DOMINION WHEAT YIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 8

DOMINION WHEAT YIELD.

The first estimate of this season's wheat yield discloses quite a promising position. It is true that the acreage under crop, as given in November, is tho lowest for many years—l7o,ooo acres. Last season, also a low year, was better than this, with a total of 173,8G4 acres. The crop forecasted should be a good one. The estimate, 30.62 bushels to the acre, while not the highest on record, is very much better than last season, when the return \|as only 24 bushels. In consequence the estimated return, 5,200,000 bushels, is 1,000,000 bushels better than tho actual yield of last season. This result does not come from exceptionally favourable conditions, for the weather throughout the spring and summer has been erratic, while there have been reports of fungoid diseases attacking the crop., In spite of such circumstances, the forecast promises a much bettor result, in the ultimate, than was expected. A feature of the .situation is that, for the first time for many years, there will be no Government interference with the marketing. Fortunately for the wheat farmer, he recovers his independence at a time when grain prices the world over are high. It is well that this should be so, for there should bo no renewal of the agitation for control, guarantees, or any other form of State meddling with the industry. These practices in the past have done more harm than good. They have tended to cause a reduction of wheatgrowing rather than anything else. There are liberal protective duties on grain, and if the farmer cannot make a profit so aided, he would be better engaged in some other form of production. There will have to bo importations this season, for the normal annual consumption is some 7,750,000 bushels, but the high world parity and the tariff should more than assure the position of homegrown grain.