EMBARGO ON SEEDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26713, 6 March 1948, Page 3

EMBARGO ON SEEDS

EXPORT TO BRITAIN PARTIAL LIFTING ADVISED The hot, dry conditions during the week have enabled farmers to make rapid progress with their harvesting. Header harvesters have had a particularly busy time. The use of these implements in this province, apart from the dry districts of Central Otago, is oftened questioned, as it is essential that the grain should be in first class condition before it is saved by this method. Deliveries of wheat have become more general, but although the yields are quite good, the areas sown have been so much below requirements that local mills will have to depend largely on imports from Australia to keep them going throughout the year. A steady demand for fowl wheat is being filled on a hand-to-mouth basis. Oats are also inquired for by merchants in the North Island, but sufficient are not yet on hand to enable local dealers to offer. The stocks of chaff of good quality are very small, and it will be another month before the new season’s lines are on offer. The digging of main crop varieties of potatoes has not begun yet, but with the favourable growing season and the dry weather experienced recently potatoes should mature earlier than usual. It is expected that a number of the crops will be lifted next month. The latest advice from London in respect to seeds is that the embargo on the importation of certified permanent pasture, such as mother white clover, ryegrass, crested dogstail, and Chewings fescue, has been partially lifted. The quantity for which importations into Great Britain will be granted has not yet been determined. It will be based to a certain extent on the orders that are taken up over the next month to six weeks. This is not altogether satisfactory position for the exporter at this end, as he may find that only a proportion of the sales which he has made may be finally executed.' In this case he would be left "carrying stocks for which there was no export market. While the prices for these lines have remained steady during the week, merchants have not been prepared to exceed very definite limits. This policy has been determined in the first place by the overseas buyers, who are not responding to increases in quotations from this end. No licences will be granted for the importation to Great Britain of Montgomery red clover, uncertified lines of ryegrass, and white clover, browntop, cocksfoot, and Italian ryegrass.