WHEAT YIELD
THIRD BEST FOR THIS CENTURY PROGRESSIVE INCREASE IN WAR HARVESTS (P.A.) CHRISTCHUP.CH, Oct. 22. The Dominion's wheat yield in 1943 was the third heaviest this century, being exceeded only by the crops of 1922 and 1933. Tins was announced today by the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan), who said that each war harvest had shown a progressive increase in the quantity of wheat produced. " Even in comparison with the years before 1900, when very large areas of wheat were grown for export, this vear's vield was exceeded only in 1883, 1884, 1882, and 1899," Mr Sullivan said. "Several times also the sown acreage has been greater than that harvested this year, but low yields per aero reduced the total weight of the crops. " It is interesting to note that each war harvest has shown a progressive increase in the quantity of wheat produced. The production was 8,010,089 bushels from 257,532 acres in 1940, 8.305,865 bushels from 243,197 acres in 1941, 8.671,244 bushels from 258,002 acres in 1942, and 9,819,342 bushels from 286,998 acres in 1943. It can thus be fairly claimed that, notwithstanding all" their difficulties, the wheatgrowers have done their utmost to maintain the bread supplies of the country. I'want to thank them very sincere']v for their splendid effort. " I was hopeful," Mr Sullivan added, " that the yield of wheat in the 1944 harvest might exceed the heavy crop of 1943, but the exceptionally wet weather which has practically eliminated spring sowing in Canterbury will have a very adverse effect on the acreage. Nevertheless, I trust that the autumn-sown area will prove to be considerable, and that the soil conditions and the weather from now on will result in a large yield per acre and thus help to overcome the shortage in acreage which was brought about by factors over which the wheatgrowers had no control." Ample stocks of wheat and flour for all purposes sir? held in New Zealand at present. This was reported by the wheat and flour controller, Mr R. McPherson, to a meeting of the Wheat Committee this week. Mr McPherson said that in spite of the very heavy demands made on stocks for various purposes, the quantity of wheat and flour now in hand was greater than at this time last year by nearly 500.000 bushels.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19431023.2.82
Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 25003, 23 October 1943, Page 6
Word Count
384WHEAT YIELD Evening Star, Issue 25003, 23 October 1943, Page 6
Using This Item
Allied Press Ltd is the copyright owner for the Evening Star. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Allied Press Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.