STOCKS OF WHEAT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 288, 31 August 1921, Page 6

STOCKS OF WHEAT

MINISTER’S STATEMENT RECORD HARVEST EXPECTED The present supply of wheat in the Dominion will be sufficient to meet all requirements till the next season’s crop comes in. This statement was made in Auckland during the week-end by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. 1 ’ Nosworthy. When asked if there was any likelihood of the price for next season’s wheat being, increased, the Minister replied that he had nothing to say. Christchurch advices state that now that the sowing of wheat has finished in most localities, and nearly finished in others, previously-made forecasts that the the area has been greatly increased can be confirmed. The demand for seed wheat through the autumn and spring, and the increased area of lea land turned over for wheat, point to the extension of tho area put under crop, and some well-founded opinions predict a yield of quite 10,009,000 bushels next year, provided, of course, anything liko the recent average return of thirty bushels to the acre is secured. It is estimated that in North Otago when, tho sowing is about finished, tho area will approximately reach about 30,000 acres. The total Otago area under wheat in 1920-21 was 36,610 acres, estimated' to produce 1,221,883 bushels, so that with anything like a favourable season the North Otago yield alone should roach over 900,000 bushels. If the extension of tho area in the South can be taken as a guide for Canterbury, the 10,000,000 bushels estimate should bo well within the mark, particularly when it is understood that in the North Island, whore wheat-growing has been practically negligible in the past few years, fair-sized areas are being planted. After providing for an adequate carryover until 1923, it would appear, provided the season be favourable, that the export of a couple of million bushels of wheat might be possible. At the values fixed by the Government this amount would provide an acceptable addition to the funds of the Canterbury farmers, more particularly if wool and mutton prospects become no brighter.