The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-28

poets for a bumper crop were ideal
Then came cold weather and blightinl
frosts which impaired the vitality Of
the plant although in some portions Of
the northwest this climatic condition
resulted in the obligation OF T''kings-
heads" especially in the Red river val
ley. The cold retarded the growth OF
the plant above the ground but where
it did not blight it caused the roots tc
seek a greater depth and this was
looked upon with favor by those who
expected a normal year from the
standpoint Of precipitation.
Following closely upon the un,
.seasonable cold and heavy frosts came
unusually hot weather, lack of rains
and blighting winds. The wheat plant
has been in the ground ninety days
and it has not had normal amount of
year, one of the chief climatic charac-
terIstics Of which is lack of rain.
The three leading producers of
spring wheat in the United States are
North Dakota, Minnesota and South
Dakota. In Canada the big producers
are the provinces of Manitoba, Sas-
ketchewan and Alberta. AS the tariff
wall is an effective barrier to importa-
ton of wheat, except in bond, the
Canadian situation does not influence
conditions in this market directly. In
directly it is a potent factor.
North Dakota last year produced
90,762,000 bushels of wheat from an
acreage estimated at 6,625,000. Min
nesota produced 94,0S0,O00 bushel from
100000 acres. South Dakota raised
47,5SS,OOO bushel from $4,000 acres.
Estimate of Crops.
While The Herald is not prepared
just now to issue an accurate estimate
of the wheat yields this year based on
the present condition of wheat, owing
to the inability to procure accurate
reports from all localities, yet it has
received sufficient number to enable
it to get fairly accurate idea of the
situation as a whole. South Dakota
may be left out Of the reckoning en-
tirely because this market draws little
stuff from that state. This leaves Min
nesota and North Dakota as the two
factors in the situation as it applies to
Duluth.
On the present condition of the plant
The Herald's estimate of the wheat
crop in South Dakota is from 68 to 70
per cent compared with the govern
ments estimate Of go per cent on June
1. A crop 70 per cent of normal would
give a yield Of 1928, $40 bu. The con-
dition Of the South Dakota plant has
improved in the last few days on ac-
count Of heavy rains in that state.
Those grain who are ultra buIlish
consider this estimate too large.
In western Minnesota the plant has
dcterioated from Is to rs per cent, an
average of 20 per cent. N southern
the plant generally is in fair
On reports received by it,
The Herald does not believe the plant
In this state as a whole has gone back
more than from to 10 per cent. On
June l the government made the con-
dition of the spring wheat in this
state. SO per cent of normal. Estimating
the condition now at SO per cent the
yield would be 74.4O6,135 blu.
The Minneapolis and country mills
probably will be able to take all of the
spring wheat in these two states and
III SLONlNAOAA IAlCy Will NC COIIp6ll6u 10
draw on the winter wheat states for
some Of their supplies. The yield Of
the winter wheat states will be about
normal which is an encouraging fea-
ture Of the situation, otherwise this
market would get mighty little spring
wheat. The country mills and Mime
apolis probably would absorb all of it
were it not for the generous supplies
which, it now appears, the winter
wheat territory will be able to supply.
Serious to North Dakota.
Minnesota and South Dakota, there
fore, can be set aside and attention
given solely to North Dakota, for this
is the pivotal state. North Dakota this
year gave promise of the largest yield
of wheat in its history. According to
the condition of the spring wheat plant
on June l the estimated yield was
20,S80,000 bu from an estimated acre
age of 6,625,O00. The soil in North Da-
kota is mixed. In the eastern part IT Is
heavy and holds moisture readily In
the western part the soil is sandy and