Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-07-02
IOWA CROP ESTIMATES
HEAVY RAINS WILL EFFECT CORN
Director Sage, of the Iowa Weather and
Crop Service, Issues Estimates on
Crops for 1902.

and crop service has issued his esti.
mate of crop acreage for the state with
conditions up to June of this year.
The report shows an increase Of over
sci 900 acres in the area planted to
corn as compared with the acreage OF
year ago, on June the condition
was 81 per cent. The total acreage
planted to corn is 9,2OS, $780, With an
average yield this ought to produce
over 400, 900, 900 bushels of corn.
Mr.. Sage says, however, that condi-
tions since June have been such that
due consideration should be given to
the fact that both the acreage and con-
ditions Of the corn have been material
ly lowered by excessive rains in exten-
sive areas Of the state, causing damage
by erosion of slopes and flooding bot.
tom lands. Mr.. Sage said that from
incomplete reports at hand he would
say that the damage will offset the in
crease in acreage and that ON the basis
of an average acreage the yield will
be $4,000, 900 bushels short of what
conditions would indicate it would be
June /.
Mr. Sage has sent out blanks to all
his correspondents, with requests that
they send revised estimate of the
acreage and condition of the corn crop
July /, and on that date expects to
have accurate information as to pre-
sent conditions at hand.
The reports are from township cor
respondents, and an average of one re-
port from each township in the state
has been received from which to make
up the estimates.
The report as to other crops is as
follows:
Wheat-The acreage of winter wheat
IS shown to be only 48, 449 acres, which
is very nearly the amount returned by
township assessors last year. The
number of acres of spring wheat is
placed at /, 125, ,985 acres, which is H. :
695 acres above the area seeded inl9O1.
The condition of winter wheat is rated
at 96 per cent and spring wheat 80 per
cent.
Oats-acreage, 3,770,62O acres-a
decrease Of 28,6OO acres, compared
with last year. The average condi-
tion of the crop is placed at 9S per
cent, as against SO per cent. at the
same date last year.
Barley-Number of acres, 594, ,67O !;
decrease, 9.49O. compared with last
year. Condition 100 per cent. as
against 80 in 1901.
Rye-Number of acres, 90, 150-a
slight decrease; condition, SO per cent.
Flax-Number Of acres seeded, o.
76O; decrease. as compared with last
year, $3.50 acres. Condition of crops
9S per cent. as against SO per cent. at
corresponding date in 1901.
Potatoes-Acres planted, 1873, ,4S4-
an increase Of 2,184 acres. Condition,
103 per cent. as against 95 per cent.
June l, 1901.
Meadows-Number of acres, 2,2l5,-
900; decrease since last year, 176.550
acres. Condition June /, 96 per cent. /,
as against 80 per cent. last year.
Pastures-Number Of acres, 1890, 140
acres, a decrease Of 2S7, 800 acres. COM
pared with last year.
Condition of live stock-C Cattle, 96
per cent. sheep, 81; hogs, 96; spring
pig crop, 90; horses, 81; foals, so.
Condition Of fruit-Apples, 70 per
cent. plums. 70; cherries. 70; pears,
20; peaches, 40; grapes, 70; straw
berries, 80; raspberries, II; black
berries, 81.
The correspondents estimate an aver
age of about per cent. of last year s
corn crop in the hands of the pro-
ducers.
OF the effect of rains ana unseason-
able weather upon the crops, Mr.. Sage
has the following to say in his month
ly report:
May was warm and showery afford
ing a marked contrast to the preceding
month. The average daily excess OF
temperature was about four degrees,
and the average excess Of rainfall was
1.42 inches. There was unusually
great inequality in the distribution OF
rainfall, ranging from .87 of an inch
at Wahstai, Cherokee county, to 1S. Oa
inches at Grand Meadow, Clayton
county. The area of the marked de.
fciency was limited to q small portion
of the northwest district. The north.
ern section received the heaviest rain.
fall, and the eastern half Of that sec.
tion the bulk Of that amount. Blu,
the soil was very dry, and in excel.
lent condition to absorb and retain q
goodly portion Of the copiors moist
ure and despite the interruption oi
frequent rainy days the work Of plant