WHEAT SOWINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26589, 11 October 1947, Page 3

WHEAT SOWINGS

INCREASE THIS YEAR QUIET WEEK FOR SEEDS Further rain this week gave the coastal districts a thorough soaking. This was welcome, as the country was exceptionally dry up to a fortnight ago. Central Otago has also derived some benefit from the rain, but to a lesser extent. The sowing of spring wheat is now finished, and it would appear that the area put down in Otago in this crop will be slightly greater than was the

case last season. Reports from Southland indicate that the area under wheat is also considerably in excess of the average of the past few years.

Some merchants are having difficulty in securing enough oats for their seed requirements. Although the greater part of the spring sowing is completed, the season will not end for several weeks. It is impossible to quote oats for shipment, although there is a good inquiry from the North Island. The demand for chaff is limited to local inquiries, and adequate supplies are available to meet it.

Potatoes are selling slowly, and ample .stocks are held in store to meet requirements. The planting of tin; main crop is almost finished, and it would appear that the total area sown will be on a par with last season’s acreage. This, however, was below that specified by the Department of Agriculture as being sufficient for requirements. A further quiet week has been experienced in seeds, and the few merchants who were operating in white clover and Italian ryegrass as a result of Continental inquiries now appear to have filled their orders. Most merchants are holding fairly large stocks, and are unwilling to make offers for farmers’ lines unless there is good prospect of an outlet. The inquiry for Montgomery red clover continues to be weak, with a further easing in values. There has been a little inquiry for crested dogstail of export quality as the result of some Continental interest, but at a fairly low price The dogstail crop this year is the lightest on record, and it is fortunate for growers and merchants alike that a considerable amount of export business was completed in the early part of the season.