BIGGER WHEAT CROP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23072, 24 June 1938, Page 9

BIGGER WHEAT CROP

FIRST ACREAGE ESTIMATE RETURNS FROM 115 FARMS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday An increase of at least 10 per cent in the total acreage under wheat this year in New Zealand is forecast by returns from 115 farms of plantings already made and projected. This gain, although substantial, falls a long way short of the improvement of last year's total that would have been achieved had the weather been better for sowing.

The farms particulars of whose wheat plantings are so far available for the most part come from districts which are not the heaviest for wheatgrowing. Over the whole 115 farms—which do not represent the best wheat districts—the increase shown is 7.42 per cent on tho actual figures for last year.

When the returns from the MidCanterbury and North Canterbury districts are available in quantity, it is confidently expected that the total acreage increase on last year will be at the very least 10 per cent. An increase of about 10 per cent, based on the Abstract of Statistics estimate of the 1937-38 acreage, would put this year's acreage at about 196,000. This is below the 10-,vearly average from 1927-28 to 1936-37 by more than 50,000 acres. Tbat average was 255.500 acres, and it had been hoped to go near achieving that mark this year—until bad weather made it impossible. The estimated yield for last year's acreage was 32 bushels to tho acre, and the total .yield 5,730,000 bushels. A 10 per cent increase this year > would bring tho figure up to approximately 6,303,000 bushels. I