The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-11-22
Twelue Billions
Value of Crops

| The Manufacturers Record esti-
mates that the total farm value OF all
farm products, including livestock,
this year will reach the great sum OF
$4,000, 900 900 Notwithstanding the
fact that unfavorable weather condl-
tons cut short the production OF grain
and other foodstuffs this year to an eX-
tent that has rarely ever been seen
in the history of the country. Meas
uring the wheat crop by pounds, since
the quality this year was lower than
that of last year there was total
Weld of only 547,OO0OO0 bushels. as
compared with 1,011 100000 bushels
last year. This loss would alone have
resulted in a very heavy increase in
the price of wheat for it means almost
famine conditions in wheat, as com
pared with normal crops, but there
was at the same time a decrease OF
All 900 900 bushels OF corn, decrease
Of $4,000 900 bushels of oats, $4,000
| 00G bushels of barley, 100000 bush
els of rye and 100000 bushels of
| buckwheat.
The total grain crop of the United
States as estimated by government re-
turns on November l was 4,777,OOO,OoO
bushels as compared with a total crop
in 1915 of 6,023, 100000 bushels, de-
crease of 1,245, 100000 bushels.
Even these figures, showing the
staggering loss in grain production, do
not tell the full story, for other FOOD
crops suffered in the same way. The
yield of white potatoes this year was
100000 bushels short OF last year;
the yield of sweet potatoes, a stand
ard crop of the south, was 100000
bushels short There was decrease
of 26.500,000 bushels of peaches and
a decrease of 100000 barrels of an-
pies. while even pears showed a de-
crease of nearly 100000 bushels.
The decrease shown in grain and
other foodstuffs was as follows: d
Corn, 411,O27,O0O bushels decrease
Wheat, 403 900 bushels decrease
Oats, 81, $4,000 bushels decrease.
Barley, 53,473,0OO bushels decrease.
Rye, 100000 bushels decrease.
Buckwheat, 4,322,000 bushels de
Grease.
Kafrs, 53,436,000 bushels decrease
White potatoes, 7D,13#,Q0G bushels
decrease.
Peaches, 26 $4,000 bushels decrease
Apples 1915, 900 bushels decrease.
Pears, $4,000 bushels decrease.
Reducing the decrease in apples to
bushels instead of barrels, here is
total falling off in the. grain, potato
peach pear and apple crop Of nearly
1875. 100000 bushels. 1t is disaster
which spells short supplies at high
prices for at least the next II months,
and nothing but bumper crops next
wear can overcome this situation and
restore prices to normal conditions.
Rice alone shows gain amounting
to 100000 bushels, and rice, which
ought to be one of the staple food sup
plies of the country, has as yet had
no marked advance in price in keeping
with the advance in other fod sup
plies.
The value of nineteen staple crops
as based on the November l estimate
of the United States department OF
agriculture, on prices then ruling on
the farms, was 5000, 33S OBI, as CON-
pared with the estimated value on
November /, 1915 of the same crops
of that year of $5,9S3,306 SIT. Thus,
while these crops have decreased enor-
mously in quantity, they have at the
same time increased enormously III
price. The farm value Of the same
crops on November 1 estimates would
show a gain of $1,116,031,214 over
the value of the same crops on NO
yember l last year. We thus have
an increase in value due to decrease
in quantity, and to an enlarged home
and foreign demand SO significant IN
extent as to give an intimation OF
what would happen if we should unfor-
tunately have small crops next year
These figures do not, of course, in
cIude the value of all crops. For in
stance, cotton seed, which will repre-
sent a value Of 100000 or more
this year, is not included nor do they
include livestock products. The com
parison is given only on specified
crops and is compiled from the most
recent bulletin issued by the United
States department Of agriculture, to
emphasizes the situation as to our
food supply and to press home upon
the country the importance of putting