Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-12-24
Ten Billions To Farmers.


Ten billion dollars, the highest in the
nations history, is the value placed on the
1915 output of American farms by the
Department of Agriculture experts in their
final estimates and review of this year
crop production made public recently
The principal farm crops were valued at
$5.568, 900 at December farm prices.
This valuation compares with 81, 973, 527,-
900 last year. $4,966, 497,000 in 1918
and $4.757, 458.000 in 1912. 1t will thus
be seen that the principal crops are worth
$600,000,000 more this year than in any
previous year. In addition to the princi-
pal farm products the minor products, ami
mails and animal products, will run the
total value of the output of the farm up to
0,00O,00O.00O.
The corn crop is the most valuable grown
on the farm. Its value is placed at ST.
755,S59.000. Wheat is the second crop
in point of value. which is estimated to be
worth $930,302,000 this year. Hay is
the third crop, estimated to be worth $912,-
$4,000.
The unusual situation of extraordinary
production and high prices, probably never
before so pronounced, is credited principally
to the European war.
With the price of grain soaring as the
war progressed, American farmers began
the season by planting greater areas to
drain Tho armada Of tho Dr;no;noI orons
this year aggregated approximately 1885,
$40 squars miles. That is larger than the
combined area of Germany. France, Bel
GUM Holland. Denmark and Switzerland.
Corn was planted on los. $4,000 acres.
the second largest area ever planted, and
the harvest was 3,054,535, 900 bushels,
the second largest crop ever grown.
New records were made in production by
wheat oats, barley, rye, sweet potatoes,
rice and hay. while tobacco closely APP
preached its production record, 1,103, AS
900 pounds, made in 1910. Each of these
crops, in addition, establish records as
being the most valuable ever grown, ex-
cept in the case of barley and tobacco
Production of the first billon-bushel
wheat crop and the second three-billion-
bushel corn crop were features of the year.
Wheat acreage AGGREGATED 59,898,000
acres, or 100000 more than ever before
The yield was 1863 bushels an acre, the
largest acre yield for winter and spring
wheat combined ever attained in this coun-
try. The final estimate of production was
1,0l1, 100000 bushels. The crop exceeded
last years, which was a record, by more
than 120,000,000 bushels and by $780,
100000 in value.
Oats. rye, potatoes. sweet potatoes and to-
bacco all were planted on record areas. Oats
exceeded its record production of 1912 by
122,000.000 bushels, and its record value
of 1914 by $56,000,000. Barley produc-
ton was 100000 bushels more than
the 1912 record and was worth 81, 100000
more than the former most valuable crop,
grown in 1914. Rice passed the 1918 rec
ord by 100000 bushels and its 1912
record value by $l,700,000.
Sweet potatoes exceeded by 100000
bushels the 1910 record and were worth
$3,10O,000 more than the 1913 value rec
ord. Hay showed a IL, 100000 increase
over the record crop of 1912 and was worth
$55,600,000 more than the value record
made that year. Tobacco, while growing
on a record acreage. was worth $26,000,-
600 less than in the record value year.
The potato crop received perhaps the
most severe setback of the year. Farmers
planted record acreage to potatoes, but
the outturn was only 359,103, 900 bushels.
That was 61,5OO,O0O bushels below the
record year, and 5O,8OO 900 less than last
year. The value of the CROP however.
was 22,000,000 more than last year.