Greater Need To Care For Wheat

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 8

Greater Need To Care For Wheat

With an increase in wheat sowings expected this year, the safe keeping of grain while it awaited delivery from the farm would be of even greater importance, the chairman, Mr C. T. A. Ward, told the halfyearly meeting of the electoral committee of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.), Ltd., this week.

“Growers must realise that acceptance or rejection of their wheat depends on the quality of the wheat when it leaves the farm,” said Mr Ward. “Therefore there is only one answer to the problem of delivery; that is, either store the wheat or stack and cover it, and thus keep it safe from weather until it can be moved.” In Canterbury, he said, the last harvest must have been a record for speed. The preharvest advice given to growers had stood them in good stead and had aided the position immeasurably. This advice had been that because of the increasing tempo of the harvest and the inability of transport and buyers to

accept delivery of wheat at the rate of harvest, growers should themselves take steps to provide for the safekeeping of their crops until they could be moved. A large number of growers had accepted this advice, but a relatively small number had obviously done nothing and had left their wheat lying in the open paddock and thereby ran the risk of deterioration of the grain itself and of the sacks, including the risk of rejection of their wheat. Mr Ward said that about 1.3 m bushels of surplus South Island wheat was being sent to the North Island this year, of which 700,000 bushels had already gone in 29 shipments, mostly from Canterbury, and 600,000 bushels, largely from Southland, remained to be shipped between now and October. “The New Zealand Wheat Board and its brokers are deserving of full credit for an impressive achievement in arranging shipment of surplus South Island wheat on such a scale, and particularly, for having decided to move wheat at an early stage in the Canterbury harvest.”

The fact had to be faced, said Mr Ward, that bagged South Island wheat was not looked on with favour by North Island millers or feed merchants, who had been accustomed to receiving bulk Australian wheat over a long period and were geared accordingly. If production of wheat was to be further increased, it was important that they should have regard to the wishes of buyers. Increasing It was pleasing to see that from a small beginning in 1964 with one trial shipment of bulk wheat from Bluff, the number had increased to six bulk shipments in 1965, and this number would be almost doubled this year. Permanent facilities for bulk wheat were expected at Bluff in time for next harvest. It was also pleasing to learn that the first trial shipment of bulk wheat from Timaru was to be made in July and that bulk wheat was being consigned from North and Mid-Canter-bury by the inter-island rail/ ferry. “The efforts of those who are endeavouring to encourage the bulk movement are deserving of full support,” said Mr Ward.

While the over-all quality of wheat shipped was generally good, Mr Ward said, some growers were presenting high-moisture wheat, or wheat excessive in screenings, or in other ways showing it had been badly harvested. This was the exception, but in spite of inspection and grading a few of these sacks got through In shipments and when received by buyers caused much adverse comment. The few growers whose wheat suffered in these ways should exercise more care, he said.