PRODUCTION OF OATS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1939, Page 3

PRODUCTION OF OATS

SATISFACTORY IN NEW ZEALAND The value of the oat crop has varied from £246,000 in 1934-35 to approximately £500,000 in 1937-38. The export of threshed oats is negligible, and the position of oat production is satisfactory, although it is considered that further encouragement should be given to the production of Duns and Algerians, particularly to supply seed oats to the North Island, writes T. Shannon in the “Journal of Agriculture.” Actually, of the total oat crop, only 5 per cent is grown in the North Island, and this is utilised mainly for chaff and green feed. Just over half the crop is located in Canterbury, and about one-fifth in Otago. About 80 per cent of the North Island crop is Algerians, largely because of its rust-resistant qualities. The South Island prefers Gartons, while Otago grows almost wholly Gartons for threshing. In 1938-39. of 280,000 acres of oats sown. 19 per cent was threshed, 63 per cent made into hay, chaff, and silage, and 18 per cent fed off. The estimated acreage for 1939-40, amounting to 254,000 acres, shows a decline of 26,000 acres, or 9 per cent. The quantity of oats used for milling purposes averages about 650.000 bushels, which is about one-quarter of the total quantity threshed. As a result, there is in most years a surplus of this grain to be carried over, and the price is usually low compared with ■ that of wheat or malting barley. Producers of oats in New Zealand are protected by a tariff of Is 6d per cental levied on imported oats. In addition, permits to import are now granted only for Algerian oats required for green feed production in the North Island, and only to the extent that Canterbury farmers are unable to supply the full requirements. A large proportion of the oat crop is held on farms as a reserve feed supply for sheep, and may be carried over in stack if the price for this grain or for chaff is considered too low. The trade in chaff nowadays amounts to only a small fraction of its former dimensions.

“Cheer up, Nobby,” said the shipwrecked sailor to his pal on the raft, “we can’t be far from civilisation now. Look, there’s a couple of bombers up there.”