THE WORLD’S WHEAT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22518, 28 September 1938, Page 17

THE WORLD’S WHEAT

HEAVY SURPLUSES PRICE PROSPECTS UNFAVOURABLE Notwithstanding the disastrously low price of wheat in Australia for some time it is estimated that there is an increase of 400,000 acres sown over that of last year. In 1937-38 the area sown to wheat in Australia was 13.686.000 acres, which produced 188.013.000 bushels at an average yield of 13.74 bushels an acre. The world wheat position does not give much prospect of the market improving. A recent survey for 1938-39 anticipates that good crops will be expected in the European importing countries. It is emphasised in the survey that good crops are anticipated in the European importing countries, estimated production being 1.161,000,000 bushels, compared with 1,093,000,001 bushels last year. In addition the European exporting countries expect to harvest 511,000,000 bushels. or 63,000,000 bushels in excess of the production for 1937. In the circumstances it appears likely that such exporting countries as the united States. Canada, Argentina, and Australia may experience a reduced demand from Europe, while the low purchasing power of the Far Eastern coun~ tries may prevent any expansion in demand from this part of the world. The demand situation is further complicated by various impediments to international trade. In certain _ countries. which under normal circumstances would be classed as deficient in wheat supplies, regulations militate against an increase in demand, even with falling prices. As a result of efforts to render such countries selfsupporting in case of a national emergency, any deficiency in production is met, not by increasing imports, but by increasing the proportion of various admixtures in the bread flour of It is reported that the United States Government has been developing a scheme for subsidising the export _ of 190.000. bushels. At the beginning of August private estimates of the United States winter wheat crop ranged from 603,000.000 bushels to 701,000,000 bushels. . , _ , . In view of the trouble in Central Europe it is interesting to note the production of wheat in those and neighbouring countries. . The French crop is estimated officially at 330,000.000 bushels, but private estimates tend rather higher to 360.000. The wheat office has announced that there is no intention to export, and after establishing a security storage of 37,000.000 bushels, and utilising a similar quantity for distillation. it is proposed to denature the balance for use as feed. ■ m4 . nn , aa Rumanian advices are that storage has become congested, privatei estimators forecast 180,000,000 bushels, compared with the official figure of 172.000. bushels. An excellent harvest Is anticipated In Yugoslavia, where production has been estimated officially at 101,000,000 bushels, or 15,000,000 bushels more than in 1937. Cabled advice from the International Institute of Agriculture, Rome, indicates that Italian production is now etimated at 288.000,000 bushels. This estimate Is 32.000,000 bushels higher than the official figure a month ago, and approaches closely the 296,000,000 bushel harvest of 1937. From Russia, on the other hand, it is reported that the spring wheat yields have been small. . . ~ . . . The foregoing would seem to point to Australia’s outlets being restricted and consequently low prices, with an intensifying of the problem of helping the industry in that country. WAIKATO DAIRY HERDS HEAVY MORTALITY RYEGRASS STAGGERS A CAUSE The recently-advanced theory that ryegrass pasture can be too pure for the best animal health has received some confirmation by -the prevalence of the disease In the dairy herds of the Waikato. . The complaint in the South Island has been confined almost exclusively to sheep, but it has affected herds in the Waikato in varying degrees for some years. This season it is much worse. The main cause of this Is doubtless that the poor condition of the cows when they came to profit, and the change to the lush spring grass made them more susceptible than usual.

Many dairy farmers find that cows suffering from this disease fall down dead without the owner having received previous warning that the animal was infected.

spring ailments common to the dairy herds are causing alarm to some districts, and the amount of carcases being sent to the boiling-down works is said to be abnormally high. There are some farmers who attribute the present mortality wholly to the after-effects of facial eczema, but this is, generally discounted by authorities. Xt is admitted that some cows may have died from facial eczema, but so far there is no foundation in the statement that the present deaths are due to facial eczema. However, it is intended to investigate the cause of some of the losses. Several proprietors of boiling-down works have stated that for some weeks past they had been handling more carcases than was usual at this time of the year, but one of them pointed out that the price of skins might account for the increase to some extent. The price of hides was high last year, and it probably paid farmers to skin their own dead stock and to bury the carcases, whereas this year the price has been low, and the hides were not worth removing. They were therefore glad to dispose of the dead animals. The supervisor for the Waikato District Pig Council stated that from his knowledge of what five of the boilingdown works in the Waikato were handling, he estimated the mortality rate among cows for the last few weeks to be not less than 150 a day. He regarded the position as being very serious, taking into account the loss of butter-fat and the loss of replacing the dead animals.