BIGGER WHEAT AREA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21158, 6 July 1940, Page 5

BIGGER WHEAT AREA

EARLIER SOWING REPORTED SUBSTANTIAL MARGIN (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday Figures received by the Wheat Committee this week from members of the electoral committee throughout the wheatgrowing areas and reports from brokers in different districts indicate that an increased area has been sown in wheat this season. It is estimated that the sowing will be 280,000 acres, 85 per cent, of which is already in the ground. With a normal yield of 32 bushels an acre, 280,000 cares will provide sufficient wheat for the Dominion’s requirements for 12 months, but the vagaries of the weather in the long time still to elapse before the harvest make it necessary that a margin should be provided to guard against a poor growing and harvesting season. In 1932, a very poor season, the average yield was 24.49 bushels. In

jiCIU Wdo it.lJ UUSUCIS. XU 1933, a very good season, it was 36.54 bushels. These figures show the wide margins which are to be expected in yields of agricultural produce, margins which cannot be provided for except by sowing sufficient acreage to guard against all contingencies. To be sure of sufficient wheat the Wheat Committee says the area sown should be 300,000 acres, and it is hoped that the spring sowing will be large enough to bring the area up to this figure. An extraordinary feature of this year’s sowing is the large proportion already completed. Usually not more than 75 per cent, is sown by this time of year.