GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25448, 20 March 1948, Page 9

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

(By Our Commercial Editor.) Nearly all the small seeds markets are fractionally weaker, largely because of the uncertainty of the outlook for export business. The position is well summed up in a letter dated March 5, received this week by a Christchurch merchant froiq a member ©f the Corn Exchange, London. “Conditions for business,” says the letter, “are difficult not'only for New Zealand exporters but also for London buyers because of the uncertainty of the extent to which imports will be permitted, and the position will not be known until about the second week in April. Even when business is concluded and contracts passed, importers will not know for another five weeks whether shipments will be authorised.” A copy of the following letter from the Seeds’ Import Board, London, has reached Cashel street: “The board is advised that the Minister of Agriculture is prepared to recommend the Board of Trade to issue licences for the importation of very limited quantities of the following description of agricultural seeds from New Zealand which may be of the 1947 or 1948 cropsperennial ryegrass (both certified mother and certified p.p.). ehewings fescue, ©rested dogstail and white clover (certified mother and certified p.p,), suckling clover with a white clover content not exceeding 10 per cent.. and lupins, either bitter or sweet. Save for a few odd lines of peas and barley and the potato crop, this season's produce has now been harvested, and most of it is in store. Overall the qu»’’iv is excellent and the colour of most lines very good. , , , The market for cocksfoot has- brightened a little, largely because of the short crop harvested. Merchants are now prepared to pay Is per lb for certified seed of 14!b to 151 b weight, but in a number of cases the seed is on the light side. There is very little inquiry at the moment for cowgrass, but the prospects for lupins have brightened. A good demand exists for H.l. As foreshadowed recently, merchants have ’received advice that the stay on the shipment of potatoes to the North Island is now definitely on until further notice. The prospects are that the embargo will not be lifted till the end of April—if then. , . M « Header harvester contractors in North Canterbury confirm the anticipations of poor yields in linseed crops. The general run of crops , appear to nave panned out in the vicinity ox 3cwt to the acre/which leaves the grower out of pocket. The continued spell of dry weather is troubling farmers anxious to prepare their land for wheat. If heavy soaking rain holds off until after Easter there will be a wild rush to finish ploughing before it is too late to drill. Those farmers dependent upon ploughing contractors may have to revise their programme to the exclusion of wheat if a break in the weather does not come before very long.

Quotations are;— Wheat.—Tuscan • varieties. 8s a bushel f ; o.b., grower’s nearest port. Premiums. 2d a bushel for Hunters, 4d for Pearl and Velvet, and 6d for Marquis Holding increments: Id a bushel p montn for 4pril. May, June, and July; thence id a month Eor August and September, making a total increment for the season oi ad a bushel. (From all' these prices Jd a bushel is deducted as growers’ contribution to the insurance fund against frost, flood, and hail.) Onions.—£lo a ton on trucks, bags e 5 King Edwards, and Dakotas, £lO ton for f.a.q., s.e.; others. £9 10s.

Oats.—A grade Gartons, fixed price, 4s 8d (on trucks), an increment of Id a bushel a month will be paid, starting on June.l, and will continue in July, August, and September, making the total 5s a bushel (on trucks); Algerians, 6s; Duns, up to 6s 6d (depending on quality); black, up to 6s (all on trucks, sacks extra). Red Clover.—Up to Is 9d per lb, machine dressed, 98/90. White plover.—2s 3d per lb. uncertified; 2s 6d per lb certified p.p., 3s mother

Chaff.—£7 a ton on trucks, countnv stations, sacks extra. Lupins.—7s a bushel, on trucks (sacks e3 Bafley.— Main malting varieties. 6s 3d a bushel; research and cape. 6s ion trucks sacks extra) Cocksfoot.—Up to Is for best quality. Partridge Peas.—los a bushel (No. 1), 9s for f.a.q.; Prussian Blue, 12s 6d Ryegrass—Certified perennial. 98/90. mother 16s a bushel, certified p.p. 15s; H.l certified 98/90, mother 12s, standard 10s; Italian, 98/90 (all prices nominal), mother to Bs, standard to 7s. uncertified ss. Linseed—£3o a ton (qn trucks).

DUNEDIN (P.A.) DUNEDIN, March 19. Indications are that this will be a particularly short season for grain. It is expected that most deliveries will be to hand this month. All classes of oats are still in keen demand from the xMOiai Island, but local merchants are still endeavouring to secufe their ,own requirements for both seed'and feed. Supplies of chaff ar© equal to the demand. It has been another quiet week in the seed markets with almost a total lack of orders from Great Britain. This has been reflected in local values, which still show a tendency to ease. Germinating tests for ryegrass, fescue, and dogstail, which are coming to hand, are mostly high. Seed cleaners report- that the quantity of seed held in store for dressing is confidTrably below that held at this time 12 months ago. The, inquiry for hightesting lines of cocksfoot remains steady. Business is also passing in ehewings fescue and crested dogstail. White and red clover, perennial ryegrass, and browntop are all inclined to ease in price.