Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-07-23
TO Stack or to Thresh From
Shock.

Where grain is growing on a large
scale the bulk Of it is usually threshed
out OF the shock. Sometimes this Is
cheaper than stacking and subsequent
threshing out OF the stack, but more
often it is not, and especially not In
the more humid sections. There are
two main reasons for shock threshing,
First, it saves labor, which Is usually
scarce and high priced during the
harvest season: second, it gets the
grain out OF the way in a hurry, espe-
cially in localities where large thresh-
ing outfits are numerous and where
the work Of threshing can be done
with dispatch. In localities where
grain Is grown on a comparatively
small scale more Of it is stacked from
year to year, because a better quality
of grain is thus secured and the risk
Of loss though excessive rains and
other %handicapS incident to shock
threshing is greately decreased. In
sections where there is little danger OF
rain while the grain is in shock, shock
threshing is possibly to be preferred
to stacking and threshing out OF the
stack, but even that is doubtful in re-
gions of diversified agriculture.
In our territory, except perhaps in
the drier sections of South Dakota
and Nebraska, stacking grain should
be looked upon as a sort of insurance
policy against loss, and viewed in that
light stacking is profitable There is
less difference in the cost OF shock
threshing and stalking and stack
threshing than most farmers think.
Under average conditions in this sec
ton of country the difference in cost
does not ordinarily exceed 20 cents per
acre in favor Of shock threshing, and
it varies between Is and % cents.
Even a cost of % cents per acre is
small when account is taken of the
benefits incident to stacking. One
or two heavy rains may damage grain
in the shock to the extent Of lowering
the grade one or two points, and even
more, and thus reduce it's market
value several cents per bushel. Low
ering the price Of wheat 2 cents a
bushel would near a loss Of from %
to 80 cents per acre-enOugh to pay
the difference in cost of shock threSh-
ing, and stacking and stack threshing,
whereas with barley the loss might
easily be twice that large.
Aside from losses Of this character,
which the nan who is waiting for the
thresher while the grain is in the
shock is very apt to sustain, it is well
also, to remember that stacking i'm
proves the quality OF the grain, giving
it a better color, making the berries
plumper, as we'll as rendering the
grain less liable to b%in-burning or
while in storage. Another
advantage ACQUIRING from stacking lies
in the improvement of the quality Of
the straw-an item Of 10 meal i'm
portance where straw has a feeding
value.
1t is we'll tt remember in deciding
whether or lot to stack grain that for
every acre of wheat, oats and barley
the farmer has the rem of his land,
the cost of the seed, and a great deal
If labor invested. Including rent,
It costs from So OF $40 an acre to grow
\ crop of small grain and when it is
harvested under the most favorable
conditions the net profit is none to
large, even with present high prices.
While there is no chance Of a total
loss when grain is once in the shock,
there is a chance of a large loss, and
since stacking practically insures a
crop against this for rs or 30 cents per
acre. it is certainly good business pol
to stack the grain, and stack it
we'll, as soon as possible after har-
vesting.