VEGETABLE CROPS CUT BY DROUGHT

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 12

VEGETABLE CROPS CUT BY DROUGHT

Yields About Half Of Normal

HIGH PRICES IN MARKET

The Canterbury drought is so seriously affecting vegetable crops that green peas for freezing are yielding about half the quantities expected and fresh vegetables are bringing twice the usual rates at the markets. Standing crops have made little growth and, unless there is rain before the end of lhe month, it is predicted that autumn and winter yields will be small. Hardest hit at the moment are the growers of green peas and the frozen food companies they supply. Although crops are usually sown to ensure a steady succession, this week would normally be the peak of the season. But one company which would ordinarily be working 13 hours six days a week had finished its available peas yesterday and did not expect more until Wednesday. Seasonal staff for this work often changes rapidly so that it is not a case of putting off workers. Replacements are just not being made fully in the meantime. The half-usual yields being recorded are serious when it is noted that about two and a half tons of shelled peas to the acre can normally be expected. The expanding market for frozen peas caused larger areas to be put down this year and this will, to some extent, maintain the output of growers and the factories, but there will be . nothing like the prosperous year expected. One buyer predicted that growers’ profits would be down by 33 1-3 per cent. Close Watch in Field

Factory field supervisors are keeping almost an hourly watch on these crops, which are grown under contract. In an average year this simply entails settling, a few days in advance, when the peas will be fully developed for harvesting. 'This year it means getting the utmost from the crop yet avoiding the effects of the scorching sun, which could ruin peas for freezing in four hours.

The top eight inches of soil on most farms is bone dry. Earlier peas sown on light land suffered equally. On later crops the top flowers failed to set or they were blown off by wind and the bottom pods are maturing a fortnight earlier than usual. The effects of the drought are so marked that patches of light land in big paddocks are being skirted by the harvesters because the crop there is so poor. Growers with irrigation are faring little better. If they are'not forbidden to use water, evaporation is so great as to make the benefit much less than would be expected. Market Prices Doubled Peas are also in short supply on the produce markets. For Friday’s trade they made 32s a case and yesterday they were down to 20s 6d for poorer quality. Even then this represented 9d to 10 per lb wholesale, compared with 3d to 5d at this time last year. Cauliflowers are often yellcwe'd with the sun, but are bringing up to 2s each on the market. Silver beet, at 6s 6d a case or Is per lb. is twice last year’s price. Marrows, which have had their vine tips burnt off in the field, brought 3s a sack last year. Yesterday the rate was 12s.

Cabbages, which usually have a second crop of Drumhead varieties coming on at this time, are almost gone and bring 2s each on the market. Savoys due in two months may also be affected.

Tomatoes are in normal supply, also pumpkins, and carrots from the peat of Marshland are also not so seriously affected. Fruit crops from the south are coming forward earlier, but in usual quantities.