u .S. Seed Sales to France Zoomed But Likely French farmers greatly increased their plantings of U.S. seeds—mainly grasses and legumes—in 1973-74. Im ports of U.S. seeds skyrocketed to $4.2 million, compared with only $1.7 mil lion in 1972-73. But the excellent year for UJJ. seed •ales to (he French is not likely to be*' repeated. Seed supplies are adequate, not only in France but throughout the European Community. Further, a new common catalog (approved variety list) of certified for* age seed varieties has been developed by the Community. The new catalog—a compilation of all Member States' cata logs—came into effect on January 1. 1975, although the regulation has not yet been published. This new catalog could dampeiv de mand for U.S. certified seed, as well as for domestic-grown seed, by increasing the number of varieties available to French farmers. Since several U.S. vari eties were already in some individual country catalogs, however, sales of these seeds may increase now that they can be sold in all EC countries. France is an important agricultural producer, second only to the United States as an exporter of agricultural products, so that the U.S. seed indus try is keeping close tabs on market f New Idea’s Manure Spreaders LOW DOWN PAYMENT INTEREST FREE UNTIL NOVEMRER 1, Blow down payment ■ maximum allowance for trade in ■ DELIVERY NOW ■ NO INTEREST OR FINANCE CHARGE PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 1. 1975 We make your job a little easier. A. L. HERRtBRO. Quarryville 717-786-3521 ROY H. BUCK, INC. Ephrata R 0 2 717-859-2441 STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE Cochranville Pa 215-593-5280 To Turn Down This LONGENECKER FARM SUPPLY Rheems 717-367-3590 CHAS. i. McCOMSEY A SONS Hickory Hill Pa 215-932 2615 possibilities there. French farmers are especially interested in newly developed U.S. Durum varieties and in the rela tively new pelleted sugarbeet seeds. The French market is also likely to continue strong this season for certain U.S. lawn grasses, such as bluegrasa and red top. France’ increased’ its' production of al most all varieties of forage seeds in 1974-75. Quantities of certifiable alfalfa seed, for example, rose from 7,220 met ric tons to 8,000. In contrast to the more adequate supplies, demand for seed in France is lagging. Very poor weather conditions last fall had a nega tive effect on forage seed sales. Also, some planned fall planting was not ac complished because of wet fields. Sales of certified seeds by the French seed industry have increased sharply since 1970, when France made seed certification mandatory for most spe cies. except vegetables and flowers. Traditional use of homegrown seeds has been practically eliminated, replaced by certified varieties. Breeders, growers, and traders, through an interprofessional organization (GNIS). have promoted seed usage and highly integrated the market in the areas of cereal and forage seeds. Wholesale turnover in the French seed industry in 1973-74 rose to $375 A.B.C. GROFF, INC. New Holland 717-354 4191 N. G. HERSHEY A SON Manheim 717-665-2271 LANDIS BROS., INC. Lancaster 717-393-3906 1975 in 1973-74 Season million from $292 million in 1972-73 and $229 million in 1971-72. Some of this expansion, however, has been from higher prices for seed of new varieties— such as the pelleted sugarheel seeds (monogerms), which have greatly ex panded their share of the market * French' exports of seeds and plants soared in 1973-74 to a value of $57.3 million, versus only $2B S million the previous year. The morc-than-50 per cent increase was largely the result of an expanded volume of potato and corn seed exports, as well as rising legume seed prices. Seed imports during this pe riod. however, surged to $73 million from $53.1 million—up 41 percent—so that in spite of the exceptional export showing. France is still a net importer of seeds. Cereal seeds. Domestic marketings of certified cereal seeds, excluding corn and sorghum, edged up 6 percent in 1973-74 to reach 456,200 tons. More than ever, French farmers are interested in planting winter varieties, especially barley, where sales