The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-05-19
MAY CROP REPORT SHOWS
DECREASE IN wheat YIELD
Department of Agriculture Figures In.
dictate Production Of 499 ,280,0O0
Bushela

NSShlnStOn.-AI nOSt half billion
bushels is the winter wheat harvest
forecast for this year by the depart.
ment of agriculture in its May crop
report, issued Tuesday. This is 1856.
100000 bushels less than harvested
last year, when worlds record crop
was gathered in the United States,
but the crop this year Is growing on
much smaller acreage and the severe
winter caused heavy abandonment OF
the acreage planted last fall. In all
4,236,OOO acres were abandoned. leav.
ing for harvest 33,O3O,CQO acres, which
Is 7,433,000 acres less than harvested
last year.
The heaviest abandonment" the
department reported, lis in the impor.
taht group of winter wheat states ex.
tending from Ohio through Indiana to
Illinois. where it reached its maximum
intensity, and through Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri This
abandonment was due principally to
late seeding on a wet and poorly pre-.
pared seed bed followed by winter OF
unusual vigor.
THE activity of the green bug and
the winter in Texas with a severe win.
ter drouth, caused an abandonment of
80 per cent of the southern acreage In
that state. Montana, Washington and
California also show an abandonment
Of 20 to rs per cent.
Present conditions OF growth are
poorest in the central group states,
where winter killing was most severe.
The Atlantic coast crop Is general.
ly fair to good.
The Hessian fly reported as active
in many sections last fall is seeming
ly not so much in evidence, although
reported from scattered localities, par
ticularly in Central Kansas. Mention
is made Of the presence of green bug
in North.Central oklahoma, but the
parasites OF this insect are present
also and 1t is hoped will limit the dam.
age 1t might otherwise do"
The winter wheat crop this year
promises to yield 499,2S0O 900 bushels,
sayG the department, basing its fore
cast on the condition of the crop May
l. The output will probably be above
or below those figures, according to
the change In conditions from now
until time of harvest. This forecast
compares with 655, O45,O bushels har.
vested last year, the greatest winter
wheat crop ever gathered in this coun.
try, and with forecast OF $40 900 900
bushels made last December before
the crop entered the winter, from
which it emerged In rather poor con-
dition, showing decline of 9.4 points
compared with the 10-year decline of
3.5 points. On the crops condition
April l, forecast Of 495 ZOO 900 bush
els was made by the bureau of crop es-
Inmates, assuming average abandon.
ment OF acreage and average influ-
ences on the crop to harvest time.
The area Of winter wheat to be har.
vested is estimated at about $1,000, 900
acres as a result OF the May can.
vass. The area planted last fall was
37,256,000 acres, a decrease of Ass
600 acres from the record area of the
1915 crop and compares with yearly
average Of 32,OSS,O 900 acres in the pre-
ceding five years.
Other details OF the May report
show:
Rye-Condition, 1877 per cent Of a
normal, compared with 87.S on April
1 last, 1913 on May l last year, and
800, the 10-year May 1 average.
Meadow (Hayl Lands-Condition,
1874 per cent of normal, compared
with 89.9 on May last year and 1873,
the 10-year May 1 average.
Hay-Stocks Of hay on farms May l
are estimated at 100000 tons, or Is
per cent Of last years crop, against
S,46S,OOO tons, or 12.1 per cent on May
l last year, and 100000 tons, or 12.1
per cent the 5-year May / average.
DEMONSTRATION, S5.2 per cent
of a normal, against S7.2 on May last
year, and S5.9 the 1O-year May aver.
age.
Spring Plowing-Was 7O.4 per cent
completed up to May l, compared with
1873 on May l last year, and $50 the
1O-year May l average.
Spring Planting-Was 56.7 per cent
completed up to May 1, compared with
65.3 on May last year, and $50 the
10-year May ! average.