Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-13
OF The IOWA CROPS
Heavy Falling OFF in Total Values Com
pared with Past Two Seasons.
oNE-HALf OF THE CORN REPORTED SOFT
Excessive Rains Had Bad Eject on
the F~armers-Some COmpcnsa-
lions Are to BE
Found.
(From a stan correspondent

DIES MONIES, Dec. 12.-(Special)-Fol-
lowing is a summary OF crop reports re-
ceived from the correspondents Of the Iowa
Weather and Crop Service, showing the av-
erage yield per acre and total for the state
of staple farm products for the last season
and the average prices at the farms or near
est station December 1, 1902. AS the larger
portion Of the seasons output will be con-
sumed on the farms, and marketed in the
form Of beef, pork, mutton, horses, dairy
and poultry products, etc, the actual value
of the crops Is materially higher than is
shown by the figures representing the local
prices ~obtainable at this time:
The Corn Crop-1n bulk, expressed in
bushels, the corn crop is reported to be a
little above the ten-year average, the yield
per acre being about "a bushels, and the
total for the state, grown on an area OF
about S,7OO,OOO acres, is 296, $3.50, 2SO bushels.
on account of the unfavorable character
of the crop season and the unusually vari-
able condition, of the corn crop, a special
report was called for in answer to Inquiries
as to the average yield of hard and soft
corn, the percentage that is sound and
merchantable, the local price OF sound corn
and the feeding value of the softer portion
of the crop. The tabulated reports show
the following results Of this INVESTIGATION
Dividing the state into three sections, or
belts three counties wide, crossing east to
west, we find that In the northern section
Cthirty counties) the sound corn is esti-
mated at % per cent; in the central section
dhirty-eight counties IL is As per cent, and
in the southern section Ohirty-one coun-
state as a whole the average condition ap-
pears to be AZ per cent sound and merchant
able, and SO per cent graded as soft, chany
or understandable The total yield by
sections is as follows: Northern section,
in round numbers, 49, 900 bushels; central
section, 129, O0O.O 900 bushels; southern section,
100000 bushels.
Average Local Price.
The average local price of the sound corn
is reported to be 80 cents per bushel ana
the average feeding value of the softer
portion is estimated at % cents per bushel.
This serves as a basis for estimating the
round numbers at $SS, OOO, 600. Last year the
Yield was 227, coo, 600 bushels and the value
$113, 0 1000. In 1900 the total yield was
345, 600, 900 bushels and the value at the cur
rent prices $93, 900, 900.
Wheat-The acreage of winter wheat is
small and the total Yield appears to be only
S25, O45 bushels, an average of eighteen
bushels per acre. In spring wheat the yield
is thirteen bushels per acre and a total OF
u. $50, 500 bushels. The total yields of both
winter and spring wheat is 1852, s45. The
quality of wheat is generally poor, on &C
count of the very. wet harvest, and the
price of winter wheat is reported to be
So cents and spring wheat 81 cents The
total value of the crop. appears to be
s., O62,64 Last year the yield was ISo,zSo'Vo
bushels and the value was SlO,9I6,WO.
Oats une Greatest
Oats-This crop suffered greater damage
than any other cereal from effects of excess
sive rains, and II has been impracticable
to secure reports as to the extent OF total
loss and the quality of the grain that was
threshing. The returns from correspond
ents indicate an average yield or thlrty-one
bushels per acre from the portion OF the
ing a liberal deduction from the acreage
planted in each county, we have a total
of 92, 907, $50 bushels, as against 1l4,O00,OO o
bushels last year and 1873, O0O,O 600 bushels in
1900. The average local value of this years
product appears to be "a cents per ,bushel
and the total $50, 297, $40 Last years oats
| crop was valued at S40,2O9,OoO.
Barley-Estimated yield per acre twenty
Ave bushels and the total yield l5,3SO's $40
a total of $5,O75, no. Last years crop was
1854 600 bushels. worth s6.447,OOO.
Rye-Average per acre seventeen bushels
and total yield SS2,SSO bushels, worth 40
cents per bushel, or a total of S353,1 g. Last
years crop was $685. $50 bushels, valued at
Fiax-Product, 1855 bushels; yield per
acre, eight bushels; value about u per
bushel. Last years crop sl6.SSO bushels
Potatoes-Product ninety-one bushels per
acre. or a total yield of 1905, SO bushels.
years product 5,O9S,OOO bushels, valued at
a. SS, 900. In 1900 the crop was 1O,S5O,OO
bushels, worth S4,34O. 900.
Tame Hay-Product, 4,439,OO tons, an
average of rs tons per acre. Value $3.50
per ton, or a total Of SO,ln,592 Last years
output was S,711,Oo tons, valued at $50. III goo.
Wild H~ay-Average yield 13 tons per
acre, or a total of LOO, $50 tons, worth $3.50
per ton, or a total of 1865, $50. Last years
product 1,26S, 700 tons, worth 1902, 900.
The estimated value of sweet potatoes Is
about 10000. Sorghum, $250,000. Broom
corn, $4,000. Timothy seed, $4,000. Clover
seed is unknown and not ascertainable as
to value.
Corn fodder in shock and fields probably
worth half as much as last year, or about
so, OO0, 900.
worth at least $35, 600, 900.
Fruits and vegetables are estimated at
$9,5O0,0OO. which rs a conservative figure
Tabulated Crop summary.