spurted ahead by 140 percent between 1970-71 and 1973- 74, against a rise of only 23 percent for spring barley. Two trends arc emerging in French cereal seed marketings. The life span of a specific variety is notably shorter than 10 or 20 years ago; and the market is no longer dominated by one or two varieties, owing to the rise in the num ber of varieties available to farmers. French farmers arc showing particu lar interest in several new cereal varie ties For feed wheat, the British variety. Mans Huntsman, is gaining popularity Bidi 17 is still the most-wanted Durum variety, but Durtal is increasing its share Lakota and the recently intro duced Wells variety —both from North Dakota State University—have proven HYBRIDS of Tomorrow - Today • UNIFORM GRADE • HIGH GERMINATION • FAST GROWING DEALERS TO SERVE YOU; CARROLL ANDERSON Red Lion, PA 717-244-1124 EDMUND BOOK Port Royal, PA 717-527-4469 RAY A. BRATTON McVeytown, PA 717-899-62*2 ARTHUR BRANDT Hershey, PA 717-367-3629 RICHARD BRECKBILL Oxford, PA 215-932-3307 ELI DETURK Oley, PA 215-6*9-5423 DUTCHMAN FEED MILL Ephrata, PA 717-733-3020 ANDREW FITY Waynesboro, PA 717-762-47*5 HERB FORD Kennedyville, MD 301-648-5377 ROSS GARLAND Warfordsburg, PA 717-294-321* JOHN HERR Grantviile. PA 717-469-2401 ELI HOOVER Reinhokis, PA 215-267-5529 HURST BROS. East Earl, PA 215-445-4131 DALE JARDINE Carlisle, PA 717-249-4983 CREDON JUMPER Carlisle, PA 717-243-0544 PAUL MARTIN Richland, PA 717-866-4228 RAYMOND MOYER Manbeim, PA 717-665-2038 CLARENCE NESTER Gilbertsviile, PA 215-326-5314 EARL NOLT Lancaster, PA 717 *9B-7075 WALTER OCXER Chambersburg, PA 717-264-5147 HARRY PEIFER Pine Grove, PA 717-345-8482 ROY PHILLIPS Unityville, PA 717-584-5040 EDWIN SCOTT Malvern, PA 215-644-9113 GEORGE STAMBAUGH Newville, PA 717-776-3883 ROY WILDESON Chambersburg, PA 717-264-4298 WILLIAM YOHE Spring Grove, PA 717-225-4136 ARTHUR ZUG Port Royal, PA 717-527-4906 You need a hybrid that will perform under a variety of conditions. Gutwem has hybrids to fit your program. Check your state plots for yield com parisons. HAROLD J. DIETRICH RDI, Box 98 UincMtf Farming. Saturday. May 10.1975 FEATURING: • DISEASE RESISTANT • EXCELLENT STANDABILITY • FASTER DRYING • HIGHER YIELDS For Dealership Information, Write of interest to farmers Marketing! of certified corn seed ad vanced by only 4 percent In 1973-74 from the previous year, when the in crease was just 2 percent—reflecting stagnation of corn acreage in France. Bumper seed crops in 1973 of 125.000 tons boosted carryover slock of corn seed to a very high 42.600 tons. French interest in growing corn for silage could sharpen in the next few years. Of varieties planted, single cross hybrids are in demand, owing to more uniformity plus high yields. Forage seeds. A key factor in the de velopment of the French seed industry has been the expanded market for for age seed. In 1972-73, forage seed sales swelled by about 30 percent. Although 1973-74 saw a slowdown to only 5 per cent over 1972-73, prospects are good for continuing growth, especially for use on France's 5.7 million acres of tempo rary meadows. Responding to insufficient production and high prices, domestic sales of grass seeds dropped by roughly 11 percent in 1973-74. contrasting with the startling 45 percent gam in 1972-73 over the previous season. The sales slowdown affected mainly perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue. On the other hand. French farmers have shown a keen in terest m tall fescue, and sales of alfalfa and red clover seeds have continued strong Sugarbcct seeds. The market for sugarheet seed is very active in France Some I 3 million acres of sugarheets were planted m 1974 Because of the sugar shortage, the EC Council is press ing for an even larger acreage this \ear More than half of French sugarheet acreage last >ear was planted with ge netic monogerm seed, which has in creased in use impressivet> in recent years Sales of pelleted seed rose 33 per cent in 1974 ovci 1973. both exports and imports are growing—with imports up 20 percent in 1973-74. Richland. PA 17087 23
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers