The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-04-07
State Crop Report
Continued on page 81

The present prospect for wheat in
is the poorest for the ten-year period,
according to the first official crop re-
port for the year 1916 as issued to-
day from the office of the State
Board of Agriculture. The report,
in full, is as follows:
With weather conditions fairly ia
vorable during the latter half Of
March, April l finds farm work well
under way. Reports from the cor
respondents of the State Board of
Agriculture indicate a generally hope
full feeling on the part of Missouri
farmers. Rain, which came during
the latter part of the month, was need
ed in many parts of the State and,
with warm days following, vegetables
of all kinds should make rapid growth.
In the extreme southeastern section
of the State, where ordinarily the
season opens very early, correspond
ents report farming less advanced
than for the average year. In prac-
tically all parts Of the State, except
where excessive moisture has pre-
vented, a few early vegetables have
been planted but warmer weather is
needed before gardens generally are
made.
characterization of wheat, as
shown by reports from correspondents
in the various counties, is 65.8 for the
State, as compared with 1873 one year
ago. The 10-year average condition
on April / is s6.2. Present condition
is not only much below the 10-year av-
erage but is also lower than for any
year in the decade. Loss since De-
cember / has been 1862 points. By
sections, condition is: northeast, 81
northwest, rs; Central, SO; southwest
| 81; southeast, II. Various causes
have contributed to the low condi
ton. Sleet and ice especially on tn
more level fields, lack of snow cover
ing, heavy dew to alternate freezing
and thawing, and in some sections lacl
of moisture during much of March
worked injury to the growing plant
Wheat in late seeded fields, excep
where commercial fertilizer was uset
seems to be worst "winter killed
1t is hoped though that by late SOW
ing the loss from the Hessian fly wi
{ be greatly lessened. Some whes
;. fields have been put to oats and cor
will follow in others. However, wit
< favorable wheat weather following
v it is not thought that the abandone
acreage win be heavy. Should an
considerable per cent of the whei
ground be put to other crops it wi
: mean decidedly limited acreage {
:. but 1,959,000 acres were seeded *
the 1916 crop. This is 17.3 per cel
s less than for the 1915 harvest.
CORN Prospects are for SOM
d what enlarged corn acreage, especial
,. with a favorable spring for planting
I The 1915 crop was grown on 7,21s
Z 566 acres. Thirty-fve per cent of IL
corn ground has been plowed. In tn
:. the southwest section leads. In IL
n southeast section, though, few fielt
are reported as planted. Only on
), third Of the correspondents report
J. scarcity Of good seed corn. Appa
emily the most serious shortage is
q the southwest section.
d OATS-The oat crop is going
early and in good shape. Core
if pondents estimate 70 per cent of Il
n crop sown, as follows: northeast Sc
5, ton, 48; northwest, "a; central, Z
E, southwest, 81; southeast, 66. For Il
l. 10-year period the per cent Of Il
j; crop seeded by April 1 is 40. La
"a year but 38 per cent of the crop WI
d in by April /. Probable acreage
d the 1915 crop is estimated at 102 p'
n cent as compared with 1,065,0O0 acr'
r, last year, but may be considerab