BIG REDUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 43, 22 April 1942, Page 5

BIG REDUCTION

THIS YEAR IN MAIZE CROP

"This year's maize harvest in the Bay of Plenty district is likely to show a drop of 33 1-3 per cent to 50 per cent on last season's yield which, of course, was a particularly good

one," said the Hon. J. G. Barclay,

Minister of Agriculture and Market-

ing in an interview

The area sown was almost equal to that of previous years but late frosts followed by unfavourable growing conditions during the summer months have had the effect of reducing the yield and further frost damage in certain districts has again had a reducing effect.

It appears, therefore, that this year's crop, the harvesting of which should commence next month will not be sufficient for a full year's consumer requirements and it is therefore fortunate that last season's nrea and yield were exceptionally good and with a proportion of this still to go into consumption it is hoped that there will be sufficient to meet the demand of the ensuing 12 months without the necessity for importation from overseas which would be, to say the least, very difficult, if not impossible under present conditions.

Tn the- Poverty Baj* district, better conditions have been experienced nnd the reduction there, with some small decrease in the area sown, is cxpected to be between 10 per cent and 15 per cent.