Big Increase In Acreage Of Grain Being Harvested

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 7

Big Increase In Acreage Of Grain Being Harvested

The harvesting of wheat crops in North Canterbury districts — where acreages estimated by a leading grain merchant to be, in some cases, 300 to 400 per cent, above last year’s figures, is now in full swing. In all parts of the countryside, headers are working throughout the day while the present dry weather continues. It is expected that when harvested this year’s grain crop should considerably exceed yields harvested in recent years.

Railways Department and transport company officials in the district expect the peak harvesting period to be reached next week.

The manager of a large flour mill near Rangiora, who, in previous years, has imported 90 per cent, of his wheat requirements from Australia because local supplies were not available, expects ■tti'Ss. year v .to purchase at least half of his wheat for milling from Jocal growers. The over-all wheat acreage in the area between the Waimakariri and Conway rivers is expected to be nearly double that of last season. Special Trains Run Several special trains have already been brought into service on North Canterbury lines to haul the grain harvest, as well as sheep, from the producing areas, including one train of 17 trucks which brought a large quantity of wheat into Rangiora from the Oxford district.

“The Railways Department is experiencing no difficulty in coping with the demand for waggons to haul the grain so far during the present harvest,” said the stationmaster in Rangiora (Mr J. P. Russell) yesterday. Although the peak of the harvesting was expected to be reached next week, he said the department would be able to meet all handling requirements providing flour millers and others handling the grain discharged the waggons as soon as possible after their arrival at the destination. Mr Russell has made a tour of inspection of North Canterbury areas served by’ the railways this week to assess the expected waggon requirements of the districts in view of the seasonal

demands, so that railway trucks can be detailed to these areas for the peak period. LX?. Waggons Allocated

The recent allocation of 500 L.C. type railway waggons to the South Island —287 of which were already in service—would help considerably in meeting the demand, he said. These waggons were in big demand by farmers for carting of their grain, as the ridgepole which was a standard fixture on this class of truck provided greater protection of the grain. Railway trucks could be drawn from southern districts, where the peak wheat harvest was later than in North Canterbury, at short notice if the local supply, of trucks was insufficient, said Mr Russell. He expected the grain season to be shorter than usual because of the dry conditions this year which have brought on the crops to maturity all about the same time. Rocml Transport Position A spokesman for a large road transport firm in the’district said the demand on vehicles for transporting the grain crops had stepped up considerably , over the last week, and he expected a big demand on the company’s fleet of vehicles for cartage of the grain, after this week. Cartage of Sheep to Works Both the Railways Department and motor transport firms have been kept busy for some time with carting of sheep to freezing works. Farmers have been sending large numbers of lambs and ewes into the works this season, earlier than usual, because of the drought conditions which have brought on an acute shortage of feed. The demand is expected to be maintained well into March because of the ewe fairs to be held in various country Centres during this time.