THE WEEK

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 3

THE WEEK

LAST SEASON’S WHEAT YIELD The threshing returns to the end of April, representing about 70 per cent, of the total estimated acreage, continue to maintain a most satisfactory average yield. The total area threshed is 5.010,963 acres, the area 131,006 acres, and the average yield 38.25 bushels. The previous month’s average was 39 bushels, but it was never expected that the earlier returns from crops which largely escaped flood and other damage, would be maintained. With approximately 50,000 acres still to account for in the returns, it is certain that the early forecast of one of the best returns on record would be maintained. This is one satisfactory aspect of the season’s reward as a whole, for the £Bi buhels an acre is the second best on record recorded in the official returns, since they were first collected 76 years ago. The record yield was in 1802-03, when the average was 38.37 bushels from 194,355 acres. It is not necessary to dig back so far in the records to find the next best return (until this season’s so far). This was raised in 1927-28, when 260,987 acres produced an average of 36.56 bushels an acre from 260,987 acres. Only 12 years ago. in 1932-33. the second largest crop on record was rai5ed—11,054,972 bushels from 302,531 acres. The only crop to exceed that in the records was in 1898-99, when 13,073,416 bushels were threshed from 399,034 acres. A return such as last season’s should encourage farmers to put to the test more thoroughly the theory that spring sowing is the riskiest of ventures. This spring the moisture conditions should be exceptionally favourable, and after a “blow-out” such as has been experienced over the week-end the experience as a rule is for a spell of stable weather. However, weather in Canterbury is too uncertain a quantity to write about. The capacity with which these big acreages could be planted was not influenced by any propaganda in difficult positions. It was an ordinary effort in ordinary conditions. Under the stress of war and the urgent local needs, the annual acreages have declined by 30 to 40 per cent., whilst the needs are so much greater.