WHEAT ACREAGE IN N.S.W.

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26523, 11 September 1951, Page 7

WHEAT ACREAGE IN N.S.W.

BIG REDUCTION THIS SEASON '■

SYDNEY, September 10. The possibility of Australia eventually having to import wheat Is not fantastic, according to Mr T. J. McDougall, secretary of the New South Wales Farmers’ and Settler!’ Association. He says that New South Wales has 2,700,000 acres under wheat this year —about 1,000 000 acres less than last year, and only about half the average acreage for the last five years. The New South Wales crop has fallen from 90,000,000 bushels in the 1947-48 season to 40,000.000 bushels in 1950-31. Officials estimate that this season’s crop will be about the same as that of last year, but only because of the higher acreage yield. It will be only a few million bushels more than the 33,000,000 normally consumed within the State, and will leave New South Wales Very little to contribute to the 80,000,000 bushels for export Under the International Wheat Agreement. Mr McDougall blames the reduction of acreage on current prices, and the temptation to farmers to concentrate on more easily grown produce for the reduced acreage, He contends that the average price of Ils a bushel provides no profit margin. Growers intend to ask for a profit margin this season of Is 6d a bushel.