The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-16
CROP PRODUCTION
UNUSUALLY SHORT
Annual Report by Secretary
Houston Tells OF Smallest Az
cragc Yield in Decade.
PRICES SOAR AS RESULT
With Wheat the Only Record
Breaker, Money Yield Is
Biggest in Years,
PRICES SOAR AS RESULT

this year aggregates tho enormous to-
tai OF $4.oAo.3o1 200. the Department OF
Agriculture announced to-day in Its
hnal estimate Of acreage. production
and value. This is an Increase OF $751;
95s.oOo over last year. and Of s35o.772,-
oOO over 1911. based on the prices paid
TO farmers on December j.
The acreage OF theac crops Is equiv
alent to n farm ono-sevcnth the size
Of continental United States. The ex-
get area planted to these fourteen crops,
which is moro than 95 per cent of the
total OF all crop area, was 239.433.O 600
acres, an Increase OF almost 5000. 600
acres over last year, and OF more than
100000 over tho 1911 area. Moro than
one-third OF the total acreage was
planted to corn.
For the crops. as a whole, the aver
age production per acre was valued at
about $3.50 The corn crop averaged
1885 per acre; cotton. s2219; sugar
beets, 1864; wheat, sl2.l4. oats, sll.44;
sweet potatoes, $500; rice, S26.sS; po-
tatoes, sG2.1o; tobacco. Sl00.3e, and rye.
s12s4
The figures are the official govern
ment estimates OF acreage. production
and value. based on prices paid to
farmers on December /. These four
teen crops are only portion OF the
production OF the soil. which approx
mates $4,000, 100000 In value each year.
The total value OF the animal products
of tho farm is estimated at about sa.-
600, 600. 900 annually.
Crop Unusually Small
''The production of crops in the
United States In 1913 was materially
below the average" the Secretary Of
Agriculture, David T. 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 severe drought accom-
panied By excessive heat during tho
summer months, in an important por-
/ ton OF the agricultural district OF
the United States. and particularly in
Kansas. Oklahoma, Missouri and ad-
jacent States.
"Inasmuch as crop production OF
/ 1912 was unusually large. greater
( proportion than usual has been carried
INTO the present crop year. which
should mitigate somewhat the effects
or tho shortage OF this years crops
/ Corn Takes Big Drop.
The corn crop. the most valuable
/ farm product OF this country, IS
smaller than any crop since 1903
/ Wheat production is the largest ever
( recorded in this country. The crop
/ was practically Inatured before the
drought became effective The oat
crop Is the third largest OF our his
/ son OF the area OF this crop. The hay
( crop Is smaller than the large crop of
/ 1912 Rather liberal rains In the late
summer and fall lave produced good
pastures The cotton crop will per-
maps rank fourth or third in size
The acreage devoted to these five
crops corn, wheat, oats. hay and cot
toni comprises about 90 per cent Of
the area in all crops. and therefore
has prcdominating effect upon the
general average condition of all crops
Nearly all the minor crops were ma
! ieriaily smaller this year than in 1912.
ana the per acre yields below their
average.
ITO the producers the lessened crop
production this year is largely com
tehsated by the increased prices re-
ceiVed for their produce; for. although
| the Total crop production is approx
mateiy IL per cent smaller than last
years production, the average level of
| prices is higher than last year"
Statistical Reports.
The final estimates OF to-day. with
comparisons for 1912 and 1911. follow
Corn--Area harvested fo5.So0. 600
acres, compared with 107.0S3,000 acres
last year and 1o5.S25.o0O acres in 1871.
Aero yield. e3.l bushels, compared with
49, bushels last year and 239 bushels
IN 1911 Production. 2,446.9SS. 600
bushels, compared with s.i24.746.ooo
bushels last year and o.5314SY. 900
bushels in 1911. Farm value. Decarn-
her /, per bushel, Gel cents. COMPARED
with IS 2 cents last year and els
tents In 1911 Total value Of the error,
/ Ei.632, o92 coo, compared with sl5zo
I i1i.UoO last wear ana 1855, 25S 600 i'm
/ 1911.
Winter wheat-AreI harvested. 81.
$4,000 acres, compared with 2G,bii ono
acres Last year and 29.162. 999 acres I'm
! 1911. Acre yield. 1876 bushels. com,
pared with 151 bushels last year ana
/ II oS buahcls In 1911. Total produc.
ton, 523.561 900 bushels, compared with
a93,3i9.00o bushels last year ana $50.
$4,000 bushels in 1911. Farm value,
/ December /. per bushcl 500 cents
compared with sos cents last year ana
! rs cents in 1911. Total value OF crop.
! S4jS,"95.Ooo, compared with sS22.572
! 900 last year and S379,151, 900 in 1911.
| spring whcat-arca harvested is
| sNo.ooo acres, compared with I9,243,O0O
/ acres last year. and 20,3Sl 900 acres in
! l9l1 Acre yield. 1870 bushels, com
pared with 1i.2 bushels last year. and
"a bushels in 1911. Total production.
! 239,Sl9.o00 bushels compared with $40. :
"do'ooo bushels last year. and l90.6S2
/ 900 bushels in 1911 Farm value. De
cembcr /. per bushcl, 1874 cents. com
/ pared with 70.1 cents last year. and
! $50 cents in 1911. Total value of crop.
! SlI6,l27,000, compared with 1921. 7OS. O00
last year. and $l63,9l2.o 900 in 1911.
| All wheat--area harvested 5NiSI. 600
! acres. compared with 45,S14,OO0 acres
| last year. and i?.5ISG00 acres In 1911.
Acre yield, 1872 bushels. compared with
1919 bushels last year, and 125 bushels
| In 1911. Total production 763. $50. 900
bushels. compared with $40. 267, 900
I bushels last year, and Cpl, 33S, 400 bush
els in 1911. Farm value, December
! per bushel. 100 cents compared with
700 cents last year, and ST.d cents i'm
1911. Total value of crop. SGIO.124. 900.
compared with S555.2S0,O00 last year,
and s543. 063,00O in 1911.
| Oats--area harvested, 3S,399, 900 acres.
| compared with 37,9l7, 900 acres Last
year. and 37.763,ooO acres in 1911. Acre
yield, 29.2 bushels. compared with s7.4
bushels last year. and 24.4 bushels in
! 1911. Total production. 1I21,76S, 900
bushels. compared with 1.41S.337. 900
bushels last year, and 922 POS 600 BUSH