Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-05-10
MUCH ALFALFA KILLED OUT IN
BARE PLACES.
ABSENCE OF SNOW. is FELT
First Wisconsin Farm Crop Report
issued by Secretary John M. True
Acreage of Sugar Beets VIII Be
Large for the New Factory at
Madison.


port for the present year, issued yes
terday by John NJ. True, secretary OF
the state board of agriculture, de-
clares farm conditions in this state
generally favorable, but not particu.
larly gratifying. The winter has
been hard on clover and alfalfa in
the southern part of the state, the
spring season is late and generous
rains are needed to make the ground
fit for blowing. There will be a
large acreage of sugar beets in Dane
and neighboring counties, showing
signs of large output of the new
sugar factory at Madison. The acre
age of tobacco will be larger. Warm
weather is needed for pastures.
Farmers who lean to the dairying
side are enjoying the benefit of good
prices for their products. The tone
OF the report is generally favorable.
1t is as follows
Farm Crop Report.
The winter of 1905 and 1906 was
less severe than the average in tenn
perature and except for the unfavor-
able weather of March in those parts
of the state where the ground was
not covered with snow, little damage
would have occurred to crops, trees
and shrubbery. Reports show that
in the southern division of the state
in rte Of tbn nlidA1o hi.
vision during March the ground was
free from snow and froze to suffi
cient depth to seriously injure the
clover crop, especially fields that
we're cut last season.
Winter wheat was also considerably
injured, though this crop is of much
less Importance than clover.
Fruit trees and shrubbery generally
came through the winter in good con-
dition and the prospects are, at date
excellent for heavy bloom upon all
varieties.
The season is some ten days later
than the last and not all small grain
fields are sown in the southern and
SSHIl al Wv VI lily SboNS' "hhN
farm work in the northern division is
somewhat more backward. Frequent
complaint is made that the ground is
too dry for proper handling.
More than the usual acreage Or
blowing was done last fall and much
grain has been put in upon last years
corn and potato fields by use of disc
harrow instead of plow
Pastures are in good condition, and
with warm weather will in due time
give sufficient feed for stock.
We note that many farmers are in
hicting injury both upon their fields
and cattle by already allowing theiI
animals to run upon fields just be,
coming green.
No wide spread or even genera.
diseases are reported among live
stock though the condition of farm
animals is not generally good, posi-
bly, attributable to the poor quality of
last years hay crop.
From present indications the acre
age of spring sown grains will be
equal to that of last year except
spring wheat, which continues to di,
| minish
The tendency will be to plant a
smaller acreage of potatoes than last
year, while in the tobacco districts
the acreage will be increased.
Sugar beets will be extensively
planted, with large increase of acre
age in Dane and other counties trib-
utary to the new beet sugar factory
at Madison.
Dairy products continue to bear
good prices, and this industry will
continue to- grow notwithstanding
the serious menace OF tuberculosis
among cattle in many parts of the
state.
From letters of inquiry sent out
we estimate the condition Of the fol.
lowing crops-100 representing good
normal conditional winter wheat,
$751;; rye, 81; clover ST. timothy
meadows. 96
From the same source We gain the
following average of farm prices Of
products being sold.
| wheat ........,. ..,,,..., -. fec