The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-13
SEEDING J ! [. IS EARLY
Farmers Are Already Inserting
Wheat Into the Ground.
2 WEEKS AHEAD OF USUAL TIME
REPORTS Seem to Indicate an In
Il crease Of Coarse Grain
Acreage.

| z = 80 = /. Z ] }Sf
Spring wheat seeding is already under
way in Minnesota. This Is the earliest
start for years. and about as early asa any
recoTded. The farmers are getting out.
all through the state, and farm work is
progressing rapidly.
In many localities conditions favor ac-
tive work and with the uncertainty of
March and the possibility Of an unfavor-
able turn toward the end of the month,
many farmers are disposed to start in
now and get their seeding out Of the way.
It is safe to say that if present tempera-
lures and fair weather remain for another.
week, much of the spring wheat will be.
in the ground fully two weeks earlier
than the average date.
The greatest activity, SO far, is around
Hutchinson and Morris. A grain man in
this morning from Mcleod county says he
saw several farmers actively at work
north Of Glencoe, farms with southern,
slopes are reported all seeded, and along
the line Of the 500, in Wright county,
there is considerable activity. From Nor
IT'S 1t is reported that conditions are
more favorable than at this date for years,
and Wlth4a few days more Of this wealth
err a good part of the neighboring area
will be seeded There is not much activity
reported north of these points, but in the
territory Immediately south and south
west, farmers have been at it for several
sion of the Milwaukee, some work has
been done and the activity is noted on a
line about west from Faribault and ex-
tending into South Dakota. The Van
Dusen Harrington company and the Os-:
borne Mcmillan company report seeding
along their lines. telephone message
from Shakopee this morning says farm
work is becoming general, and around
Sacred Heart there is much work being
done. Faribault, New Ulm and Albert
Lea report conditions favorable in their
vicinity.
There Is Some Risk
The seeding of wheat at this early date
Is not entirely devoid Fof risk The,
chances are With the farmer, still there is
this risk, if the seed begins to germinates
soon and the. month should go out with
heavy frosts much Of it would be killed
and the farmer would have his work to
do over again. Many farmers prefer to
wait until about April / before getting
at It, even if earlier conditions are favor
able, as they believe that if taken one
year after another, there is not much
to be gained by being among the first to
be seeded. On the WHOLE however, early,
seeding augurs we'll for the crop.
Increase of Coarse Grain.
There is little doubt that more corn and
oats will be planted in Minnesota this
year than ever before. High prices now
ruling will induce many farmers to plant
corn. Whether this will be good thing
for them or not is questionable. The H.
Poehler company has sent out some 800
inquiries as to the probability OF. the area
to be planted this spring, and from the
| replies received it would appear that farm-.
I ers are contemplating planting corn to an
extent that will cut into the wheat acre
age somewhat. Henry Duvigneaud of this
firm said this morning:
Judging from reports from points covering
| the whole OF the northwest, the farmers this
spring will decrease their wheat acreage and
| increase heavily their acreage Of corn, oats
nd2barley. Flax will also show a good an
crease, but not as heavy as corn. In re-
spect to decreasing acreage Of wheat and in
Icreastng acreage. Of dorm, oats and barley, we
are very much afraid that farmers will make
serious mistakes for the reason that corn
| and oats in the, United States have never
failed two years in succession, and judging
from reports the tendency among farmers to
increase the acreage of corn, oats and BAR
lley, especially corn, is general in practically
every state. In the east some localities that
have not raised corn for fifteen years, report
that farmers will plant corn this year. On
the basis OF present promise Of increase in
| acreage, the corn and oats crop the coming
season promises to be record breaker. There
VIII, OF course, be many empty bins to fill
| but It must be remembered that owing to the
high prices last fall; there will likely be less
live stock and cattle to feed than usual.
Furthermore, foreign countries have been In
creasng their acreage of corn. Last year
Russia and the Danuban provinces doubled
their corn crop. The high prices now pre-
yailing will induce them to further increase
| their acreage. This means that our. foreign
demand will be decreased, and all in all, that
low prices for corn and oats next season
should surprise no one