WORLD’S MAIN CROPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26980, 15 January 1949, Page 9

WORLD’S MAIN CROPS

PRE-WAR OUTPUT SURPASSED World production of six of the seven main foods in the 1948-49 crop year is equal to, or better than, the pre-war average, according to a report by the United States Department of Agriculture. The year’s crop position, compared with the average for the years 1935-39, is:—Wheat, 105 per cent, of the prewar crop; maize, 125 per cent.; rice, 98 per cent.; potatoes, 105 per cent.; oats and barley, 100 per cent.; fats and oils, 100 per cent.; sugar, 105 per cent. In spite of the recovery in the production of fats and oils, the report points out that some countries, notably China and India, are exporting less because of the increased domestic demand, and there is still a world shortage. Shortage of other foods exists, in spite of increased production, because of the increase in world population, says the report. The final estimate of the United States grain production indicates a record crop of maize, the second largest wheat crop in its agricultural history, and a big yield of oats, continues the report. The maize crop at 3,651,000,000 bushels easily exceeds the 1946 record of 3,250,000,000 bushels, and is about 1,250,000,000 bushels larger than the previous year’s production. A total wheat crop of 1,288,000,000 bushels was exceeded only by the previous year’s record production of 1,365,000.000 bushels, while the output of oats is given at 1,492,000,000 bushels, against 1,216,000,000 bushels the year before. The highlight of the American crop season is the fact that the huge crop of maize was obtained from an area only about 1,500,000 acres larger than in 1947. The United States has also harvested bigger oilseed crops. In addition to the big production of cottonseed, the yield of linseed jumped to 52,000,000 bushels against 40,000,000, and only 23,000,000 two years ago, while soya beans totalled 220,000,000 bushels against 181,000,000, and the ten-year average of 118,000,000 bushels.