DEMAND MAINTAINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27568, 9 December 1950, Page 5

DEMAND MAINTAINED

High Prices For Many Seed Lines An “ end of the year ” feeling is general on the seed market and though little export business is taking place a limited amount of trading is being clone in lines where merchants find they are short of their retail requirements. The demand from farmers for seeds has been well up to expectations in spite of the very high prices .that have been ruling throughout the year. Farmers evidently realise that they cannot have things “ both ways.” It Is clear to all that the high prices for wool and stock are offset to a certain extent by higher costs In other directions. In any case It is considered that It would be poor policy on their part to out down on their mixtures or do without some of the better variety of grasses simply because prices are high. There is a disinclination on the part of merchants to commit themselves to forward deliveries of new crop seed as there are so many unpredictable factors ■which can influence the market one way or the other. Prices for seeds in New Zealand are largely controlled by the demand from overseas and this can never be gauged accurately in advance. Values for white clover may be quoted as slightly easier because it is generally anticipated that there will be a good harvest in Canterbury—the main producing centre. The limited stocks on hand, however, may all be cleared before the new crop is available. The same forecast applies to perennial ryegrass though, here too, the present stocks are very small. Cocksfoot, crested dogstail and Timothy are all in short supply and prices remain unaltered. „ . , . Trading in old potatoes is now finished for the year although there are still opfc or two small parcels in store that are yet to be disposed of. The quality of the new potatoes is excellent and the retail demand is now largely confined to these. Inquiries are still coming to hand for oats for shipment to the North Island, but merchants are not in a position to respond as they have barely sufficient stocks to meet local requirements. Because of these inquiries, which appear to be general, the market is firmer than at any stage this year.