SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN WHEAT SOWINGS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 22

SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN WHEAT SOWINGS

A substantial increase in autumn wheat sowings has been reported by Christchurch grain and seed merchants. Where individual farmers last autumn sowed two 20-acre paddocks of wheat, this year they are sowing three. Last year there was a 10 per cent increase on the previous season, and one merchant said that the increase this autumn would be as much again. Firms are sending out large quantities of seed wheat, most of it Hilgendorf and Aotea. The acreage of Arawa will be greatly reduced on last year, much to the satisfaction of the flourmillers, who earlier in the year issued a warning that, because of its low milling qualities, Arawa might not be acceptable to them. Their object in reducing the acreage of Arawa has been accomplished beyond doubt, and one large merchant yesterday questioned

whether there would be enough Arawa grown for poultry food. The increased sowings of wheat were not surprising to merchants. High yields in the last harvest made wheat a first-class proposition financially, and its price is guaranteed. Another factor has been the ruling prices for sheep. Breeding ewes sold at their highest levels since the wool boom years of the early 19305, and this induced some farmers to enlarge their cropping programmes, rather than stock up to the usual numbers. Small Seeds In the small seeds business, the main movement has been the falling value of the new ryegrass, Ariki. It is now within 2s a bushel of the price for perennial ryegrass. For farmers who bought their initial stocks from the Department of Agriculture at 71s a bushel, the present market price of 15s 6d a bushel, or a few pence more, has not been a matter of satisfaction. The department released Ariki to growers with the distribution of 8000 bushels of seed. A very good season followed, high yields being harvested, and the supply on hand now greatly exceeds the demand. While Ariki is being quoted about 15s 6d a bushel to the grower, perennial mother seed is being quoted at 13s 6d, with permanent pasture, or standard, at 13s. White clover, of which the merchants have big stocks, is worth about 2s 8d per lb to the grower, this being for mother seed, while p.p. or standard is quoted about 2s 7d.