PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3899, 4 December 1928, Page 19

PRODUCE MARKETS.

CHRISTCHURCH, November 30. The present is something in the nature of an “off” season. Spring sowing is over, and the demand for autumn has not yet set in. Generally there is some forward business in seeds at this time of the year, but this is singularly restricted to this spring. However, with little stocks on hand of old season’s seeds to depress the new crop there is a feeling of confidence in the prospects. The “dead horse”

that farmers have had to work off hai now disappeared, and in the North Island there is a feeling that a good deal of developmental work is impending in regard to the bringing in of bush and fern country. Wheat is showing no change, except that fowl feed is weak and is quoted at 5s 7£d> f.o.b. The oat market is also unchanged. There was a feeling that the dry weather was likely to decrease the yield, as in some districts oats were maturing prematurely. However, the good rains early this week banished these forebodings. The rain also would make a difference in the ryegrass prospects, which, up till then, were not promising very well. Small orders for ryegrass-and clovers have come to hand from the north. The one seed crop that is reported to be promising unfavourably is cocksfoot. The dry spring affected growth on the Peninsula, and a yield of under normal is expected. The potato fields are looking well, and as they were not affected by the dry September growing conditions so far have been ideal for them. Forward sales have been made at £5 and down to £4 15s, f.0.b.. s.i. The equivalent of this is about £3 10s on trucks.