MOST OF WHEAT LOST IN SOUTH

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31627, 13 March 1968, Page 1

MOST OF WHEAT LOST IN SOUTH

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, March 12.

At least 80 per cent of this season’s record 50,000 acres of wheat in Southland and West Otago has been lost through sprouting after the recent wet weather.

In other parts of Otago there have been crop, fencing and stock losses through flooding.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Talboys) has called for an urgent survey of damage with a view to organising practical assistance.

Mr Taiboys said it appeared that about 45,000 acres of wheat had sprouted because of the heavy rain and it was possible that with losses of oats and barley some 50,000 to 60,000 acres of crops would be totally lost or seriously damaged. Mr A. R. Rankin, Department of Agriculture Field Superintendent for Southland, said in Invercargill today that he estimated that about 40,000 of the 50,000 acres of wheat in Southland and West Otago were affected. With 10,000 acres of oats and barley not yet harvested about 50,000 acres of cereals looks likely to be a “complete write-off,” Mr Rankin said. Survey Made

Five groups of grain merchants and department advisors spent today surveying the damage to crops. An early tally was 59 wheat crops sprouting and only one not affected. Damage ranged from moderate to 100 per cent. Disposal Problem

Mr Rankin said the disaster was compounded by this season’s big increase in supplies of grain for stock food in northern areas. The national harvest of maize, barley and oats was a record and sprouted wheat, which in previous years could be readily sold as stock and poultry food, might not have an outlet of any sort this season.

It is certain that little Southland wheat will be suitable for milling into flour. In some previous seasons, the Wheat Board has arranged for a limited quan-

tity of sprouted wheat to be blended with grain that exceeds baking quality specifications.

But the sprouted produce of an estimated 45,000 acres, including wheat not yet- harvested in South Otago, would total about 2.7 million bushels. This would be well in excess of the quantity that could be blended. s4m Loss To the Southland farming industry the disaster could mean the loss of $4 million income. Some farmers will lose up to $lO,OOO. The president of Southland Federated Farmers, Mr A. M. Galt, said tonight that surely the Government would now reconsider its decision to reduce the basic wheat price next year. Farmers had turned to wheat this season to get themselves financially stable, Mr Galt said. Their dependence on their crops was indicated by the fact that few until

now had found it necessary to apply for assistance through Government loan guarantee schemes.

“Obviously many are now going to need massive assistance—a big number will face ruin otherwise,” he said. Mr Galt emphasised that many farmers had spent big sums on harvesting, storing and drying equipment for this year’s harvest. They were even worse off now than if they had not cropped at all. Prospects for national selfsufficiency in milling wheat would now be dim, he said. It seemed that grain would again have to be imported while the price of sub-stand-ard wheat would fall to an all-time low. Flood Damage In Otago the Palmerston area round Goodwood, Pleasant Valley and Flag Swamp has been hardest hit by floods. So far 800 sheep have been reported lost in the flood waters, big acreages of standing crops have been destroyed and miles of fences swept down.

Winter feed crops were not seriously affected.