MORE WHEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 94, 23 April 1942, Page 4

MORE WHEAT

I INCREASED ACREAGE SOUGHT RANGITIKEI CAMPAIGN MEETING TO BE HELD TO-NIGHT. The appeal tor the increase:! production of wheat will be given a district application to-night, when a Hireling of those 'in th? Rangitikei district interested in who it-growing will be held at Marton to make plans for the advancemnt of the campaign in readiness for the new season. Under the present appeal, the objective has be. ii sei at a minimum of 300,000 acres ol wheat as the desired Dominion total. This is an increase ol over 40.000 acres in the estimated sowings (258,(J00 acres) ouring the season that has just concluded, and is sligntly in excess ol the acreage that has been calculated to yield, in a nor-i-Ull requirements. The coming season may not be normal, so that it is a sound policy lo plan for a higher acreage to offset any possibilities of shortage through low yields. Besides, a surplus, should it arise, would not ne amiss for future use. Of the Dominion’s total, by far the major port.on will continue to come Horn South Island districts, but the Norin Islands contribution, while small in comparison. forms nevertheless an integral part of the production plan, in in. I seasons appeal, the North island districts were allocated a quota ol acres and it is not to be expected that they will be required to produce than that during 1942-43. Locally. tne Lower Rangitikei was set a quota of 4500 acres lor 1941-42. This was not achieved, largely owing to unfavourable weather conditions causing the abandonment of wheat sowings on many areas where this was originally intended, but it should be well within the district’s capacity. During the 1932 34 period, the Rangitikei produced‘over 4200 acres of wheat each season, an annual figure that is not far short of the above quota. The decline in local acreage since that period has been largely due to the growing popularity of other methods ol farming rather than from a decline in the capacity of the land to produce wheat. The district, with an average annual yield of 40 bushels per acre, retain.' its reputation as one of the highest wheal-yielding districts throughout New Zealand. Yields exceeding 50 bushels per acre are not exceptional and have been achieved, even in a season such as the one just concluded. The Rangitikei also possesses a fund of local know ledge and qualified experience in the growing of wheat, and the machinery and equipment if efficiently organiod to deal adequately with the desired acreage. The recent introduction of a number of header harvesters will go a long way towards counteracting harvesting

labour shortages in the forthcoming season. iney have just successfully concluded operations in a season tnat could nardiy have been more unta\ouraole, and in view of ibis pcrlormance there can be no gainsaying their undoubted ability to handle the harvesting, including the efficient threshing, ol even diliicult crops. Moreover, they do this work speedily and with the minimum of labour requirements. Local wheat-growers, moreover, have now the choice oi three varieties. While "jumbuck" may continue to remain the standard lor the district, the two alternative vai ielies, ' i ainui ’ and ‘’Cross < ’ (and more especially the former) have both proved capable of producing successlul crops under local soil and climatic conditions. Owing to the local soil and climatic conditions and the nature ol the standard variety (Jumbuck). very little autumn .sowing j.s normally carried out in the Kangitikei. but under the present circumstances, it is quite possible that more attention will be paid to sowings at this lime of the year, especially as some autumn sowings would assist in alleviating the spring rush that is otherwise likely to occur. Already a good deal of interest ha. been evidenced locally, both in regard lo increased wheat sftwings during the forthcoming season, and aiso as to the advisability 01 adopting some autumn sowings. At to-night s meeting at Marlon, to be attended by Messrs. R. B. Tennent, Director of Primary Production, and W. W. Mulholland, president of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union, it is anticipated that any organisation necessary lor the achievement ot tl.e district’s wheat acreage quota will be arranged. Given a normal season and freedom from invasion, the fulfilment of this undertaking should not be difficult to ensure. Farmers, agricultural contractors, grain merchants and millers should attend the meeting, which will be held in the Empire Hail at 8 o’clock. Mr. Tennent and Mr. Mulholland will discuss with potential wheatgrowers the possibilities and problems associated with lhe desired increase in the wheat acreage in the Rancitikei district