OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Southland Times, Issue 23141, 6 March 1937, Page 4

OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

HARVESTING STILL HELD UP DISCOLOURATION IN OATS EXPECTED (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, March 5. The deliveries of milling wheat from Canterbury eased off during the week because of the wet weather preventing threshing. Some of the wheat coming forward is in a soft condition, and this is causing inconvenience to millers, who in some cases, are rejecting offerings. Unseasonable Weather throughout the South Island . is still holding up harvesting, although there is now promise of a spell of sunshine. An odd line or two of milling wheat is reaching the market from Central Otago but, towards the coast, crops are mostly uncut,’and it will be April before they are available. Milling prices for the month of March are on a basis of 5/- a bushel for Tuscan f.0.b., sacks extra. The quotation today for fowl wheat may be given as round about 5/9 a bushel. There are not many, lines on offer. Oat Market Unchanged The oat market remains unchanged. Weather conditions have stopped the offering of lines which, under ordinary circumstances, would have been on the market in advance of the main crop. The new lines that have been sold indicate that oats in the Otago district will be heavy in weight, and that yields will be good. It is expected, however, that there will be a certain amount of discolouration in the oats. Quotations remain unchanged on a basis of 3/8, f.o.b.s.i. for A Gartons and 3/5 for B’s. These figures are equivalent to 3/- and 2/9 respectively, on trucks, _ country sidings, sacks extra. In some instances higher prices are obtainable for heavy oats suitable for milling. The chaff market continues unaltered. Supplies are on the short side but they are quite sufficient to meet the demand. Potatoes are selling at £5 10/- a ton, ex trucks, sacks included. Because of the presence of blight farmers are taking every opportunity to dig their tubers, and get them on the market. Sales are slow as distributors are content to operate on a hand-to-mouth basis. They are not prepared to stock up on account of the risk of keeping them. Seed Stocks on The Light Side All seed markets are firm, the weather conditions being an important factor. Stocks of all seeds are on the light side and a fair percentage of the new crops has been badly damaged by the continuous broken weather. The extent of the damage cannot be fully estimated, but it is considered that most of the ryegrass crops throughout the South Island will be seriously affected. To a lesser degree the same position applies to fescue, dogstail and cocksfoot crops. Merchants are now realizing that the crops will not be up to expectations, and, moreover, that germination of the lines appearing in the market is indifferent. Certified and ordinary ryegrass is firmed in price, and it is difficult to obtain stocks of certified ryegrass. Merchants are working on last season’s ordinary xyegrass. The cocksfoot market continues to firm and the wholesale value has moved up in Canterbury. White clover is also firmer, as it is not expected that the usual quantity will be saved, and the market for cow grass is in a similar position. Fruit Report Heavy supplies of nectarines reached the market during the week from Central Otago and prices showed a considerable drop, even the choicest quality offering at low prices. Supplies cannot last long at the rate the fruit is coming forward. Freestone peaches are in heavy supply and the market is easier. Crated lines are meeting with a good demand. Apricots are practicaßy finished for the season. Dessert and cooking plums are plentiful. The tomato market eased during the week. High prices were ruling at the end of last week and this resulted in districts even as far afield as Hutt. It will take a day or two for the market to adjust itself, but today only choice quality lines had any demand. Bon Chretien pears are about finished for the season which, this year, has been a short one. Cookers are in good supply with low prices ruling. A small shipment of Californian navel oranges will arrive tomorrow, ex the Wingatui. High prices have been ruling in the north and local prices will have to be on a par with these. A small shipment of sunkist lemons and grapefruit is also expected ex the Wingatui. The first shipment of Samoan bananas, under Government control, wil arrive tomorrow, ex the Breeze, transhipped ex theMatua. The Maui Pomare will arrive with a shipment early next week. These will be the final shipments before Easter. THE CANTERBURY MARKETS LITTLE BUSINESS IN FOWL WHEAT (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, March 5. The grain and produce markets continue quiet, though there is a certain amount of trade passing in most lines. Wheat deliveries have been interrupted steadily by rain, though the weather of the last few days gives promise of better conditions for the completion of the harvest. A good deal of the wheat is being delivered out of condition and there have been more than the usual number of Rejections. The fowl wheat market is at a standstill at present, with only a very small amount of business passing. It is reported that Auckland interests are be-

