The Coconino sun., 1917-09-14
MORE WINTER WHEAT
 FOR ARIZONA

| rigated valleys of the state and in the dry farming areas of the northern counties, yields of winter wheat have been justified in the past. Under the government guarantee of price for the fall planted crop of $2.00 per bushel at terminal points, Arizona winter wheat planting will undoubt- edly be increased.
 Director E. P. Taylor of the Agri. cultural Extension Service is back from the Government Wheat Confer ence just held at Kansas City. Thir- teen wheat-growing states of the Middle West were represented at the conference. Andrew c. Kimball, of Thatcher, Peter Aepli, of Temple, and N. D. Sanders, of Phoenix, were also appointed delegates to the convention.
 Director Taylor reports the conven- ton one of far-reaching importance.
 The government desires to raise the nations wheat crop in 1918 to one billion bushels. To bring this about, it is estimated that the acre. age to be planted to fall wheat shoul'l reach 47 million acres. The average yield of winter wheat for the United States is 15.6 bushels with 13.2 bush els for spring wheat.
 | Arizona's quota to bring about the desired increase is 43,O00 acres which is an increase of 16 per cent over last lyear. In spite of the fact that cotton will claim a considerable acreage of land in the Salt River Valley which would otherwise be planted to winter wheat, the desired 16 per cent in. crease for the state in wheat is ex- pected.
 AS an instance of record yield in lthe Salt River Valley, under irriga- tion, may be cited the phenomenal lyield secured by John P. Orme, who on seventy acres averaged 3,200 bounds, or practically 55 bushels per acre. At $200 per bushel at Kansas iCity the Arizona price will range about cents per pound to the grow CT on account of Arizona importation of Kansas wheat at freight charge | of 65 cents per hundred. MT. Orme's lyield at this figure would give a gross value of $128.00 per acre. The cost of production of wheat under irriga- tion should not even under abnormal labor, seed and sack charges, amount to more than $2s.O0 and with such yields as MT. Orme secured, the net return on his wheat would reach about s1OO00 per acre.
 Wheat in the Gila Valley and in the northern counties, from winter kill ing, cold spring and other causes, did not yield up to the average this year, but these district are ordinarily good yielders and they will do their part in winter wheat planting.
 Much discussion was entered into at the Kansas City conference as to the cost of production of wheat. Fig ures submitted by leading wheat growers in Kansas, Oklahoma and Minnesota varied from $1.51 to $1.73 a bushel, while wheat spectators, who had bought up wheat in the drought stricken areas of Kansas and Oklaho- ma at s2.50 per bushel, submitted figures showing $2.73 per bushel as the cost of production.
 The government guarantee of $2.00 per bushel applies to the coming crop and is the price to be guaranteed at the terminal points for Number One Northern. Under the peculiarly fav- orable market conditions in Arizona this should at least insure the grower 4 cents per pound for good mill wheat.
 The wheat conference passed res olution favoring 10 per cent in- crease above the market wheat for clean and pure seed wheat with fur ther advance for certified seed.
 The federal government in urging increased wheat planting, stipulates that this is not desirable to an extent that might upset sound agricultural practice and rotations for the district. The need of more livestock products will favor fall wheat planting in Ari- zona where it yields such excellent parturage through fall, winter and spring.
 Farmers short of seed wheat for fall planting may be benefited by consulting their county agent, or the agricultural Extension Service at Tucson, as the agricultural survey being carried on in the different counties gives these agents valuable data as to where the surplus seed stocks are to be found.
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