SMALL SEEDS EXPORT

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23807, 28 November 1942, Page 3

SMALL SEEDS EXPORT

PROPOSED ENGLISH BAN The information released on Wednesday night by the Hon. J. G. Barclay that the New Zealand Government “had recently been advised” by the British Government that- import licences for the 1942-43 rape seed crop might not be available, and that the “British Government had also stated that it might not allow the importation of ryegrass and red clover and that white clover seed might be banned for the following season" has come as something of a jolt to a wide circle of farmers, who had been encouraged to grow small seeds for export, and also to those who deal with their disposal. How “recently” this information was received by the Government is conjectural, as the imposition of some obstacle on small seeds export to England was known to a number of people some weeks ago. If the delay in making a statement is in pursuance of the Minister’s non-publication policy on matters affecting discussions on primary production he has rendered a disservice to the farming community. Farmers have been closing up paddocks for the seeds harvest without any knowledge of such a development. Had they known what the Minister apparently knew “recently” many of these farmers would doubtless have turned their crops into hay. Moreover, farmers are being asked to sign contracts by December 12 to grow wheat. Any substantial extension of the wheat acreage is possible only by the ploughing up of grass pastures, the skim ploughing of which should be on the way. Some inkling of the probable banning of seeds export would doubtless have prompted many farmers to plough up their partially wornout pastures and to divert the land to wheat. Stocks in England The Government, of course, is in no way to blame for the position that has arisen in England—any blame is confined to the delay in notifying the fact. There are reasons, as a matter of fact, that suggested some reduction of imports taking place, particularly as far as rape seed is concerned. There has been a very heavy export of small seeds to England of last season's crop at high prices, and as the season in England for sowing is still three or four months away it is not unnatural that merchants there are content to wait until the need for further supplies can be more definitely estimated. Writing nearly three months ago English merchants referred to the heavy stocks of rape seed held in the country, one writer expressing the opinion that further rape importations might not be necessary until 1944. This opinion has to be considered in the light of the restricted grassing policy now in England, which is stated to be for only one year. The ryegrass and clover seed position was better than that of rape, but additional requirements for the next sowing were likely to be reduced. The imposition of a ban in England on imports may bring down values to a point that will help importers to "square” some of their previous purchases. In any case, with the knowledge that there will be ample seed available, the policy of shipping commodities, it they are not immediately wanted —and paying for them —in present shipping dangers is not one the average merchant is likely to follow. In the 1942 season 1.402,0241b of rape seed was produced, more than six times that of the preceding season. This will leave a tremendous surplus over the Dominion’s needs, and it has been suggested that this surplus could be usefully and profitably devoted to the production of oil, which the country has to import in large quantities. The difficult problem when the new crops of clovers and ryegrass come in appears to be in financing them until the English outlet reasserts itself, which it is considered it will do when the present stocks held there are worked down. The Australian market is not insignificant, and this outlet, particularly if the market should ease on the high rates of the last two seasons, may be a larger one. The negotiations proceeding, moreover, between the two Governments are expected to allow a certain amount of white clover to be exported, and this is the commodity the production of which had been so notably extended last season. Post-War Seed Needs The intimation that small seeds export to England may be banned is interesting of the articles appearing in British farm papers as to the probable post-war needs of European Allied countries, apart altogether from those of the United Kingdom, where a substantial proportion of the 6,000,000 acres diverted to or reclaimed for direct food production will ultimately have to be regrassed. The "Farmer and Stockbreeder” (London), in one of its September issues, stated that the needs of the Allied European countries after the war had been estimated by the Allied Post-War Committee to exceed 1,000,000 tons in the first year. Wheat, potato, small seeds, and vegetable seeds are included in this estimate. The committee says that all these seeds will not have to come from overseas, but where no European source is likely to be available the nearest overseas source is recommended to reduce the strain on ship'probably this observation refers more to bulky seeds like wheat and potatoes, and in any case these crops are food essentials. It is reasonable to assume that the . recommendation does not apply to highly valued products as small seeds. A sack of white clover has been averaging £2O or more, whilst a sack of wheat or potato seed is worth only £l, so that shipping space for the former could propably be obtained, whilst it would be impossible for the bulky commodities. The Dominion in the 1941-42 season produced approximately 11,000 tons of clover ryegrass, and cocksfoot, and for the first eight months of 1942 the value of the clover seed exported was £210,181, so that the importance of the trade is apparent.

DAGGY SHEEP

REQUEST FROM FREEZING COMPANIES The secretary of the North Canterbury executive of the Farmers Union is in receipt of a communication from the South Island Freezing Companies Association stating’that at the recent conference of the latter the question of daggy sheep at the Otago and Southland freezing works had been discussed. Delegates at the conference described the position as very acute because many farmers neglected to dag their sheep before sending them to the freezing works. This resulted in expense and delay at the works, where stock was required to be dagged before slaughter. It was represented at the meeting that, in the farmers’ own interests. no less than in those of the companies, stock should be dagged before being sent in. It was stated that the position would be accentuated in the coming season if, through the tyre and petrol position, the lorrying _of stock was discontinued. The association stated in its letter that although the major complaint concerned Otago and Southland the same position arose in Canterbury, and the association desired that publicity be given to the matter. Small farms in England continue at high values. One of 41 acres in Lincolnshire was recently sold at £5500, another of 13i acres at £1750, and a farmlet of just on four acres at £I3OO. On the other hand mixed farms or pastoral properties appear to sell quite reasonably—2oo acres at £4750, 297 acres at £5500. 206 acres at £3450, and 417 acres at £6600. Many farmers are surprised to learn that the genuine Marlborough Lucerne Seed is a third cheaper than it,was 12 months ago. Get in touch with, Alex. McDonald and Co., 194 Cashel street, P.O. Box 87, Christchurch. 'Phone ,38-800, —Jj