GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 248, 19 October 1908, Page 7

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

(Christchurch Press, Saturday^)

As usual at the end of August, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture has issued his preliminary estimate of the world's grain crops, based as regards foreign countries on AustroHungarian Consular reports, and as regards Austria and Hungary on the official Government reports. The total world's crop—wheat, rye, barley, oats and maize-—is aggregating 3,156,000,000 metric centals, cr 1,6-11,000,000 quarters, against 'ast year's revised figures of 3,057,000,000 metric centals, or 1,583,000,000 quarters.

The wheat crop, at the estimate of 339,000,000 quarters, is roughly four million quarters below last year, and rye shows a decrease of fifteen million quarters. On the other hand, barley is supposed to give an increase on last year of Hi million quarters; oats an increase' of 36£ million quarters, and maize an increase of 21 million quarters. The countries which have to import wheat are estimated to produce 243 i million metric centals, against 260 i million raised last year. The countries which have as a rule surplus supplies for export are credited with producing this year 602 million metric centals, against 588 ' million last year. That is to say, the importing countries will probably have a wheat crop about 17' million metric centals smaller than a year ago; while the exporting countries may give about fourteen million metric centals more than in 1907, so that the net deficiency will amount to about 3,000,000 metric centals, or, say, 1,500,000 quarters as regards tne world's wheat crop. The demand for wheat locally has

slackened off, and few sales have been made this week. Growers are also asking more, and this has tended to restrict business. A few lots have changed hands at -4s •■l^ at;-country1 stations, and one line of 600 sacks iri North Canterbury for 4s od, for shipment at Kaiapoi. There is nothing to record in pats. There was a demand for chaff for shipment by the Sydney boat next week, and up to £3 10s was paid to obtain supplies, but the requirements of shippers are now filled, and the price is back to £3 ss. There is not much doing in potatoes, and prices are without change, though growers are asking £3 10s. The undermentioned are the prices paid to farmers, at country stations, free of commission, except where otherwise stated: — Wheat, 4s Id, at country stations. Oats, Is 9d to Is lOd, at country stations. ■ Peas, Partridges 3s 6d to 3s 9d, Prussian Blues 5s 6d, at country stations. ■ m , / Flour, £10 10s per ton. Bran, £4 15s local, £4 lOs^f.o.b. per ton. Pollard, £6 per ton. Oatmeal, £12 per ton. Oatsheaf chaff, £3 5s at country stations. Potatoes, Derwents and Up'-to-Dates £3 5s to £3 7s 6d, and seed Derwents and Up-to-Dates £3 10s, at country stations. Dairy produce: Cheese, factory 6-Jd, dairy 6d, loaf cheese 6fd; butter, factory 12d, farmers' separator 10£d> dairy 9£d; bacon, sides B|d, rolls 9-Jdj hams 9d; honey, extracted 4d per jib, wax Is 2d per 1b; lard (packets) 8d; fresh eggs lid per dozen.