GRAIN, SEEDS, PRODUCE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29324, 1 October 1960, Page 16

GRAIN, SEEDS, PRODUCE

Small Seeds Quiet

Small seeds business has been very quiet this week and there have been limited overseas inquiries for ryegrasses and clovers. In spite of a fortnight’s relative inactivity the market has held reasonably firm, and values have shown little change. Potato trading has been quiet, with very few sales being made to Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei merchants, although there has been a moderate demand from the Manawatu and Wellington. Merchants are finding it increasingly hard to obtain first grade potatoes and some growers have been spoiling good lines by blending back a proportion of seed sizes. This has resulted in the potatoes being downgraded. While some growers have been reported to be asking as much as £45 a ton for their potatoes, merchants say that the present level of prices has caused buyer resistance in the North Island and the current market level has shown a slight easing. Good quantities of Pukekohe new crop potatoes are coming forward on the Auckland produce markets and have been selling at 5 ltd to 7d per lb, compared with the best of the South island old crop at up to 52s a hundredweight, which is equal to about sM>d per lb wholesale. The Tasmanian imports are expected to be on sale in Auckland next week. While no indication of the price has been given, it is believed that the wholesale price will be about £5O a ton. ' Prices to Growers The following prices were announced yesterday by the president of the Canterbury Grain. Seed, and Produce Merchants' Association (Mr W. J. Bews):— Ryegrass.—Mother, perennial. 25s a bushel: p.p., 24s 6d; uncertified, 17s 6d: mother H.l, 295; standard, 27s 6d; mother Italian, 295; standard 27s 6d. White Clover.—Mother, 99/90. 4s 6d per lb: p.p.. 4s 4d; mother. 98/90 4s sd; p.p., 4s 3d. Cowgrass.—Certified, 2s 6d per lb: uncertified. 2s 3d. Browntop.—Certified, 4s per lb; uncertified. 3s 9d. Montgomery Red Clover.—Certified, 3s 9d per lb; uncertified. 2s 9d. .In announcing these prices, Mr Bews said that they were those which could be justified by trading conditions and did not take into account day to day fluctuations of a speculative nature.