Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-18
TOTAL YIELD OF THE COUNTRY'S
FARMS LESS THAN ANY BUT
ONE IN TEN YEARS.
DRY SPELL is CAUSE
Continued Dry Weather and HotWinds
Work Damage to the Producers
Amounting to Millions OF
Dollars.


Amounting to Millions Of
Dollars.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 16.-Final
estimates of production and value or
fourteen Of the important crops which
for part of the enormous grand to-
tai, aggregating approximately $4,000
900 900 Of wealth produced on farms
through the soil and farmers live
stock during 1913, were announced to-
day by the crops reporting board, bu'
reau Of statistics, department of agrl-
culture. The figures are the offlclal
government estimates of acreage, pro-
duction and value, based on prices
paid to farmers on December 1. These
fourteen crops are only portion OF
the production of the soil which ap-
proximates $6,O00,000,O0O In value eacn
year. The total value of the animal
products of the farm is estimated al
about $4,000, 100000 annually.
THE production Of crops IN the
United States in 1912 was materially
below the average" the Secretary o.
Agriculture, David F. Houston. an,
nounces, "the yield per acre OF all
crops combined being smaller than IN
any year of the past decade, with the
exception of 1911. This shortage was
caused by a severe drought, accompan'
led by excessive heat during the sum-
mer months, in an important portlon
Of the agricultural district OF the U.
S. and particularly in Kansas, Oklano'
ma, Missouri and adjacent states. ,
"inasmuch as crop production OF
1912 was unusually large, a greater
proportion than usual has been carried
into the present crop year, Wnlcn
should mitigate somewhat the effects
of the shortage Of this years crops.
"The corn crop, the most valuable
farm product Of this country, is small
Ter than any crop since 1903. Wheat
production is the largest ever record
ed in this country. The crop was prac-
tically matured before the drought Pc
came effective. The oat crop is the
third largest of our history. There
has been steady expansion OF the
area Of this crop. The hay crop IS
smaller than the large crop OF l9lz.
Rather liberal rains in the late sum-
mer and fall have produced good pas
lures. The cotton crop will perhaps
rank fourth or third in size.
THE acreage devoted to these f1ve
crops. (corn, wheat, oats, hay and cot
toni. comprises about 80 per cent or
the area In all crops. and therefore has
a predominating effect upon the gener-
al average condition or all crops
Nearly all the minor crops were ma
terially smaller this year than IN !9!z
and the per acre yields below their
average.
TO the producers the lessened crop
production this year is largely compen-
stated by the increased prices received
for their produce; for, although the to-
tai crop production is approximately
- per cent smaller than last years
production, the average level or prices
is higher than last year.
The final estimates of today, with
comparisons for 1912 and 1911, follow:
Corn: Area harvested, 1O5,S2o,c0O
acres, compared with 107, Os3,o0o acres
last year, and 105, $4,000 acres IN
1911. Acre yield, 23.11 bushels, COM
pared with 29.2 bushels last year and
23.9 bushels In 1911. Production a.
446,9S8,O0O bushels compared with s.
124,746,0O0 bushels last year and e.
531,4S8,000 bushels in 1911. Farm val
ue, December /, per bushel, CYL cents
compared with 4S.7 cents last year and
61.s cents in 1911. Total value OF the
crop. 1852 100000 compared with 81.
620,454,OO0 last year and $1,565,25S'ooo
In 1911.
Winter wheat: Area harvested. 81
500 900 acres, compared with ~
81 900 acres last year and 29,162,OoO
acres in 1911. Acre yield, 1875 bushels
compared with ISL bushels last year
and 14.S bushels in 1911. Total produc-
ton 523,561 900 bushels compared with
$4,000 bushels last year and 430,
$4,000 bushels in 1911. Farm value,
December /, per bushel, S2.9 cents,
compared with 500 cents last year and
$50 cents in 1911. Total value or crop
s433, $4,000 compared with $323,572,-
900 last year and 1919, ISL, 900 in 1911.
Spring Wheat: Area harvested, 10
4s5, 900 acres compared with 19,243,O00
acres last year and 20,3S1 900 acres IN
1911. Acre yield. 1870 bushels, compar.
ed with 17.2 bushels last year. and "a
bushels in 1911. Total production.
293,s19,O0O bushels. compared with
33O,24S,OOO bushels last year, and 100.
$4,000 bushels in 1911. Farm value,
Dec. /, per bushels. 1874 cents, com
pared with 70.1 cents last year and
$50 cents in 1911. Total value of crop
$176,127,OO0 compared with s23l,7oS,-
600 last year and s163,912,0oO in 1911.
All wheat: Area harvested, 5O,lS4
acres, compared with 45,S14,O00 acres
last year ana 49,543,000 acres in 1911.