GRAIN AND SEED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30082, 16 March 1963, Page 16

GRAIN AND SEED

Market Very Quiet The small seeds market continues to be very quiet, with very little activity in trading. Most merchants are concerned mainly with coping with the heavy intake of ryegrass and white clover for dressing and obtaining test certificates. Apart from a small amount of ryegrass and white clover booked for Australia to sail on the Waipori there has been very little overseas trade. Odd inquiries have been received from the United Kingdom for seed at prices lower than current market levels and these are considered to be exploratory rather than seeking business Although no official range of prices was available this week. Christchurch merchants said that there had been no changes in the market which, in many cases was nominal. Retail business in small seeds has been quite strong' in recent weeks and there has been a good demand for lawn grasses. Potato crops are looking well and to date there have been no reports of any major l problems with disease. It is still too early to make any forecasts on yields. One important factor which could be taken more notice of in some areas is the need for lifting to be delayed until the ground has cooled down and the skins of the potatoes hardened to avoid damage in handling. Sack Scheme Ends The one-shot sack scheme was discontinued on February 21 after a meeting of interested parties with the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Shelton). There were complaints from farmers about the quality of some lines of sacks. Merchants said yesterday that farmers were starting to book areas for wheat and orders for seed were increasing but as yet very little seed had moved from stores.

Reserves Steady (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 15. Net overseas assets of the New Zealand banking system on March 6 were £ 73.7 m. compared with £ 73.5 m on February 27, and £56.1m on March 7, 1962. These figures were announced today by the Reserve Bank.