RUSSIAN WHEAT

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2338, 7 January 1926, Page 9

RUSSIAN WHEAT

PART PLATED IN WORLD’S SUPPLY.

Some details are now available of Russia’s entry into the world grain market during the latter part of September, when a dozen ships sailed from South Russia for England, being the’first considerable shipment of wheat to Britain from Soviet Russia since the war. While Mr Clively, an official of the Russo-British Grain Export Company, declined to reveal the final destination of the shipment, he said a proportion would go to the Co-operative Wholesale Society in Manchester. Mr Gourevitch, one of the London directors of the combination of Russian co-operative societies, however, announced the sale of another consignment of 100,000 tons to a French milling concern in Paris. These two shipments were the first of a series which the Soviet agents hoped to place in various parts of Euroj. during the autumn and winter. The Russian Government claimed to have a surplus of 3,000,000 tons of cereals this year, a million of which was said to be wheat. Although this quantity canncrt be compared with Russia’s pre-war record when her annual sales abroad amounted to £70,000,000 worth of grain such an amount be sufficient to make a noticeable impression on the world wheat market. This will no doubt- explain to some extent the cables received in Australia at the time Indicating Russia’s selling pressure.

ASHBURTON COUNTS’ CROPS. On taking a run through the districts along the coast in the Ashburton County, an odd small paddock of early oats is to be seen in stock, says a Christchurch paper. The lines which are already reaped do not show any indication of yielding heavily, but although the heads sehm well filled, there is a fair distance between the stocks which may be taken as ample evidence of light crops. Given a few more bright, sunny days, a large acreage will be ready for the binder, and this will create a demand for harvesters. Although a long way from the ripening stage, there are some very promising wheat crops in the county ,and provided that no destructive elements make their appearance between now and harvest time, the yield will be well up to the average. Of course, against any optimistic view which may be taken of the position there is the knowledge that the number of acres down in wheat this year is considerably less than former years principally owing to the unfavourable weather conditions experienced throughout the sowing season.