Area Under Wheal

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 236, 6 October 1936, Page 2

Area Under Wheal

LOWER TOTAL ESTIMATED

Indications are that the total acreage sown iu wheat in New Zealand this year will be approximately 230,000 acres, compared with 248,639 acres harvested last year. This estimate is based on the survey made by the electoral committee of the United Wheat Growers’ Association, which for all practical purposes.may now be regarded as compilcte.

The committee’s cstimato is based on returns collected from approximately 500 representative farms. According to these, the acreage in Marlborough appears to be on a par with that of last year. North Canterbury shows a slight drop on 110 farms, and in Mid-Canter-bury the sowings on 50 farms are practically the same as last year. South Canterbury discloses a small drop on 120 farms. North Otago with -10 farms is about equal with last year, Otago shows an increase on 40 farms, and in Southland the acreage on ten farms is about tho same as last year.

Over-all, the committee’s survey indicates that the decrease is acreage will bo rather less than 10 per cent. This position, it is considered, has been largely brought about by tho unfavourable spring weather this year in many of the grain growing districts, tho excessive moisture preventing growers from working their land. The reduction in acreage is more apparent on heavy land. Indeed, in some districts in North Canterbury growers have not yet been able to work their land.

“Tho reduction in acreage is more apparent than real,” said an Auckland grain and produce merchant recently, “as this annual survey usually errs on the low side. For instance, last year the estimate was about 15,000 acres less than f e actual area sown, while that of the Government statistician was more than 8000 acres short. It must be remembered that floods ruined a large area of wheat last season, and tho final figure depends to a large extent on the seasonal conditions.”