most powerful factor in boosting production. There is no need to explain why, but it is obvious that the mercantile firms know better than any other body the position of the farmers and their individual capacity to respond to such appeals. The new proposal is that brokers will be asked to secure contracts for a given area from all regular wheatgrowers and from as many other farmers as possible, and December 10 has been suggested as the final date. By this system the area contracted for will be known before the end of the year and there will still be left sufficient time'to take other steps to secure an adequate area if the contracts do not provide sufficient. Contract forms have been prepared and are in the hands of brokers to start out on this additional method of securing the required acreage, and the district councils of primary production are being asked to assist in the scheme. "Other Steps" The/‘other steps” which it is suggested may be taken if the contract system fails in its objective can be left to the imagination, but it is fairly plain that they envisage some scheme of compulsion on those farmers who do not respond. Nobody can complain in ordinary circumstances if such a step should be necessary. A survey of the land capable of growing wheat in New Zealand has been made, and under the heading as many acres have been scheduled as are grown annually in New South Wales, At all events 10 per cent, of this potential wheat-grow-ing land would supply all the ecrea-ge required for the 1944 harvest. Possibly some of the land included in the survey may be unsuitable for the safe garnering of the wheat because of heavy rainfall, or land may have been included which at present is growing crops as essential as wheat, but there are still large areas in both islands that could grow wheat which have never been cropped with it. Fast Acreages Sixty years ago, as a matter of fact, or in 1881-82, the area of wheat grown in New Zealand was 365,715 acres. In the following year it was 390,818 acres, and the third year the figures were 377,706 acres. Then in 1887-88 the area sown was 357,359 acres and in the following year 362,153 acres. The biggest acreage on record was grown 50 years ago —402,273 acres in 1892—and in 1898-99 399,034 acres were seeded. In the period between 1882 and 1892, inclusive, more than 350,000 acres were grown on six occasions. There are reasons for these extensive areas—they were the days of big stations, in which cereals were the main production, and there was considerable export, But the point is that if these acreages were possible then, when the average yield ranged between 24' and 25 bushels an acre, the country will not be putting up any record in these days of improved farming methods and soil treatment and yields averaging nearly 10 bushels an acre more, if an objective of 350,000 acres is actually exceeded. The enlistment of the brokers with the voluntary aid represented by the Primary Production Councils is the best way of attaining the objective. There is something in the contract system that appeals to the farmers’ psychology. Under it he has no fear of having a crop left on his hands through its over-production or a break in prices. His concern is to deliver the crop. Climatic Influences One difficulty may be suggested in the operation of the scheme, which is that farmers may be disinclined to sign a contract so far ahead for a maximum acreage, because of weather and other difficulties. Brokers anticipate this possibility, and are notifying farmers that in such cases the contractor will not be held hard and fast to his bargain. The contracts are more in the form of a promise to grow. With favourable conditions there woulp be no object in a farmer wishing to avoid carrying out his contract. There are two commendable leatures about the proposal. The first is that a statement as to the altered policy has been made in plenty of time to enable farmers to skim plough and fallow ground for next autumn sowing. The delay in wheat policy statements in the past has seriously retarded the response of farmers. The second point is that with the inclusion of the firms in the scheme the larmer should be enabled to secure his fertiliser needs more directly.

THE WHEAT NEEDS

(To the Agricultural Editor of "The Press.") Sir.—The Minister of Supply makes an appeal to farmers to increase the wheat acreage next season by 50,000 acres. This is certainly the time to organise for next year’s wheat, and there should be no difficulty in getting the area suggested, but the increase will have to come from the farmers who, so far, have not grown wheat. There can be no increase from the farms at present being cropped. Rather there should be a decrease. If new land is not brought into wheatgrowing the 50,000 extra acres will produce no more than 300,000 will produce this year. Over-cropping means reduced yields as well as a sick farm. The position is this: Members of production committees tour their districts appealing to the patriotism of farmers, who, in most cases, do their utmost and stretch their wheat acreage, often beyond prudence. While these willing horses are pulling their load there are men who own good land making no attempt to help. Then there are thousands of acres of easily ploughable land along the foothills—virgin land, which, if fallowed now, would grow enormous crops. The owners of these lands may have no implements for wheatgrowing, but if the need is urgent that difficulty could be overcome by a system of community farming. Government officials, guided by local committees, should be given authority to see that wheat is grown by men who have suitable land that will give a good yield, and that the already over-cropped land is x-ested. It is not reasonable to expect one man to deplete his farm no matter how good his intentions may be, while others make no attempt to meet the need of their country. These men accept the protection of Army, Navy, and Air Force, but make no attempt to feed them. They also accept, as their right, the bread for themselves and their families. All this must be changed and the change will have to be made by higher authorities than local production committees.—Yours, etc., H. M. BURGIN. Cust, October 14, 1942.