New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-16
Value of Farm Produce
Reaches Enormous Total
OF S5,568, 773,0 900.
WAR CREDITED FOR
IMMENSE HARVEST
American Acreage Greater than
Combined Area of Germany
and uStria-Hungary.

Washington, Dee. 15.-The nations
harvests this year have surpassed any
ever before recorded. The value Of
the principal farm crops, based on
prices paid TO farmers, December /,
was announced to-day by the Depart
ment Of Agriculture in its final esti-
mate as s5,56S, 49, OO making 1915 a
banner year both in value and in pro-
duction Of crops.
The unusual situation Of eXtraordi-
nary production and high prices, prob
ably 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 grain. The acreage of the
principal crops this year aggregated
approximately 4S6,57O square miles.
That is larger than the combined area
of Germany and Austria-Hungary.
second Largest COTn IIOp.
Corn was planted on 108,921, COO
acres, the second largest area ever
planted, and the harvest was 3,054,593,-
900 bushels, the second largest crop
ever grown. Its value was S1,755,S59,-
900, exceeding that of the previous
most valuable corn crop by s39,O00,OOO.
New records were made in produc-
ton by wheat, oats, barley, rye, sweet
potatoes, rice and hay, while tobacco
closely approached its production rec
ord. 1.103. 4l5.OO0 pounds, made In 1910.
Bach of these crops, in addition, estab-
lished records as being the most vaiu-
able ever grown. except in the case OF
barley and tobacco.
Production Of the first billion-bushel
wheat crop and the second three
billion-bushel corn crop were fes-
lures of the year. Wheat acreage
aggregated 59,s9s,0OO acres, or 6,OOO,-
600 more than ever before. The yield
was 16.9 bushels an acre, the largest
acre yield for winter and spring wheat
combined ever attained in the United
States. The final estimate Of produc-
ton was 1,O1l ,5O5.OOO bushels with a
value of s93O,3O2, 900. The crop ex-
ceeded last wears, which was record,
by more than 120,000,000 bushels and
by s50000,000 in value.
Big Tobacco Harvest.
Oats. rye. potatoes, sweet potatoes
and tobacco all were planted on record
areas. Oats exceeded its record pro
duction Of 1912 by 122,000,0O0 bushels,
and its record value Of 1914 by $685.
600 900. Barley production was ~
600 600 bushels more than the 1917
record crop. and was worth S4,OOO,OOO
more than the former most valuable
crop. grown in 1914. Rice passed the
1919 record by 100000 bushels, and
its 1912 record value by Sl,7OO,OOO
Sweet potatoes exceeded by $4,000
600 bushels the 1910 record, and were
worth S3.1O0000 more than the 1913
value record. Hay showed a 12,5OO,-
600 ton increase over the record crop
OF 1912. and was worth $55,6OO,OOO
more than the value record made that
wear. Tobacco, while growing on q
record acreage, was worth S2o,OUO,OUO
less than in the record value year.
The potato crop received perhaps the
most severe setback of the year.
Farmers planted a record acreage 70
potatoes. but the outturn was only
95g .1O9. 900 bushels That was 81 ,5OO,-
600 bushels below the record year, and
80. 100000 less than last year. The
value Of the crop, however, was S22,-
600 600 more than last year.