ARABLE FARMING

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 104, 26 January 1933, Page 12

ARABLE FARMING

Excellent Prospects for Crops GREATER AREA IN WHEAT The 1932-33 producing season opened under much more favourable climatic conditions than its predecessor, and at the end of the past year the prospects for arable crops were excellent generally. This observation was made by the Direc-tor-General of Agriculture, Dr. C. J._ Rcakes, in a review of farming conditions' during 1932. Dr. Ileakes said that the total area of wheat threshed in the 1932 harvest was 268,756 acres, compared with 249,014 acres for the preceding year. Owing to droughty conditions in Canterbury and Otago, the per-acre yield was the lowest recorded for many years past—namely, 24.49 bushels, compared with 30.44 bushels on an area of 249,014 acres in the 1930-31 season. The area under wheat for the current season of 1932-33 was estimated at 294.000 acres and an average yield of 33-34 bushels per acre was considered to be probable, representing a total crop of up to 10,000,000 bushels. This would necessitate the exportation of a considerable surplus. Oats for chaff and threshing in 193132 showed a decrease in area from 311,021 to 297,182 acres. The average yield was 41.03 bushels per acre, compared with 38.7 in the previous season. The area under oats for the 1932-33 season is estimated at 407,000 acres. Barley occupied an area of 27,000 acres in 193132. For the currant season the are: was estimated to have fallen to 19,000 acres. Maize for threshing fell in 193132 to 5965 acres from 7168 acres in the preceding season. Owing mainly to unfavourable weather conditions, the areas of rye-grass, cocksfoot, etc., harvested for seed in the 193132 season, decreased considerably. For the current season, however, large increases were expected. Especially did this apply to perennial rye-grass, under the stimulating influence of the Government certification system. The scope of this valuable activity, it might be mentioned, had been further extended during the year. Statistics for 1931-32 show a drop in the area devoted to potatoes from 28,459 acres to 23,786 acres. Per-acre yield also dropped from 5.3 tons to 4.91 tons. Low prices during the year had resulted in further reduction in cropping area for the current season, for which the estimate was only 21,300 acres. DAIRY PRODUCE TRADE Butter & Cheese Markets Quiet The New Zealand Producers’ Co-opera-tive Marketing Association’s weekly cabled market report from London, dated January 24, is as follows: —Butter: Market quiet; New Zealand finest, SO/-; first grade, 79/-; Danish, 106/- to 108/-. Cheese: Market quiet; New Zealand white. 46/-; coloured, 58/- to 59/-; Canadian white and coloured, 58/- to 64/-. OVERSEAS GRAIN MARKETS Chicago Wheat Futures (Received Jan. 25, 6.30 p.m.) New York. Jan. 24. Chicago wheat futures: May, 47 7-8 cents; July, 4$ cents; September. 4S 3-8 cents. New York, cash, 56 7-S cents. £5/3/-; others. £2/5/-, £3/15/-; heifers, £2/18/6, £5/6/-; store steers, £2/7/-, £4/12/-; store cows, £l/12/6, £l/18/-; dairy sorts, £3/7/6. Store Sheep.—F. and f. lambs, 10/-; wether lambs, 9/4; Southdown lambs, good line, 10/-; forward wether lambs, 10/-; forward wether rape lambs, 11/10; forward rape lambs. 11/5; wether lambs, 9/S: f. and f. lambs, black-faced. 9/7; cross lambs, 8/3; five-year ewes, first of season, large-framed, 10/7; f. and f. Southdown wether lambs, good lot. 11/8, Fat Sheep.—Ewes, 7/9. 9/4; lambs, 9/-. 14/-; wether lambs. 9/-, 9/4; twotooth ewes, 8/7, 9/9, 13/5; four-year and eight-tooth ewes, 9/-; wethers, 7/3, 8/8, 10/6; maiden ewes. 11/4. Prices at Gisborne Ram Fair Dominion Special Service. Gisborne, Jan. 25. At the Gisborne ram fair, Lincolns comprised a small entry. There was no demand, but a few sold at prices of half a guinea. The Southdown entry totalled 1100. There was good competition for the greater part of the sale. . Then the market became easier, but there was no slump as yesterday. The highest price was 5-J guineas on account o.f A. IV. Wheeler, of Marton. The same vendor oblai'ned 4} guineas. Many pens brought 4 guineas, but the general average was 2} guineas. For stud Southdowns, A. W. Wheeler, of Marton, secured 20 guineas. Large Attendance at Marton The N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Distributing Co., Ltd., report a yarding of 1300 sheep, mostly lambs, at the Marton sale on Tuesday. The lambs, chiefly Turakina Valley sheep, came forward in tip-top condition, and elicited keen competition from a large attendance of buyers. The top prices for ewe and wether lambs were secured by Mr. W. Franke, Turakina Valley, whose ewe lambs realised 11/1 and the wether lambs 10/6. Prices: Fat wethers, 13/6; fat ewes, 7/7; woolly 2-tooth ewes. 16/-; 2-tooth ewes, 14/3; staall 2tooth wethers, 9/6: b.f. rape lambs, 10/3; small b.f. lambs, 7/10: good ewe lambs, 11/1; medium ewe lambs, 8/1 to 9/6; best wether lambs, 9/4 to 1.0/6: wether lambs, 7/10 to 8/9; cull lambs. 4/3 to 6/-. Pigs: Slips, 13/-; weaners, 8/6 to 10/-; small weaners, 6/6 to 8/-. Smaller Yardings at Westfield By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Jan. 25. The advance in export meat prices caused by the higher exchange was reflected in the s>h:irp rise iu values at rhe Westfield fat stock sale to-day. The smaller yardings of stock also contributed to the firmer market. Beef advanced by from 2/- to 3/- per 1001 b.. and in selling £1 per head, and cow beef was 10/- per head higher. Extra choice ox sold from 15/- to 21/per 1001 b.; choice and prime ox, IS/- to 20/-; secondary and plain. 15/- to 17/-; prime young cow and heifer beef, 16/- to 19/-; ordinary cow, 10/- to 15/-; extra heavy prime steers ranged from £8 to £B/10/-; heavy prime. £7/5/- to £7/17/6: lighter prime, £6/10/-, £7/2/8; light prime, £5/10/, £6/7/6; small and unfinished, £3/10/-. £5/7/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4/10/-, £5/2/6: heavy prime, £3/15/-, &1/7/6: lighter prime. £3. £3/12/6; other killnble cows, £l/10/-, £2/17/6. The calf market was not affected, late rates being general. Runners made £l/5/-, £3! heavy vealers. £l/15/1, £2/2/-fli; medium. £l/6/-. £1 10/-: light, 16/-. 21/-; small. 8/-, 13/-; rough and bucket fed, 5/-, 10/; baby calves 2/, 5/-. Sheep were in short supply, and requirements were hard to fill, prices advancing by from 1/- to 2/6 per head. Heavy prime wethers made 15/-. to 17/9; medium prime, 13/-, 14/9; light prime, 11/-, 12/9; simall and unfinished, 8/-, 10/9; prime maiden ewes, 12/-, 14/6; prime hoggets, 10/6, 13/6; heavy prime ewes, 10/-, 11/-; medium prime, 8/6, 9/9; light prime, 7/-, 8/3;. others, 2/6, 6/-. Lambs sold briskly, prices showing an advance of over ]/- ner head. Heavy prime lambs, 13/9. 16/9: lighter pruiie, 10/-. 13/6; unfinished. 5/6. 9/-. There was an improved demand for pigs and a large offering sold freely. Bneonersl, 36/-, 59/-; porkers, 19/-, 39/-; large stores, 20/, 27/.

