The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-04-19
THE ALL-1MPoRTANCE OF A
CROP
North Dakota has big Place in
Wheat Production Scheme of
The Nation

The Nation
Grand Forks, April-With the
formal declaration by the Nation
al Congress Of state of war with
Germany, no other factor in the
national situation is Of greater
Importance at this moment than
intelligent, precautionary prepara-
tions to secure the largest possible
acreage Of land under cultivation
and particularly in the food crops,
during the coming season. War
brings with it it's drain on agricul-
tural resources as on no other in
dustry. The population must be
fed. If, unfortunately, weather
conditions should be unfavorable,
and the yield no better than last
years the food situation next
year will be so much worse than
1T is now that we may well take
alarm while yet there is time to
provide against the possibility
North Dakota is by great odds the
largest producer Of spring wheat in
the Union, and on North Dakota
must rest a considerable portion
Of the responsibility Of feeding
not only it's own people: but the
population of other states and in
assisting in provisioning the Ma
tion's armies. Regarding the crop
situation, the following paragraph
is quoted from the North Dakota
Development League Press Bureau
of Grand Forks, which has com
pleted an approximate summary:
"The present crop year began
with a large calry-over Of all the
grains, but it will end without re-
serves, and the whole world will be
dependent upon the crops of 1917.
The beginning is not good. The
Argentine wheat crop, now har-
vested, is so nearly a failure that
there will be little for export, and
the corn crop will be not much bet
ter. The Australian wheat crop
which, like that of Argentine, is
harvested in the months of our
winter, is estimated at 139, ,392, 900
bushels, against 1877, 100000 last
| year, but fortunately there is a
carry-over estimated at 8O,O00,000
bushels A semi-official report
puts the condition Of French
winter wheat at 65 per cent,
against "a last year, and states that
owing to lack of fertilizer and
want Of proper preparation of the
soil the yield will be below normal
The crop of Holland is unpromis-
ing, and of England backward.
In the United States there has
been a shortage of moisture in
the principal winter wheat states.
The plant is not known to be in
jured, and there is yet time for
sufficient moisture to come, but
if it was under a snow covering,
the outcome would be better as
sured. A freeze has cut off the
early vegetable crop in the south
ern states, which would have soon
relieved the present scarcity.
There are unusual features in
the situation which deserve atten-
ton. High wages in town indus,
tries have been drawing men from
the farms. The farmers outlay
for seed and all expenses is high.
! er, and while high prices for pro.
ducts are usually expected tc
stimulate larger production, they
may not do so this year.
In ordinary times we can draw
on other countries to make up fol
domestic shortage. We have fire
quently imported potatoes from
! Europe, and the effects Of not be
| ing able to do so now are apparent
It is just as important under pre-
sent conditions to have reserve:
Of food as reserves of cartridges
A Nation cannot fight on al
empty stomach. When so mucl
is dependent upon a good crop, i
is the part Of prudence for the en-
tire community to concern itsel:
about the situation from the be
ginning of the season. North Da
kota must so concern itself. A
a unit in the states production
scheme this community must 81
concern itself.
Garden production can be great