Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1893-08-24
HARVEST or THE YEAR,
Summary Of the "American Agricultur-
lists" Annual Review

OVB annual N0vleWs
The harvest OF 1888 in the United
States is in many respect, similar to
that OF three years ago, but with every
prospect that home consumption and
an increase of foreign demand will also
advance values SO as to yield as large O
net return to farmers as on the aver
age OF recent years. Indeed, the
American Agriculturists annual review
makes distinctly encouraging exhibit
in spite OF the prevalent drought,
though 1t Is admitted that the financial
stringency may interfere with the curly
movement of crops and nave tempo
rarily restorative influence on prices.
Present indications point to crop OF l,7se,-
WOO0o bushels OF corn. contrasted with L6s0.-
0c0Ooo last year, and over 20e0,0o00Oo bushels
In the immense yield OF two seasons previous
But unless abundant rains prevail throughout
the corn belt in August, followed by mtlder
weather the production may shrink to l,6O0- :
co,oOo, and may even drop to the sire of the
1870 crop when we harvested less than In any
year for decade, with single exception
While the area in corn 1, some 20oot0e OF acres
greater than last year in the seven corn sur
plus states, over n million less acres are de-
voted to maize than way the case two years
ago. The corn crep has been greatly injured 80
FAR during August. the first two weeks of the
month having wrought ten times As much dam
aye as the whole month Of July. Kan sas will
not raise more than half crop having but
very little except the eastern quarter, and
NebrnskA's crop has been seriously curtailed.
The wheat out-turn win not exceed 4ts,ooo.-
co bushels compared to 6i4"o,oO bushels as
the average for the past two seasons AMI 4Ol,- >
cocoon bushels In 1880. Nearly 2,5e0.OtO less
acres were devoted to wheat last year. and the
bulk OF this deere ase was IN the surplus States,
which bid fair to have Il, S,0o,t0a fewer bushels
than last year and 125,ono 600 bushels under the
surplus States product in 1891
Available supplies OF old wheat are ~, ,ooo, ,oco
bushels greater than o twelve-month ago, but
even allowing that farmers also hold l7,U0.0O
bushels more old wheat now than hen, the to-
pSasneIs 1sr ha 9ny
the average OF the two previous crops. Our
home consumption has averaged aSs.o00o 600
surplus Of 1885 900, 900 bushels, again.t exports
last year OF 1872. 900 and the season before OF
28a 900 QUO bushels.
This years acreage Of oats was never ex-
ceeded except In 1889, when over SOS .0o, 600
bushels were grown on n, 100000 acres. COM
pared with G2o,ooc COO bushels on a slightly
100000 bushels OF last years out-turn and
just about an average OF the three previous
crops.
Reviewing the financial situation from
the farmers standpoint, the American
Agriculturist concludes:
The prospect for prices in the early future
depends more upon the monetary situation
than upon natural conditions. all Of whic !,
point to causes that should result in higher
prices. But the wheat crop Is conceded to be
over 600 bushels less than last year In
the leading importing countries. Stocks
abroad are not materially larger than . year
ago, SO that the excess Of 50oOo,OOO bushels In
the United States In old stocks still leaves an
indicated shortage on the bread crop Of the
world Of lo0,00o.G0 bushels Of wheat. This
allows Russia as good az last year. The Euro
pean rye crop is hardly fair average; oats are
under average and potatoes are injured by
drought. With no extra surplus Of the bread
croIs and an assured deficit OF wheat. the
United states are likely to be called upon TO
export as much wheat as last year. II not
more. Indeed, exports have been much heavier
since July than last season. The conclusion
Is tustifable that present prices of all grains
are abnormally low. as there Is little evidence
OF our ability to spare as much wheat "a Eu-
rope wrnts, unless large underconsumption
prevails IN the United States.
The hay crop is believed to represent value
to the farmers OF $l.OOoOO. Corn At 45 cents
per bushel comes next with total Of 4725, 600 :
0oU. followed by wheat valued at $3to, coo 600 Ii
worth az cents bushel, and oats worth flSs,--
00,00, IL valued ut 30 cents on the farm. PO-
tatoes promise to net an average OF 70 or rs
cents per bushel or . total of sl2b .OOO. 400.
This list is about One-half the prospective
value Of the cotton crop OF 1891, reck0ncd at
fs,or hal