Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-09
Allies Need 50O,O00,000
Bushels; Argentine's
Crop Also Poor.
FEDERAL CONTROL IS URGED
Hoover Tells Senate Separate
Food Department Abso-
lutely Essential Now.

WASHINGTON. May S.--Offic!al
wheat crop estimates announced to-
day show that with the world facing a
bread shortage the United States, un-
less 1t cuts its present consumption,
probably will produce only enough
wheat this year to supply its own pop-
ulation.
The forecast, compiled by tho de-
partment of agriculture on conditions
May /, put this countrys winter yield
at 366 200. 600 bushels. the smallest in
13 years. There will be no estimate
OF spring wheat acreage until July,
but with crop of ESQ, coo, 900 bushels,
which Is higher than the average, this
country would grow this year a total
Of only 6l6.000,000 bushels.
The normal American consumption,
with seed requirements, is put at
slightly more than 600, 900, 900 bushels.
Falls Far Below 1916.
The countrys greatest spring wheat
crop was 352,000,000 bushels, pro-
duced In 1915. The five-year average
from 1910 to 1914 is 234 200. 900
bushels. The estimated production
this year OF 3G6. 900 900 bushels of
winter wheat falls 100000 bushels
short of last years poor crop and
30S 900, 900 below that of 1915. a
bumper crop. 1t Is 1923 200, 900 bushels
less than the average for the preced-
ing five years.
Reserve stocks this year are said to
be lower thar at any previous time
this season. The visible supply Is put
now at thirty million bushels with a
somewhat larger invisible stock. The
lowest visible stocks ever reported In
the United States were six million
bushels on July /, two years ago.
When harvesting of the new crop be-
gins in July of this year, it is esti-
mated that the reserve will be even
lower than that.
Allies Need Much.
The allies wheat requirements for
the coming year are put at five hun
dred million bushels as a minimum.
The United States will be asked to
supply more than half that amount.
Wheat crops in other parts of the
world are poor The Argentine crop
failed. and home consumption will re-
quire the entire yield. Canada's pro-
duction is confined chiefly to n spring
crop of normally about two hundred
million bushels, much of which Is
available for export.
Since the war started America has
exported to Europe vast quantities OF
wheat, reaching a high mark of 332,-
000,0 900 bushels In 1915. Last year
the total fell to 243,000,000 bushels.
Before the war IL ran slightly less
than one hundred million bushels.
Other Crops Good.
In a statement accompanying its
report today the agricultural depart
ment declared that altho the winter
wheat crop condition is the poorest
on record, crop conditions otherwise
are favorable.
The extent Of plowing and plant
ing done by May l." the statement
said, was above the average. In 1912
the winter wheat crop fell below four
hundred million bushels. the lowest
since 1904, but Notwithstanding this
low production of winter wheat the
spring wheat crops and total produc-
ton of all crops in that year was the
largest on record"
Use More Corn Bread.
The department Is making every
effort to educate the American people
to greater use of corn meal for
bread. Corn is Americas big crop,
but except in the south it never has
wheat for bread. Depart
ment officials believe America must
turn to corn to release wheat for ship
ment abroad II the allies are to be fed
and Germany is to be defeated.
Herbert {. Hoover, chalriAan OF the
food committee of the council of ma
tional defense, who is strongly in ia
vor OF more limited use of wheat in
this country, appeared before the CEN
ate agricultural committee today and
urged a separate department of the
government to deal with the food
question He recommended absolute
government control Of certain staples.
particularly grain and sugar. He
asked prompt action on the admin
istration's food bills and pointed to
allied food troubles as proof of the
necessity for taking hold of the situa-
i...a naI.t In, thn