Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-09
WINTER WHEAT CROP
MANY MILLION LESS
Forecast Of Yield on Basis Of Con.
ditions May First About Half
Billion Bushels.
REDUCTION IN ACREAGE LARGE

WASHINGTON. May s.--The win
ter wheat crop this year promises to
yield 4o9.2s0.O00 bushels. the De-
rtrtment OF Agriculture announced
today. basing It's forecast on the con-
diuon OF the crop May /. the output
WIN probably be above or below
those figures according to tho change
iii conditions from now until time
OF harvest. Today's forecast COM
peres with s5B. B.04b, 900 bushels har-
vested last year. the greatest winter
wheat crop ever gathered In this
country, and with forecast Of B40,-
100000 bushels made last December
before the crop entered the winter,
from which II emerged In rather poor
condition, showing a decline OF %
points compared with the ten-year-
average decline Of s.b points. On
the crops condition April fore
cast Of $4,000. 900 bushels was
made by the bureau Of crop esti-
mates. assuming average abandon
ment OF acreage and average influ-
epces on the crop to harvesting time.
The area Of winter wheat 70 bs har.
vested IL estimated nt about a1,0a0.Oo0 acres
as a result of the May canvass. This
area planted last fail was n,zDs,0o acres,
decrease of t7bs.o00 acrea from the
record area Of tho 1916 crop and compares
With yearly average OF A0ss,0o0 acres
in the preceding five ysars,
The condition Of winter wheat on May
I was s24 per cent of a normal, COM
pared with 7as on April l last, ez9 on
May last year and Nb. tho ten-year
May j average. That condition IA indi~
catiys Of yield OF III bushels an acre.
compared with 6.a bushels harvested
Last year and 10 bushels In 1914
The large reduction In acreage sowD
last fall was attributed partly 10 un-
favorable weather for seeding, tangled
condition of much corn land which other
wIse would have been aown 10 wheat.
some fear Of the IIesaian fly and To
large supplies OF wheat on hand.
A wet, cold fall causing poor seed beds
and poor start for wintsnng. resulted in
low condition this spring, Much OF the
crop was sown late and the HeSsIan ny
was reported present and active IN many
sections of tho southern part Of the win
TER wheat belt. Climatic conditions we're
harder on laie sown, the winter covering
was lighter than usual and Tho injury
from freezing and tbawing greater than
IN previous years,
Other details OF the May report show;
Rye-eondltion. ss.7 per cent Of a nor
NAL. compared with n.s on April last,
sa.g on May last year and 00,s tho ten
year May average.
Meadow lhay) Iands-condltion M.4
per cent Of a normal. compared with 10
on May last year and $50, tho tcn-year
May l average.
Hay-atocks OF hay on farms May 4
are estimated at 10000 tons, Or 10 per
cent Of last years crop, against s,acs,0oo
tons. or i2.i per cent on May last year,
and $4,000 tons, or 1911 per cent tho
five-ycar May ! average
Pastures-condtion 49, per cent Of
normal. against ~ on May last year,
and $50. the ten-year May average.
Spring Plowing-was 7oy4 per cent COM
pleted up TO May 1. compared with 7s.5
on May last year. and es.s, the ten-year
May | average,
Spring pianting--was 9.7 per cent com
pletad Up 10 May 1. compared with $50
on May ! last year. and 1.9. tho ten
year May average.