BASE METALS MARKET

Spelter Quotations Unchanged

(Received .Tan. 25, 9,40 p.m.) Sydney, Jan. 25. The official London (middle) quotations for Tuesday as received by lhe Australian Mines and Metals Association, compare as under with those previously cabled:—

PROVINCIAL ASSURANCE Annual Meeting of Association (Received Jan. 25, 7.15 p.m.) Sydney, Jan. 25. At the annual meeting of the Australian Provincial Assurance Association, the chairman, Mr. Paul, stated that investments in Government stocks and securities had increased from £803,000 to £1,281,000. Loans on policies had increased five times at £157,000. The establishment account had been written off, and the association would shortly be admitted as a member of the Life Offices’ Association. The association's New Zealand business was sound, the management being centralised in the Wellington office, effecting large savings. A liberal bonus was declared.

Jan. 23. Per ton. Jan. 24. Per ton. Copper — £ s d £ s d Standard, spot ... ?s in joi 28 11 lOt Standard, forward OS 1 101 28 17 G *ElectroIytic .... 33 0 0 32 15 0 to 33 10 0 33 5 0 Wire bars .'1.1 10 0 33 5 0 Lead— Spot 10 10 0 10 10 0 Forward ........ .10 17 6 10 18 9 Spelter— Spot 14 G 3 14 G 3 Forward If 10 0 14 10 0 Tin — tSpot 113 12 G 145 13 9 Forward 140 3 9 110 3 9 Silver— Standard, per oz. . !Gl5-1Gd Fino, nor oz ISJd ♦American, tiro cents a t American, not quoted. 171-Sd ISId lb.'