GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25366, 13 December 1947, Page 9

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

(By Our Commercial editor.) The season for small seeds and practically all lines of grain and-produce is now over, and eprly in the new year merchants will start to handle new season** business. Contrary to earlier expectations there has, on the whole, been a good clearance of stoeks. The Continent has taken a good deal of various lines of seed during the last three months at prices lower than those to which the trade has hitherto been accustomed. This has cleaned up accumulations and, North Canterbury will thus enter the new Season with reasonably dear decks. Six months ago it-certainly did not "look* as if tlusr clearance would be accompHshea. There is still a lot of low quality, poor germination ryegrass on the market, which’ presents a problem. Reports received by merchants from their field• representatives indicate that crops. generally are in great heart and bear promise of highly satisfactory yields. Wheat particularly promises bumper yields, but there is not very much about this,, year. Late sown spring crops, however, have reached the stage where rain will soon be a matter of urgency—linseed, for instance, does not take kindly to a prolonged spell of dry weather. The presence of rust in springsown as well as autumn-sown crops is reported to .be causing considerable anxiety to linseed growers in the Swannanoa district. Some stands of cape barley in the West Eyreton district are re-’ ported to be afflicted with loose smut. On the whole, however, " the prospects for crops in North Canterbury at the moment appear to be bright. The season for potatoes and onions being over, the prices of these lines are no longer quoted. Produce subject to price control is still quoted at 1946-47 prices, the new rates not being applicable until the new season’s crops are harvested. North Canterbury quotations are as follows : Wheat—Tuscan and Cross 7,7 s 9d; Hunters, 7s lid; Marquis, 8s 3d. (From all these prices Jd a bushel is deducted as the grower’s contribution to the insurance fund against frost, flood, and hail.) Oats. —A grade Gartons, 4s (on trucks); Algerians, 4s 3d to 4s 6d; Duns, good quality, 4s 6d to ss: black, 3s 6d to 4s. £®A. a °Y er - — to 2s machine dressed. White Clover.—ls 6d uncertified. Is lOd p.p., 2s Id m.s. Barley.—Cape and malting, maximum price, 5s 6d (0.t., s.e.), for No. 1 quality. Chaff.—G.b.o.s., £9 a ton (f.0.b., s.i.), equivalent to £6 10s (0.t.. s.e.) country stations. Cocksfoot.—4d to 6d per lb (nominal). Linseed. —£30 a ton on trucks. Partridge Peas,—los a bushel (No. 1), 9s for f.a.q.; Prussian Blue, 12s 6dRyegrass.—Mother perennial, 98/90, 10s 6d a bushel; certified perm, pasture, 9s 6d; certified mother H.l, 9s 6d; certified Italian, 6s.

DUNEDIN (P.A.) DUNEDIN, December 12. Areas in grain in the coastal parts of Otago continue to show satisfactory growth, but heavy rain is needed in most parts of Central Otago to fill out crops which are now at a critical stage. Dunedin merchants are completely out of stocks of oats. A very large area of peas has been sown in Central Otago this year. They a, re 2 OW * n ne€ d of rain as they are at the flowering stage. Some crops are already starting to brown off because of the lack of moisture, and a good yield from these areas cannot be expected. There has been a quiet tone in the seed market and the demand shown last week for several lines has now disappeared. The 1947 season produced possibly the largest crop of crested dogstail on record, nd , the quality of the seed was particularly high and an outlet was available overseas. Prices, apart from those in the early months, however, were not high.