AUSTRALIAN STATES EXPECT REDUCTION IN WHEAT HARVESTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1948, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN STATES EXPECT REDUCTION IN WHEAT HARVESTS

SYDNEY, October 8.

With the exception of New South Wales, the Australian States are expecting to have greatly reduced wheat harvests this year because of widespread drought. The chief agricultural adviser in South Australia (Mr R. C. Scott) says that the state’s cereal harvest may yield only a quarter of last year’s crop of 32,000,000 bushels if the dry weather, continues. The best possible result .would be 74 per cent, of last year’s figure, and that could only be brought about if an inch of rain falls in the next few days. There was no worthwhile rain for six weeks in South Australia. Victoria is in a similar plight.

Western Australian reports estimate this season’s total wheat yield at between 32,000,000 and 33,000,000 bushels. The season is late and much depends on the weather’ during the next fortnight. Many crops in the central and southern parts of the state' are not yet in head, and if there is no further rain, pinched grain could result.

Queensland is also suffering from drought. In New South Wales, the harvest is expected to be above the average because of useful rains earlier in the season.

The Australian Wheat Board has negotiated the sale of 25,000 tons of low-grade wheat to Japan for shipment in October and November at a price which is good “considering the low quality of the wheat, the market for which is limited.”