GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26651, 9 February 1952, Page 9

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

(By Our Commercial Editor.) “The volume of trade in New Zealand agricultural seeds to the United Kingdom has been small,” said a London report, dated December, received this week, and according to local merchants, trade did not materially increase last month. Several factors have combined to make the month's business since Christmas much slower than usual —the slowest in 10 years, according to one merchant. Foremost, of course, is the late season, leading to smaller offerings of such lines as ryegrass and white clover, which are normally doing a brisk business at this time of year. The supply of ryegrass is also affected by the high infestation of blind seed disease in perennial seed. Canterbury has not been alone in its abnormal rainfall this season. North Island districts where pastures are normally ploughed up for replanting have produced late growth, which has evidently decided some farmers to leave their existing pastures. Merchants report that the effect of this is seen in the smaller demand from the North Island for South Island grass seed this summer. The lack of overseas demand at present is also having a restraining effect on buyers of seed normally exported. White clover harvested in the ideal weather recently has been, of good quality, and the indications are for a high yield. In ’ anticipation of this, merchants have been quoting prices about 3d lower than last week’s. Quotations to Farmers Prices quoted by merchants this week for small seeds and other produce were Ryegrass (M.D.).—Certified perennial mother seed. 14= a bushel; p.p., 14s; uncertified, 9s. Hl: mother seed. 18s a bushel; standard, 17s; uncertified, 15s. Italian: mother seed. 18s a bushel; standard, 17s; uncertified, 15s 6d. White Clover (M.D.).—Mother seed, 2s 5d per lb; p.p., 2s 3d; uncertified, 2s. Cocksfoot.— Up to Is 3d per lb certified and up to Is per lb uncertified. Red Clover (Cowgrass).—ls 6d per lb. machine dressed. Browntop (1951 harvest).—Certified, 4s 6d per lb: uncertified. 4s. Oats.—Algerians, 7s 3d to 7s 6d a bushel; Gartons, up to 8s a bushel. Linseed (1952 harvest).—£so a ton on Up to 6s a bushel on trucks (sacks extra).