The Butler weekly times., 1917-05-10
Missouri Crop Report.


Columbia, Mo-, May S, 1oIz.-Fol-l
lowing general and abundant rains.
Missouri is in immediate need OF sum
shine and warmer weather, according
to the crop report issued today by
w. +. Nelson, assistant secretary Of
the State Board Of Agriculture. The
report follows: - III
Since April 26 unseasonably cool
weather with some snow flurries and
frost but with practically no SUM,
shine has prevailed throughout much
Of Missouri. Rains, which were
greatly needed in most sections, have
been sufficient yet not generally ex-'
cessive or such as to cause fields to
wash badly. While these rains have
delayed planting, without more mois-i
ture than was previously available all
crops must have suffered. With.
heat and sunshine, conditions will
now be greatly improved.
| From all parts of the state come
reports to the effect that farmers
are fully awake to the seriousness of
the food situation and are making ey-
cry effort to increase production. In
some parts, though, especially in. .
few of the southern counties, where
there is shortage of seed and feed,
the acreage will be reduced. Many
farmers lack sufficient seed to plant
their fields and truck patches and are
also short on feed for teams. n
| CORN-Cold rains during the last
week Of April put stop to all corn
planting. Previously, work had pro-
gressed rapidly. Correspondents es-
innate that despite the. temporary
suspension of planting, 81 per cent
of the crop was in by May 1. The
17-year average May planting is
20 per cent. But Io per cent of the
crop had been plented by May !.
1916 Present planting is earliest
since 1910, and only three times in II
years has the crop gone in earlier.
While it is yet too early to deter
mine the stand, there are grave fears,
that, owing to the cold rains, many
fields must be planted over How
ever, the excellent soil condition and
fine seedbed may partially offset the
effects of unfavorable weather.
Present planting by sections shows;
| Northeast, 9 per cent; Northwest,
20; Central, 4o; Southwest, ~;
Southeast, 49, 1t is estimated that 79
per cent of the blowing has been
done. A preliminary report as to
! probable acreage places it at no pei
cent, as follows: Northeast, 1885,
Northwest, II2; Centrak-1oo; South.
] west, 100; Southeast, lo7. This
would indicate probable increase o1
almost three-quarters Of a million
acres over the 1916 crop of 1865
acres. Most of the increase, in acre
age will come from old meadow!
4 plowed up or from fields where
wheat was too poor to let stand
| Very properly, but few good blue
grass pastures have been plowed TO
corn.
i WHEAT-Wheat has failed t.
show the hoped for improvement
| Instead, it has continued to 60 back
SO that the condition for the state j:
but $40 as compared with 500 one
I month ago, 62.8 one year ago and
Io-year average OF Sac. BY sections
condition shows: Northeast, 44.4
I Northwest, 4o.2; Central, 48.4; South
west, Gas; Southeast, 20. The aban
doned acreage may equal almost one
third of the crop in the northern hal
of the state and will probably amount
to between IS and 20 per cent for thu
entire state. If the final figures
show less wheat plowed up it will b'
because of clover and timothy seedet
and which can only be saved by let
ting the wheat stand.
i OATS-The condition of the Mis-
souri, oat crop is reported at o3.7, tn
highest May showing for mor'
than ten years. By sections, the fig
ures are: Northeast. 500; North
west, oz.7; Central, GAG; Southwest
|o2.8; Southeast, 8&4. Acreage il
ro4.a as compared with the 1916 erol
of I,oz3ooo acres: Increase or de
crease by sections: Northeast. 1903
Northwest, 100; Central, IoI; South
west, Io7; Southeast, 60
OTHER CROPS Much old cloy
er is dead; new clover general,
good; average condition of clover
III. Reports on timothy show con
d;tion of 8s.2 with prospects for rap
| id improvement since the rains. Con
dition Of alfalfa is 88. "A considerable
acreage was winter killed, Owing te
cool weather and, in some sections
to lack Of moisture previous, to th'
recent rains. grass has made onl,
| fair growth. However, pastures
should now show rapid improvement
Present condition, Is Ninety-on'
] per cent of correspondents erepor
stock ON grass. Scarcity Of feed ha'
caused many pastures to be turned