WHEAT HARVESTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25364, 23 October 1943, Page 6

WHEAT HARVESTS

PROGRESSIVE INCREASE HIGH YIELD LAST SEASON (P.A. ) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 22. The Dominion’s wheat yield in 1943 was the third heaviest this century, being exceeded only by the crops of 1922 and 1933. This was announced today by the Minister of Supply, Mr D. G. Sullivan, who said that each war harvest had shown a progressive increase in the quantity of wheat produced. . ..... “Even in comparison with the years before 1900, when very large areas of wheat were grown for export, this year’s yield was exceeded only in 1883. 1884, 1892, and 1899,’’ Mr Sullivan said. “ Several times also the sown acreage has been greater than that harvested this year, but low yields per acre reduced. the total weight of the crops. “It is interesting to note that each war harvest has shown a progressive increase in the quantity of wheat produced. The production was 8,010,089 bushels from 257,532 acres in 1940, 8.305,865 bushels from 243.197 acres in 1941, 8,671,244 bushels from 258,002 acres in 1942, and 9,819,342 bushels from 286,998 acres in 1943. It can thus be fairly claimed that, notwithstanding all their difficulties, the wheatgrowers have done their utmost to maintain the bread supplies of the country. I want to thank them very sincerely for thensplendid effort. “ I was hopeful,” Mr Sullivan added, “ that the yield of wheat in the 1944 harvest might exceed the heavy crop of 1943, but the .exceptionally wet weather which has practically eliminated spring sowing in Canterbury will have a very adverse effect on the acreage. Nevertheless, I trust that the autumn-sown area will prove to be considerable and that the soil conditions and the weather from now on will result in a large yield per acre and thus help to overcome the shortage in acreage which was brought about by factors over which the wheatgrowers had no control.”