coming anxious about the possibility of supplies being scarce. The small seeds market remains unaltered. Ryegrass is still firm, as confirmation is received of damage done to southern crops. Cocksfoot from the Plains is being delivered steadily, but little has yet appeared from the Peninsula. Peninsula seed has been offered, but the sample so far is not attractive. Potatoes are slow and the price now is about £2 15/- a ton, on trucks. The main crops of onions are beginning to appear, and the price has eased to about £5 10/- on trucks. MATAURA STOCK SALE A BRIGHT INQUIRY The monthly Mataura stock sale was held in the yards and a good clearance was effected from an entry of over 5000 sheep. There was a bright inquiry for all classes of stock, the most interest being shown in the pens of old breeding ewes and forward lambs. The fat sheep market was firm, extra prime wethers realizing 27/- down to 21/2 for light weights and prime ewes from 16/9 to 18/6. Two-tooth ewes were keenly sought after and one pen made the satisfactory figure of 40/3, while other lines sold from 31/6 to 34/6. The best of the offering of wether lambs sold well at from 17/3 to 20/- and ewe lambs sold readily from 22/9 up to 25/lli Sales were:— New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd—22 fat ewes 17/-, 14 ewe lambs 22/9, 5 fat ewes 18/-, 150 ewe lamjps 27/10, fat heifer £5 5/-, do. £4 10/-, do. £4 5/-. Dalgety and Co., Ltd.—2l 2-th ewes 34/6, 32 f.m. ewes at market rates. J. E. Watson and Co., Ltd., sold a special entry of dairy cows on behalf of Charlton clients at from £2 10/- to Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd.—2 fat ewes 18/6, 21 s.m. ewes 14/-, 49 f. and f.m. ewes 21/5, 69 6-th ewes 32/7, 59 m.s. lambs 19/7, 48 do. 21/1, 10 6-th ewes 30/6, 80 f. and f.m. ewes 16/9, 110 mjs. lambs 18/8, 58 do. 21/6, 159 s.m. ewes 26/3, 68 do. 26/7, 92 wether lambs 18/9, 93 m.s. culls 14/6, 6 fat wethers 27/6, 12 do. 25/3, 15 do. 21/2, 294 f. and f.m. ewes 13/2, 80 ewe lambs 24/7, 47 do. 21/4, 62 2-th wethers 23/-, 150 f. and f.m. ewes 21/-, 15 culls 6/6, 4 fat ewes 17/-, 14 do. 16/9, 30 forward lambs 21/9, 47 do. 21/3, 13 do. 18/7, fat cow £5 10/-, do. £4, do. £3 10/-. Southland Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd. —37 f.m. ewes 13/2, 58 s.m. ewes 22/7, 60 f. and f.m. ewes 22/9, 16 f.m. ewes 12/-, 60 m.s. lambs 16/6, 16 ram lambs 12/10, 55 wether lambs 15/3, 30 fat lambs 26/-, 35 ewe lambs 17/3, 35 fat lambs 26/3, 27 2-th ewes 31/6,120 wether'lambs 19/6, 65 do. 17/3, 40 do. 14/2, 196 f. and f.m. ewes 19/-, 35 f.m. ewes 13/5, 90 m.s. lambs 14/6, fat lamb 26/-, 12 do. 27/-, 2 cull lambs 12/6, 30 f.m. ewes 9/9, 105 do., 10/-, 170 do. 14/8, 90 do. 22/9, fat steer £4 10/-, fat heifer £5 7/6, fat cow £3 5/-, 2 cows and calves £3 15/-. National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd.—3l small m_s. lambs 13/6, 61 wether lambs 20/-, 38 ewe lambs 23/1, 190 wether lambs 17/9, 118 m.s. lambs 16/2, 88 f. and f.m. ewes 22/3, 149 ewe lambs 25/11, 61 m.s.'lambs 18/7, 170 f. and f.m. ewes 14/8, 76 do. 9/6, 63 ewe lambs 25/-, 120 2-th ewes 40/3, 17 f.m. ewes 10/-, 80 wether lambs 16/-, 30 f arid f.m. ewes 18/7, 54 m.s. lambs 24/3, 8 fat wethers 27/6, 44 f. and f.m. ewes 17/9, 11 f.m. ewes 11/-, 56 f. and f.m. ewes 18/-, 3 fat cows £5, cow in milk £7 15/-, 2 fat cows £3 10/-, fat steer £4 15/-, fat heifer £3 7/6, do. £3 15/-. LUMSDEN STOCK SALE At the Lumsden stock sale on Wednesday there was a yarding of 8000 sheep. Prices were somewhat easier than those ruling at the last sale. The National Mortgage and Agency Co. sold.—4l wethers at 22/-, 111 f. and f.m. ewes at 16/-, 52 f. and f.m. ewes at 16/3, 64 4 and 6-th ewes at 30/1, 77 2-th ewes at 36/-, 22 4 and 6-th ewes at 28/-, 26 f. and f.m. ewes at 20/-, 52 ewe lambs at 20/10, 150 ewe lambs at 25/6, 94 f. and f. ewes at 14/10, 103 wether lambs at 18/1, 60 2, 4 and 6-th ewes at 33/-, 68 ewe lambs at 25/11, 90 ewe lambs at 24/7, 38 ewe lambs at 20/9, 80 ewe lambs at 27/1, 28 ewe lambs at 15/-, 113 ewe lambs at 27/1 54 wether lambs at 12/4, 77 ewe lambs at 25/-, 37 s.m. ewes at 23/9, 69 f. and f.m. ewes at 12/-, 82 wether lambs at 18/3, 44 wether lambs at 13/11, 165 wether lambs at 16/-, 111 wither lambs at 16/-, 66 ewe lambs at 19/9.

DISPERSAL SALE

A successful dispersal sale of the “Parkview” Friesian herd was held on the farm property yesterday by Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd. One

and ten head of purebred cattle, as well as 10 Friesian cross cows were sold. Top price of 41 guineas was paid for the bull Ohio Alcanta Dominator, by Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., as agents. The 72 purebred females sold realized an average of over 7J guineas. Foul' males averaged 16 guineas, five bull calves 5) guineas, and 13 heifer calves 3| guineas. The 11 crossbred cattle realized an average of £6 10/-, two sales at £8 10/- marking the top price. DAIRY PRODUCE MARKET BUTTER AND CHEESE FIRM LONDON, March 4. The butter market is firm and cheese is also firm.

Quotations: Butter February 25 March 4. Danish 120/New Zealand— Choicest salted 89/90/- to 91/Unsalted 92/- to 94/Australian — Choicest salted 89/’90/- to 91/Unsalted 92/Cheese New Zealand — White 54/6 55/Coloured 54/6 55/Australian— White 52/6 53/Coloured 53/53/6