Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-24
NEBRASKA GIVES
PROMISE OF Big
YIELD OF CROPS
Railroads Report Farmers Will
Plant Greatly Increased
Acreage of ALI Sorts
of Cereals.
WINTER WHEAT HALF COM
Are to Substitute Corn, Oats
and Spring Wheat to Make
Up the Loss.
TO DOUBLE POTATO PLANT

The first of the crop reports Of the
season, issued by the Burlington ant
Northwestern railroads, covering
practically all the grain-growing sec
tions of Nebraska and dealing with
the wheat, oats and corn conditions
are out Sand sindisase- that instead Of
the winter wheat crop of Nebraska
being a total failure it is going to
be some SO per cent OF normal
crop, better than shown by the gov
ernment estimate of IS per cent of a
crop made a week ago.
On the Omaha division of the
Burlington the winter wheat /condi-
tions are placed at 90; on the Wy
more, 40; on the Lincoln, 80, and on
the McCook division, so per cent, as
compared with the normal.
Throughout a large portion Of
Burlington territory the rains of the
last week brought about wonderful
results in the winter wheat fields and
many of them in which it was Sup
posed the plant had been completely
killed have. taken on new life and
give promise OF fair crop.
Increased Acreage.
In some sections, particularly the
South Platte country, where the win
ter wheat suffered most severely, the
fields were plowed up and many of
them seeded to spring wheat. 1t is
estimated that the acreage put into.
spring wheat will be 10 per cent more
than the normal.
As a result of the damage to win
ter wheat killing it is estimated that
OF the acreage which has been plowed
up 45 per cent wM be put into corn,
about the same into oats and 10 per
cent into spring wheat.
1t is believed that the alfalfa fields
have been greatly damaged by the
cold of last winter, but no estimate
is made on the acreage killed out.
Throughout the territory covered
by the Northwestern report condi-
tions relative to winter wheat are
about the same as that with which
the Burlington deals. Many of the
fields have been pIowed up and
largely increased acreage OF spring
wheat and oats sown.
Spring Grain Fine.
Reports indicate that spring grain
of all kinds is making rapid growth
and, though early in the season, gives
promise, of all abundant yield.
Everywhere farmers are turning
their attention to potatoes. This is
particularly true with reference to the
northern and western portions of the
state, where it is estimated that the
acreage will be increased Is to 100
per cent.
Generally throughout the state the
ground is i'll good condition and
pretty thoroughly soaked. What is
most needed is warm weather.
Pastures have been slow in starting,
but within the last week the grass
has made rapid growth.
Farmers Optimistic.
In line with the crop reports of the
railroads letters from different por-
tions Of the state and written by
farmers indicate that damage to win
ter wheat is not so great as it ap-
peared to be ten days ago or two
weeks ago.
From Sutherland comes the infor-
nation that in Lincoln county in
many fields where it was thought the
plant was dead recent rains have
caused new shoots to be thrown up
from the wheat roots and there is
a promise { a fairly good yield.
Reports from Broken Bow indicate
that with the coming Of rain the win
tcr wheat in the Custer county fields
has taken on new life and in numer-
ous localities there arc indications
that the crop will be 50 TO Is per
reut and in some instances fully ZIP
10 normal 49,