The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-08-30
Wheat Harvest Tops Billion
Bushel Mark and Sets New
Production Record in the
United States.
Corn Crop Harvest Depends
on Brighter Weather in
Next Month to Assure Sue
cess This Year.


The Continental and Commercial
National Bank of Chicago, has issued
Estimated Yields.
Crop Estimated Yield 1915
Wheat ....... 1,0O3, 200, 900 Bushels
Corn .2,9S3, 100000 Bushels
Oats ...........1,352, 100000 Bushels
Rye ............ 4o,1VU,OOO ouSnels
Barley .-....... 224.O0O.00O Bushels
Hay ............ 7S,90O,O0O Tons
Cotton ......... 10.500.000 Bales
The Crops Of 1915.
The production Of the five leading
grain crops of the country surpasses
last years by over 60o,000.000 bush
els, and in the aggregate is the largest
in the country's history, possibly not
in average yield per acre. but in gross
amount, the increase in acreage CIV
ing the unusual record in production
The summer harvests, however, have
been attended with great difficulty in
many sections, on account of the fire.
quent rains, and for this reason more
than the usual care has been used
in gathering the crops, and the slim
ulation of the high prices that result
ed from the war has caused extra ex.
ertions to be put forth by the farmer
to secure his grains. The harvest of
wheat and oats is completed over two
thirds of the area. and the Anal stages
OF the ripening period have been pass
ed In the northern portion of the
country. Only the corn remains sub
ject to about month Of growth; and
the estimates Of our correspondents
are based on the harvests completed
and under way. together with esti-
mates OF probable results Of the grow
ing crop based on the present condi-
tion.
Billion BusheI Wheat Crop.
For the Rrst time in the country's s
history the wheat crop tops billion
bushels The high price of last years
crop that developed with the early
weeks of the war. with the certainty
that wheat would be needed in large
quantities for export, caused the acre:
age OF the fall-sown wheat to be large
ly increased the country over. Also,
further additional land was seeded in
theG northwestern states this spring
for the late wheat harvests, and yet
IulS dCIed5c, ou dSSouAI VI IAO ioSC-
ness of the spring in that region and
the unfavorable weather for field
work during most of the seeding per
iod, was less than had been contem-
plated. Our reports show a total acre
age of 59.4OO,OOO in wheat, a gain of
nearly 100000 acres over last year.
The yield is given us as 1908, ,O00, 900
bushels, comparing with the final gov
loo ~ QO1
100000 bushels on the smaller area.
The average yield per acre is about
the same as last year. the increase
being in the acreage. Winter wheat
yields a total of 663,000,000 bushels
and spring wheat 34O,O00,00O bushels.
There is a loss of 21s bushels on the
average yield of winter wheat and a
gain of 6 bushels per acre in the
spring wheat region.
Surplus Enough to Feed Europe.
Last years crop Of s91 .600,O 900 bush
els gave an exportable surplus of $780,.
100000 bushels and at the highest
price at which wheat had been sold
since the season of 1878. This year,
with a supply of the old crop of 25,-
100000 bushels less, the present crop,
on last years basis would provide an
eXportable surplus of 100000 bush
els, or four-fifths of the total amount
taken by the importing countries in
the season which ended with August
/. The country is therefore In posi-.
ticn to feed all of Europe, If 1t should
become necessary. However. the con-
ditions which gave this country its
= big crop, operated in Canada to raise
its eXportable surplus 100000, 900
bushels, and with a large crop fore.
cast in Australia, the first country of
the southern hemisphere to harvest
the present season, the supplies for
Europe are more than ample, and
there is no reason to expect the large
4 return realized upon the crop of the
previous season.
Large Oats Crop.
The oats crop is the second largest
of record, the yield per acre falling
below 1912, and that through the bad
weather at harvest time in the prin-
cipal states in the central region.
Elsewhere the yield is up to previous
phenomenal measure. The average
per acre is "a bushels, and our CORE
spondents give a total acreage har-
vested or ready for harvest Of 39.649,-
600, which is $4,000 acres under the
iCpol iCu SOSucu ny luC A6Al-
cultural department at Washington.
The crop is estimated at 1882, ,000, 900
bushels or 210.0O0,0O0 bushels over
that of last year Like wheat, the oat
crop suffered from rainy weather at
harvest time. and quality has been i'm
paired, more than quantity. In some
sections harvesting was attended with
great difficulty, and threshing has
been delayed up to this time in many
sections The acreage was increased
over last year by 100000. Of which
the south contributed fair portion.
The strong demand for oats by Eu-
rope last season has caused a general
exhaustion of the old crop, and as the
oat harvests abroad are again poor,
the exports are likely to run large, and
with the necessity of replenishing de-
pleted stocks in all positions the 20O,-
100000 more bushels will not be a
very serious drag upon the marketing
Of the crop.
& Brighter Weather for Corn.
Corn-the greatest crop of the coun-
try-is still In the making; the cold