AREA UNDER WHEAT

Evening Star, Issue 22452, 24 September 1936, Page 13

AREA UNDER WHEAT

210,000 ACRES SOWN RESULTS OF ANNUAL SURVEY Indications are, from the evidence available, that the total acreage sown in wheat in the Dominion this year will be approximately 230,000 acres. This estimate is based on the survey made by the Electoral Committee of the United Wheat Growers’ Association, and the survey, for all practical purposes, may now be regarded as completed. Last season 248,639 acres were harvested. The committee’s estimate is based on returns collected from approximately 500 representative farms. According to these, the acreage in Marlborough appears to be on a par with that of last year. North Canterbury shows a slight drop on 110 farms, and in Mid-Canterbury the sowings on 50 farms are practically the same as last year. South Canterbury discloses a small drop on 120 farms, North Otago (40 farms) is about equal with last year, Otago shows an increase on 40 farms, and in Southland (10 farms) the acreage is about the same as last year. Over-all, the committee’s survey indicates that the decrease in acreage will be rather less than 10 per cent. This position, it is considered; has been largely brought about by the unfavourable spring weather this year in many of the grain-growing districts, the excessive moisture preventing growers from working their land. The reduction in acreage is more apparent on heavy land; indeed, in some districts in North Canterbury growera have not yet been able to work their land. In the light of experience in previous years, nowever, the reduction in wheat acreage is more apparent than real, for it is generally recognised that the Electoral Committee usually err* on the low side. Last year, for instance, the acreage estimated by_ the committee proved to be about 13.l)0(f acres short of the actual area sown, and even the Government Statisti- »• ..i.i's estimate of 240,000 acres was more than 8,000 acres short of thf area harvested.