Oats for Milling In Keen Demand

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26784, 29 May 1948, Page 9

Oats for Milling In Keen Demand

The Farm

While the demand for milling oats increases, acreages decline. Almost 1,000,000 bushels of oats are required by the milling industry throughout New Zealand this year, but' the mills will be able to obtain only about half of their requirements. Some oats are still lying in stack, being held by farmers as a precaution against a shortage of other stock feed this winter, and these oats may be threshed if they are not needed for stock. The prospects, as far as the mills are concerned, is not a bright one this year, and it will be no better next year if increased acreages of oats are not sown this season. Mentioning these facts, to the Daily Times, a representative of Harr away and Sons, flour and oatmeal millers, of Green Island, emphasised the need for a greater acreage of oats this season.

Even at present, the position is so serious that the only oatmeal mill in

the North Island has been unable to supply oatmeal for the past two months. With the open market in the past and no price control, mills throughout the country normally bought up a full year’s requirements of oats, and often at the end of the year they had about three months’ supply still in stock. Under the. conditions whicn exist to-day, the mills carry very little. While the acreage of milling oats in New Zealand has not decreased considerably, it has, nevertheless, declined. In 1935-36, the acreage of oats threshed in New Zealand totalled 77,502, including 14,689 in Otago and 18,958 in Southland. In 1944-45, the acrea'ge of oats threshed was 77,684 (Otago 12,633, Southland 20,680). The acreage in '1945-46, however, revealed a decline to 57,278 (Otago 9319, Southland 15,525). While the acreage has declined, the demand for oats—and oatmeal —has increased tremendously in New Zealand. Millers are unable to meet the demand from Britain because of the internal demand and the decreased supply of oats for milling. The three mills making oatmeal for export are those at Dunedin, Oamaru and Ashburton. Three years ago they exported almost 3000 tons of oatmeal to Britain. Last year, Britain especially asked for 3800 tons, but only about 1500 tons could be supplied. This year the mills will export only about 450 tons. Such is the position. An important fact mentioned to the Daily Times was that more oats are required to-day to produce one ton of oatmeal. A few years ago, 90 bushels of oats would produce a ton of oatmeal; to-day 93 bushels are needed. One of the reasons for this is perhaps the greater use of header harvesters; oats harvested in this way contain a higher moisture content than those harvested by the older method in the past. The weather, too, in some areas is responsible for a high moisture content. The more moisture in the oats, the lighter they become after drying. Another factor contributing to the increased demand for oats is the discontinuance of importing bran ana pollard from Australia. The result has been that more oats are required to take the place of bran and pollard in poultry mash. Because of the shortage of wheat, the demand foi poultry mash has also increased. Although oats can be grown anywhere in New Zealand, they do best in a moist, cool climate such as Southland’s. This is proved by the heavy yields of milling oats in Southland districts. Southland, in fact, is recognised as the best oat-growing area in New Zealand. Ninety-five per cent, of the New Zealand bat crop is grown in Southland, Otago and Canterbury In Southland, and Otago more Particularly, greater areas of oats could be grown under conditions conducive to heavy yields.

Wool Price Record The top price for New Zealand wool sold at auction in London last montn is claimed as a record for. this season According to advice received by the Daily .Times from the Committee of London Woolbrokers, a price of 60d sterling was paid for 13 bales of AAA merino E of the well-known “Bankhouse” clip of Mr H. Y. Monro, of Blenheim. The wool was of 60/64 s super warp quality, and was bought by a Continental house. The committee states: “ When allowance is made for exchange and deductions for freight and extra charges to London, the price is equivalent to 703 d in New Zealand, and is a considerable improvement on the 66.1 d paid in Dunedin in April.”

Flax Production “ The world shortage of hard fibres and the critical position of jute supplies from India have increased the necessity for a stimulus to the growing and milling of phormium tenax (Itew Zealand flax) in the Dominion,” fne Minister of Agriculture, Mr Cullen, writes in the Journal of Agriculture. To meet this need, Cabinet has approved measures for the rehabilitation of the industry, Mr Cullen explains. The Government will guarantee to purchase the total annual production of phormium fibre “at prices fixed from time to time.” Finance will be made available to millers and others “in amounts and on terms and conditions approved by the Minister of Finance on the recommendation of the Minister of Industries and Commerce.” Consideration will also be given to improved wages and accommodation for workers, together with the training of young men to fill key positions at the mills. “ Millers throughout New Zealand,” the Minister says, “ have expressed satisfaction with these measures, particularly the guaranteed price which has been based on a return to millers and growers of an adequate price for green leaf, generous wage scales, and a profit return equivalent to sheepgrazing on comparative land. • “ The production of fibre and tow for the past five years was:—l94l-42, 3371 tons; 1942-43, 3961 tons; 1943-44, 6637 tons: 1944-45, 4969 tons; 1945-46, 3496 tons; 1946-47, 3655 tons. When it is realised that a year’s export has reached as high as 28,000 tons and that until 1929 the annual average was more than 10,000 tons, it will be seen to what extent this natural industry has. declined. I am hopefhl that the past drift has been checked and that production will be progressively improved. The present use of the Dominion’s production of phormium tenax is about 7000 tons a year, 4000 tons being used in the manufacture of rope, binder twine, baling twine, and lasnings, and some 2000 tons in the manufacture of woolpacks, etc. , “The immediate aim is an annual production of up to 10,000 tons of fibre and tow,” the Minister explains, “as this quantity can be absorbed in manufacture within the Dominion as soon as labour becomes available. “Only about 30 per cent, of the machine capacity of the woolpack factory is now in operation, equalling only 300,000 woolpacks a year, whereas with labour and material the total Dominion requirements of about I,UUU,UUO woolpacks a year can be manufactured here. A considerable expansion in other fibre products merely awaits development when labour and materials are available. The fibrous plaster industry in the past year has called for about 700 tons, and the demand by upholsterers throughout New Zealand could not be met." Meat Commission Submissions by Federated Farmers to the Commission of Inquiry into Fresh Meat Supplies will probably not be made until the final sittings of the commission at Wellington from June 22 to 25. These submissions are being prepared by a special committee of the Meat and Wool Council, and the first' sitting of this committee to prepare the federation’s case has already been held. The committee comprises three Otago men Messrs John Andrew (Hyde), J. E, D. Roberts (Middlemarch), and J. Kingan (North Otago)—and Messrs F. N. Smith (Waikato), T. M. Ryder (Manawatu), R R. Blade (Auckland), and C. Hilgendorf (Mid-Canterbury).

EXPORT MEAT SCHEDULES The current schedules for killings at Otago freezing works are:— Lambs.—Up to 361 b, 13Jd per lb; 37-421 b, 12Jd per lb; 43-501 b, 12d per lb; 51-561 b, Hid per lb. Wethers.-Up to 481 b, Bid per lb; 49-641 b, Bgd per lb; over 641 b, 44s Bd. Ewes.—Up to 481 b, 6id per lb; 49-641 b, over 641 b, 32s Bd.