Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-04-07

be expected at this time against a
winter wheat production last year of
$4,000 ,OO0 bushels.
Spring Wheat Doubts
Because OF the shortness of the
season last fall in Canada and be-
cause of unfavorable weather ccndi-
tons in our Northwest the acreage
that was fall plowed in the spring
wheat territory is decidedly less than
usual. In Canada the amount pre-
pared is probably the smallest in
many years. When it is necessary to
seed spring wheat upon spring plow-
ing, both in this country and in
Canada, the crop expectation is ma
terially reduced. If the season
should be late, as now seems positive
on account of excessive snowfall in
both countries, it will be difficult to
prepare in the spring full acreage
and do the work in the thorough
manner that is essential if good crops
are to be secured.
1t would seem therefore, that it
may not be unreasonable to expect
that the spring wheat crop this year
might be 3OO,OO0,0OO bushels or
less. OF course, | am not indulging
IN any prophecy as to the size of
either the spring or the winter wheat
crop, but merely pointing out what
seems reasonable in view of the con-
ditions which we already know to
exist. 1t is apparent that a crop of
500, 100000 or S50,00O,000 bushels
may easily measure our wheat this
year.
| have tried to set forth fairly the
probabilities of reduced wheat pro-
duction this year. 1t is necessary now
to give consideration to the other
factors that enter into the question.
The Other Side of the Case
We have on hand in the country
on March ! at minimum figure
our own domestic requirements. In
Canada, at the same time, there is
200, 100000 bushes of wheat above
similarly held, above their own re-
quirements, between now and Il new
crop, S0,000,000 bushels. In Ar
gentina the eXportable surplus, at
the date, is 100000 bushels, and
in Australia 100000 bushels.
The Indian crop now being harvest
SO, 100000 bushels. 1t appears,
therefore, that in the five countries
whose wheat is available to supply
the needs of Europe there is on hand
at this time 626,O0O,OOO bushels
above the domestic requirements be-
tween this date and new harvest in
each country.
On the other hand, annual require
ments of the exporting countries of
the world, excluding Germany and
Austria-Hungary, whose markets can
not now be reached, will only aggre-
gate about $50, 100000 bushels. 1t
is evident, therefore, that there is
available in five exporting countries
more than enough wheat at this time
: to supply the importing require
: ments of all the importing countries
that can take wheat for a full 81
months, without drawing a single
= bushel from the new crop, which will
be harvested in each of those five
| countries within the IL months in
question. 1t follows, therefore, that
, if the next crop in each of the five
= countries named should only be suf-
J ficient to feed the people of those
: countries there is still wheat enough
, in the world at the present time to
take care of all the foreign demand.
The domestic requirements of
wheat for food and for seed in this
country amounts roughly to about
$40, 100000 bushels.
Political Uncertainties
The price of wheat the world over
for the past IS months has been
maintained at the high level because
of the influence of the great war. AS
a result of that war Russia has
La 1,