Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-08-31
ESTIMATES TOO HIGH
Commissioner Of Agriculture Thomas
Says North Dakota's Wheat Yield
Not Over 2o,ooo,ooo.
Figures on a Total Acreage sown Of
Less Than 4,ooo,ooo-Yield About
Five Bushels.
Flax Average Doubled, But Average
Much Less That That Of Last
Year.

-# NO111l14SS1OAS " \ 4kSAA
as, from reports of the acreage made to
him by nearly all the counties in the
state and personal investigation of the
crops through the state, does not be-
lieve the state of North Dakota will
produce over 2O,OOO,OOO bushels Of
wheat this year, with the probability
that the yield will be reduced to 49,
100000. He bases his estimate upon
a careful study of the crop conditions
in the state and supports it with the
only figures that are obtainable as to
the acreage, the reports made to the
assessors of the crop sown in the
spring and the evident condition of the
crops through the state.
MIR. Thomas takes decided issue with
the estimators who have placed the
acreage of crop in the state at nearly
100000 for wheat, and the average
yield at six or seven bushels. The re-
ports from all the counties in the state,
with the exception of a few of the
smaller ones, says Mr.. Thomas, show
that the wheat acreage sown in the
state this spring was practically the
same as last year, about 3,7OO,O0O, and
the average yield for the acreage sown
will not be over five bushels. This
would make a total wheat yield this
year of 1S,5OO,OOO, and this Mr.. Thorn
as states will be approximately the
crop raised this year of wheat.
"You cannot raise wheat on acreage
that is not in CROP" said Mr.. Thomas.
land the total acreage Of wheat this
year is nowhere near the estimates.
One reason is that the flax acreage in
the state vas doubled this spring. At
least half a million acres that is ordin-
arily planted in wheat was last spring
sown in flax. Farmers were led by
the high price and the proven good
qualities of North Dakota soil to plant
flax on much of their wheat acreage.
Last year the flax acreage in the state
was about Aalf a million acres. This
year it is ver a million acres. Last
year the flax average in the state as
shown by the returns to the Office of
the commissioner of agriculture was
about II bushels. This year | do not
believe it will be over ) bushels-about
the same as wheat. The total flax
crop in the state this year will there
fore be about the same as last, count
ing the doubled acreage. 1 look for
a yield of about five or six million
bushels of flax this year."
Notwithstanding the falling off in
the state this year, Mr.. Thomas says
there will be no particular distress in
any part of the state. Reports have
been sent out that some Russians in
McHenry county are starving, because
OF the failure of Gheir first years crop,
and because they had staked their all
on this. There is no reason tor such
a condition anywhere in the state"
said Mr.. Thomas, "and I do not believe
it exists"
There is plenty of work everywhere
in the state. Farmers in the valley
want men, and there is no particular
%curtailing OF business. Merchants are
putting out goods, and while sales of
farm machinery and implements have
been cut off somewhat, other business
is being done and there is no discour-
agement as to the future and continued
prosperity of North Dakota. Dairy
ing is picking up, and there has been
a large increase in the cattle business
the past year. Wool sales, while slow
and at lower prices than expected, have
helped out the sneepmen in the west
ern part of the state. The late rains
have helped the prairie grass and the
question of fall has been solved. New
grass is springing up, and a second crop
of hay will be cut in September in
many places.
A~rNnnFrH1ro