Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-12-15
CROP VALUE
NEARLY TOPS
TEN MILLIONS
Secretary of Agriculture Gives a
Survey of Wealth Produced
by Soil.
WHEAT YIELDS NOT
AS LARGE NOW
Figures Do Not Tally With Those
Given Out by Estimators
of Department.

of Department.
Washington, Dec. 4.-Secretary
Houston's annual report made public
today, places an estimate of $685.
100000 on the value of American farm
crops and animal products for last
year, valuation without precedent.
This, however, probably will be eclips'
ed by the present years showing.
This valuation is an increase OF
about $S3,OUy,uUO over the value OF
1913, hitherto the highest ever re-
corded. Inc increase occurred in the
tace OF decline in cotton from l2.5
cents a pound for the 1913 crop TO
an average OF 7.3 cents for 1914. the
total value of the 1913 cotton crop,
esrlmated at $S46,0OJ,3O0, was $2S3'
O0V,O more than the 1914 crop, al
though the latter was IA percent
greater in quantity.
Crop Yields. ,,..
Of the tremendous t1cod of exports
nhich began near the end of the fiscal
year covered by the Sccretary's re-
port, many hundreds of millions re.
present farm products.
The ouIbeak of the war, according
to the report, found this country IN a
peculiar fortunate agricultural con-
dition, the year 1914 having witnessed
an unusually large production OF a
number of staple crops. In this con-
nection, the report says in part:
"The wheat crop of 891 ,0OO,OOO bu'
shells established the Nations record
and was 12S,OOo,oOo bushels larger
than that of any other year. ,,.. ii.
The Corn crop eof 2,673; ;O1V. 900 bu.
shells, while It was only an average
one, exceeded that of 1873 BY 226, ,O0O,.
900 bushels. The oats crop of ill.,
100000 bushels was the third largest
on record.
Potato Crop.
The potato crop of 4O6,00O0O0 bu-
shells was 74,O00,OOO bushels larger
than that Of the preceding year and
the second in size in the history OF
the Nation. The barley crop of 1885,
OOO, 900 bushels was nearly 17,OOO,O00
bushels greater than that Of 1913 and
the second largest on record. The to-
bacco crop of 1035,000,OVO pounds
was exceeded only by those of 1909
and 1910. The hay crop of 7O,O71 900
tons was the third in size and the
cotton crop of 16,135,000 bales exceed
ed the next largest, that of 1911, by
442,00O bales.
The total estimated value of all
farm crops and animal products for
the year is $9,S73.OoO, 900, an amount
greater by $S3,O0O,000 than the next
largest crop value, that of 1913, not
withstanding the great decrease III
thesprice of cotton.
The Farm Marketing Problem.
"A vital question that the farmer
should ask himself according to the
report, is what he can do with MS
product when he secures it. In this
connection it is stated.
Even if farms everywhere were OF
the requisite size for elllciency IN
production and reasonable diversified
tion were gpracticed, the difficulties
would not be solved. The farm unit
which may be efficient for production
still would have acutely to consider
the problem of marketing. The far
mer would not through his own re-
sources, be able to command easily
the requisite transportation facilities
or the daily information needed as TO
market conditions and the best near
by market, and in most cases would
be at disadvantage in bargaining
with purchasers. The most promis
ing solution seems to lie in the devel-
opment of community cooperation or
team work to determine what to pro-
duce, to employ the same methods,
and to secure marketing information
SO as to enable producers to deal with
buyers on an equal basis.
There are problems, however,
which, under existing conditions,
neither efficient individual nor COM
munity effort can solve. These can
be reduced only by legislation.
Export Values.
Between August l. 1914, and Feb
ruary l, 1916" the report says. "ex-
ports were $1,157 100000 and imports
$711 100000. giving a favorable bal.
'ance tof 1886, ,OQNO00. OF the total
value of exports. $662, 100000 repre-
sents agricultural and only $495;O ;O90'
900 non.agricultural commodities,
chiefly manufactures.
"The total agricultural exports in
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1916,
practically the FIRST year of the war,
were $1,47O 100000. which is an in
crease of 1856 100000, or 80 percent
over those of the preceding year and
of $433 3,OOO, 900, or nearly AZ percent
owe the average of the five years 1910
1914"
What is needed more, perhaps, than
anything else. the Secreary says, is an
increase in mea: animals. To that
end, the department has extended its
activities as far as it's funds would
Continued on Page Two)
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