The Greeley tribune., 1904-08-25
WHEAT CROP
LOCAL AND NATIONAL RE-
PORTS ON SITUATION.
Shortage in Crop Sends Prices
Soaring Damage by Rust
Is Considerable
Locally.

the Model mills for a few days and
little idea Of the amount OF dam
age done the crop by rust can now he
ascertained. Threshing has not
progressed enough as yet, though, to
make an estimate OF the total short
age in the Greeley section, says
C. F, Bell, manager Of the mill. "A
rough estimate would place the aver
age shortage at % per cent in the
spring wheat. The total in the
county will not be so great, however,
aud to make up for the shortage the
price is now so per cent higher than
it was one year ago at this time.
The farmer is therefore not likely
to suffer so much. The winter wheat
is excellent and some OF it will test
"a to IS pounds, while some OF the
damaged wheat will not test over 80
pounds.
Damaged wheat says Mr.. Bell,
lis entirely new problem in milling
here. A great deal of the wheat Is
shrunken and unfit for high grade
-four. I'VE have not fully decided
what disposition to make OF it as
yet" The mill, however, is buying
the wheat as fast as 1t is coming 10
and is storing it awaiting some solu-
tion Of the problem.
Fairly reliable reports on the
wheat crop of the country have now
commenced TO arrive. These place
the total crop Of the.. country at 564,
$50, 600 bushels. The most liberal
estimates for damage by rust In Min
nesota and the Dakotas, give 24O,
500, 900 bushels for the spring yield
and 324 $50, 900 bushels for the winter
output. These figures make a total
OF 564, 80, 900 bushels, as against
IS s2l 200 bushels for last year and
an indicated crop Of 5s6, 900, 900 BUSH
els on the basis Of the government
report for August l.
Latest reports from the tar north
west are more hattering than the
government report. Harvesting is
about half through. The latest crop
reportsare of the Dest. The average
yield is from % to 35 bushels to the
acre. Indications point to crop Of
5s, 600, 900 bushels for the three states
Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
Estimates from the three pivotal
states In the spriug wheat belt run
all the way from l5s, 900, 900 to 200,'
900. 900 bushels. Some figures we're as
high as 225, 900, 200. six weeks ago.
The finding, based on comprehensive
advices received the latter part Of
the week by the Northwest Miller is
that the crop at preesnt indicates
10, 900, 900 bushels In these three
states. In southern Minnesota there
is 70 question that great crop will
be raised-better than that OF a year
ago 1t is in the northern part of
the state and portions OF North
Dakota the rust has worked its
gretaest damage.
Present prices of wheat indicate
that prosperity will stay with the
farmer whether the total crop be
564, 900, 600 or O,000, 900 bushels.
Wheat is worth today % cents a
bushel more than it was few
months ago, when prospects were
bright for a record crop in the Mis-
sssippi valley and northwestern
states.
Kansas has something cheerful to
say as foil to the gloomy outlook OF
few weeks ago. Reports from
threshers throughout the wheat belt
show better yield than was expected.
In the southern half OF the staLe fields
show yields OF ls to "a bushels to the
acre, and the quality OF the grain is
good. Close estimates are now pos
sibe and elevator men and producers
agree that the crop will be around
60, 600, 600 bushels Some have pre-.
dicted a total of So, 900, 900 bushels,
and others fall so low in their esti.
mates as So. .0O0,O bushels. Thi:
makes the years crop about %, 900, OOt
bushels short Of that of year ago,
when Kansas raised 81, 900, 900 bushels
Floods and rains In July we're entirely
responsible for the shortage. The
corn crop is nov In need OF rain, but
is not in any Immediate danger.
The estimate Of 80, 600, 900 bushels
for Nebraska is based on returns re.
ceived by the state labor bureau from
practically every county growing
wheat. The total yield Of a year age
was AZ, 900, 900 bushels. Independent
estimates Of grain and elevator men
are slightly in excess OF that OF the
labor bureau. Reports to the Bur.
lington railroad officials from thresh-
ing in its territory are generally sat.