MORE MAIZE WANTED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 1, 28 August 1945, Page 5

MORE MAIZE WANTED

INCREASE IN THE PRICE

IPPEAL

TO FARMERS

An appeal to the Bay of Plenty farmer to grow more maize was the decision arrived at at a meet'ng of growers'with the Primary Production Council held in Whakatane.

During the past year or two insufficient maize has been grown to meet the requirements of the market s resulting in an acute problem to satisfy the demands, of poultrymen and other users. In an endeavour to remedy tiie position the Honourable Minister of Marketing lias offered an increased price and appeals for wholehearted co-operation in securing the planting of 3000 acres over the Opotiki-Wbakatane areas. Apart from the cropping subsidy offered for pig an additional fid per bushel has been granted for market making a total subsidy of ]/() per bushel to the basicprice. The rate for the new season's crops will work out at 7/3 per bushel for September delivery, witk a progressive rise of Id each month till March.

Admittedly difficulties have been experienced with plucking operabut with the prospects more bright for labour and the presence of mechanical pickers in the district, that position should be considerably improved by next harvest season. It is if possible, that farmers make an effort to assist this, appeal by taking a second crop from last year's land f or breaking out deteriorated pasture, or of taking advantage of the pig fodder scheme to extend the area to include a few acras for the market. It is preferable

that kumi kuini should not be grown with the maize if machine plucking

is intended. Fertiliser at the rate of 3cwts per acre is available to

armers applying to their merchant.

Statistics; reveal that the Auckland province at the present time is depending almost entirely on outside

help for the whole of its requirements in the way of cereals for pig

and poultry feeding, thus showing an unbalanced farming practice. While the cash return from maize crops may not be as profitable as it is inevitable that a more diversified farm economy will

have to operate, if the danger of competition with importation from other countries is to be obviated.

The Bay of Plenty and Poverty

Bay are ideal districts for maize growing and should without difficulty produce the full requirements of New Zealand. To attain'that, the support of the farmer to this appeal will materially contribute to the relief of the market shortage.