The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-12-24
IOWA FARMERS
ARE IN CLOVER
CROPS PAST YEAR WERE THE
LARGEST IN YEARS.
SECRETARY WELLS REPORT
Total Production For Year EST.
mated at 3o2, 3s4,o8s Bushels
The Six Crops Being Worth
$2o9,517,280.

before, from crops that not only eX-
coed those of last year in volume, but
in many instances are the largest in
years, is shown by the final compila-
ton of figures on the grain crops by
the Western Grain Dealers associa-
tion for the year 1908, together with
comparison with the year 1907.
Secretary George A. Wells has just
completed compilation of compar-
alive estimate for the year of the vol
ume of six of the main cereal crops
raised in Iowa, viz: corn, oats, winter
and spring wheat, and barley and rye.
This report shows that the year 1908
was much more prosperous period
for the Iowa farmers than the season
of 1907, at least with respect to the
grain crops. The total of 302,3S4, 0SS
bushels of corn as the estimate for
1908 is an increase of 52,7S9,6 900 bush
els from the total of 1907 and this
with an acreage smaller by 192,497
acres. The average yield per acre
this year is placed at 80 bushels as
compared with an average of 30.6
bushels for 1907.
Oats Crop Smaller.
The total yield of oats for 1908 is
placed at 01,799,725 bushels as COM
pared with a total of 3,027, 946 bush
els for 1907, decrease of 1,22S,221
bushels. This, however, was on a
smaller acreage by 36,0S7 acres, and
the average yield was practically the
same for the two years, being 242
bushels for 1907 and 24.1 for 1908.
Barley yielded 9SO2,850 bushels
this year. as compared with a yield of
9,S22,374 bushels for 1907, decrease
of only 1884 bushels. This was on
an acreage decreased by 1920 acres
and the average per acre showed a
small incre ase, being 26 bushels for
1908 as compared with 25.3 bushels
for 1907.
The yield of spring wheat is esti
mated at 5,t20,136 bushels for this
year as compared with a total of 3d.
SS9,314 bushels for 1907, an increase
of 1,230,S22 bushels, and this on an
acreage smaller by 6,S16 acres. The
total acreage of spring wheat this
year. was 304,770 acres as compared
with 81, $50 acres for 1907. The aver
age per acre this year was 6.S bushels
as compared with an average of 12.1
bushels for 1907, an increase of AZ
bushels per acre.
The 1908 yield Of winter wheat is
placed at. 2,004,S04 bushels as COM
pared with yield of 1875 55 bushels
in 1907, an increase of 366,949 bushels.
This was on an acreage practically the
same, the acreage for this year being
1890 as compared with S7,45S for
1907, an increase of 472. This places
the average yield for 1908 at 22.S bush
els per acre as compared with an av-
erage of only 1876 bushels in 1907. .,
Crops Worth s20e, ,23o.
Rye shows a somewhat smaller to-
al yield this year. but this was on
account of a smaller acreage and the
average per acre was a little hiaher.
The total yield for 1908 is placed at
793,0S3 bushels, as compared with a
Total of S61 ,042 bushels IN 1907, a de.
crease of 67,959 bushels. The acreage
was about 5000 less and the average
per acre was 17.3 bushels in 1908 and
II bushels in 1907. Figured at aver
age farm prices the above crops are
worth the enormous sum of S209517-
ESQ.
The statement OF local conditions at
the present time, given from the nine
sections of the state, shows that about
one-half of the farmers in the state
will market corn freely this season.
The report shows that taking the state
as whole about IS per cent will be
the farm consumption of corn this
year compared with last year based
at 100 per cent.
The report shows also that percent
age of the corn grading as No. 2 var
les from to "a per cent in the differ.
ent districts of the state, except in
the northeast district, where it shows
that little or none of it is sufficient
to grade as No. 2 In this district
only per cent of the yield will grade |
as No. 3, but in the other districts the
percentage which will make this grade
ranges from so to sc.
The report also shows that of the
original acreage planted to corn the |
percentage which failed to mature |
crop ranges from Z in the southwest |
district to &c in the extreme northeast.
Staggering Figures.
The portion of this years crop of
marketable oats which has already
left the farmers hands, ranges from
81 to 72 per cent.
The above crop report for the year
1908 does not differ materially from
the report issued few days ago by
Dr. Chapel. director of the Iowa
weather and crop bureau, though it
shows somewhat larger yields of corn,
and winter and spring wheat, with
somewhat smaller yields of oats, bar
ley and rye.
The total corn crop for the state
this year Is estimated at zoe .3S4,OSS
bushels as compared with the esti7
mate OF DR.. Chappell at 3Ol .S73150 II