GRAIN, SEEDS PRODUCE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28630, 5 July 1958, Page 8

GRAIN, SEEDS PRODUCE

Small Seeds Firmer

The small seeds market firmed slightly in the last week with several sales of white clover made to United Kingdom buyers. Although there was no great volume of business, Christchurch merchants yesterday said that it was an indication of a definite trend as compared with the speculative moves of previous sales. Most merchants are viewing with considerable interest the reports of heavy rain in Britain recently. Unseasonable as this is, it may possibly affect United Kingdom harvests, coming at a time when crops are approaching maturity.

The firming of the white clover prices may not show any further rise, however, until the full effects of the rain are known. Potato Shipments Retarded

Potato shipments to the North Island continue to be well below comparable dates for the previous three years. Wellington has taken only about half of its usual pur-

chases. The market is still particularly quiet and, although some growers have been disposing of some of their crops, the majority have been holding back. Any expectation of a sudden rise in prices later in the season is not likely to be fulfilled, especially in the light of the survey bv the Potato Board, which announced in Wellington this last week that there were ample supplies available throughout the country.

On the other hand there is little likelihood of an oversupply because although the South Island shipping season has been shortened by the larger quantities grown in the North Island, the considerate tonnage sent on consignment to Southland and Otago to replace flooded crops is likely to balance this. Demand for Stock Grains With the winter cold at last setting in, there has been an increase in demand for stock feeding grains, but with little change in prices. Merchants said that up until this last week the demand had been disappointing. Contracts for the growing of green peas for processing are likely to show a marked decline, only to be expected with the curtailing of the overseas markets for these products. Some indication of the total acreage to be grown

this year should be available next week. Barley contracts have also dropped in acreage, but in the opinion of one merchant there would always be a sound market for barley which, although not returning as high a price as wheat, has a particularly stable demand. Prices to Growers The following prices to growers were quoted yesterday by the canterbury Grain. Seed and Produce Merchants’ Association:— Rvegrass.—Northern perennial, 18s per bushel; p.p., 17s 6d; uncertified, 11s; H.l mother, 18s: standard, 17s White Clover.—Mother, 99/90, 3s per lb; p.p.. 2s lid; mother, 98/90, 2s lOd per lb; p.p., 2s 9d. Cowgrass.—Certified, 2s per lo; uncertified. Is 9d. „ Browntop (nominal).—Certified, 2s 3d per lb; uncertified, 2s. Montgomery Red Clover.—Certified, 4s 9d per lb; uncertified, 2s 6d. Lucerne (Marlborough strain). — Uncertified, 4s 3d per lb. The president of the association, Mr F. F. Reading, in announcing these prices, said that they were those which could be justified by the basic market quotation for each variety of seed. They did not take into account day-to-day fluctuations of a speculative nature.