GRAIN AND SEEDS INCREASED DEMAND FOR POTATOES

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30478, 27 June 1964, Page 16

GRAIN AND SEEDS INCREASED DEMAND FOR POTATOES

For the first' time this season, the North Island has shown some significant interest in South Island potatoes and in the last tyo weeks some shipments have been made.

’ This demand has been caused to some degree by -the bad weather in the Rabgitikei area and ■ the subsequent rise in prices for potatoes from this area on the Auckland markets. Last week, Rangrtikei potatoes were selling from £2B io £32 a ton, but this week the prices had risen to between £3O and £35 a ton. Some of the demand is the result of earlier forward buying for delivery • dates in this period. However, the amount shipped so far this season is still only a token of last year’s tonnage at this time.

One heartening development from the growers’ point of view in the last week or so has been the North Island interest in forward buying for July and August delivery. At present Suttons for prompt shipment are bringing up' to £23 a ton, Chippewa are selling at £22 10s, and Ham Hardy and Sebago at £2l 10s. It is expected prices for forward delivery will be about 30s a ton better than those at present. It appears certain that there is a higher percentage of seed potatoes this year than last season and no-one, is at present prepared to predict the balance of supplies. Wheat Sowings

Although there have been reports of substantially decreased wheat sowings for next, season, jt is fairly certain that the total acreage will not be as low as some sources forecast.

Because of the high quality of wheat in the harvest jusi past, compared with las’ year’s yield, growers’ reten tion of seed, wheat has beer higher than in the previou: season. This could accoun’ for much of the reporter drop in seed wheat sales. One merchant forecast that sowings in the Canterbury area , might be down betweer 5 and 10 per cent, but hr doubted if it would be more In spite of a Governmeri' order for about 315 tons of seed, more than 200 of which

was ryegrass, the market for small seeds remains very quiet, the lack of interest from overseas still very evi-. dent.

As a guide to growers, the C resident of the North Cantarury Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants' Asosciation (Mr M. J. Goodwin), announced the following price range yesterday:— Ryegrass.—Mother perennial, 17s 6d a bush: p.p., 17s; mother short rotation, 18s: Mother Italian,. 20s (nominal).

White Clover.—Mother. 99/90. 3s a pound; p.p., 2s lOd. Lucerne. Machine-dressed Marlborough, 3s 6d a pound. Montgomery. Red Clover.— Mother, 3s 6d a pound; uncertified, 2s 9d.

Cowgrass.—Mother, 3s 2d a pound; uncertified, 3s.

Cocksfoot.—Mother, 4s a pound; uncertified. 2s 9d. Mr Goodwin emphasised that values quoted for ryegrass and white clover were based on a 99/90 purity and germination and free from Rumex species to comply with the United Kingdom Seeds Act.

Sugar Price Is Still £46

The United Terminal Association’s price for raw sugar is £46 a ton C.I.F. for the June-July-August shipment. This is the same as last week's price.

Gisborne Gas.—The annual meeting of the Gisborne Gas Company, Ltd., will be held on July 22, 1964, and the share register will be closed from July 9 to July 22—both days inclusive. Directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of 3 per cent making a total dividend of 6 per cent for the year, ex dividend July 9. (P.A.)