The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1917-09-14
BILLION BUSHELS WHEAT
EXPECTED NEXT YEAR
High Mark Set BY Officials.
Rye Acreage Also to
Be Expanded

Rye Acreage Also to
Be Expanded
Washington, D. c., Sept. 1.-the
production Of over one billion bushels
Of wheat and over eighty-three mill
ion bushels Of rye, through the plant
ing of 47,337,00 acres to winter
wheat and Of 5,131 900 acres to rye
this fall, is the immediate wal agri-
cultural program for the nation an
nounced by David F. Houston, secre-
tary of agriculture. This record win
ter wheat acreage, an increase of 10
per cent over last year, would yield
672, 000, 900 bushels, if the average
yield for the past 10 years is ~equaled,
or under a repetition Of the favor
able conditions of 1914 would give
$3.50, O0O, 900 bushels. In either case
with a spring wheat crop next year
equal to that Of 1915, the nation will
have more than one billion bushels of
wheat for domestic use and export.
This vastly increased production Of
wheat, needed in any case, will be
absolutely essential to prevent a Sc
rious shortage of breadstuffs next
summer should the growing corn, now
behind the season, be much damaged
by early frosts.
The program approved by the Sec
rotary of agriculture represents the
best thought Of the U. S. department
of agriculture and of state agricul-
tural officials and state councils Of
defense.
The study of this question has in
volved many factors and the special
lists have been aware from the first
that the demands for wheat may ex-
coed the supply next year. Effort
therefore has been made to recon-
mend in each state about as large an
acreage in wheat and rye as can be
sown without upsetting proper farm
practice which must be maintained in
the interest of wheat and rye crops
this and succeeding years, as well as
in the interest of other necessary
spring-planted crops which are not
discussed in detail at this time, as
they are not food crops in which a
marked shortage exists.
The estimates, the department
states. are made with the knowledge
that there is some shortage of the
fertilizer supply but with the UNDER
standing that there will be no general
shortage in the supply Of seed or of
farm machinery which is necessary in
the production of the wheat crop. 1t
is understood also that ample trans
p~ortation facilities will be provided
and a fair price Of wheat will be
established. These factors have been
assumed as fixed and satisfactory. If
any n or more fail to be adjusted
in good time, no person can tell how
serious will be the effect on the total
crop.
The planting and cultivation of
these increased acreages of fall-sown
grains calls for unusual effort on the
part of the farmers. Plans to place
at the disposal of farmers all assist
ance possible, are being perfected in
the U. S. department of agriculture
the state colleges of agriculture, and
other state and local agencies which
cooperate in farming matters. The
assistance of successful growers of
wheat and rye in a campaign to turn
out bumper crops in 1918 is assured.
The state officials will do their ut
most to get the acreage expected of
their states into the ground. The
program as originally worked out by
the federal department of agriculture
called for somewhat more than A.
100000 acres to be sown this fall
When this proposal was presented to
the officials of the several states a
further Increase was considered pos
sible and desirable by them. AS a
consequence the recommendation for
the sowing of 47,337,0OO acres. is
made.
Following is a summary of the de-
partment's recommendations regard
ing winter wheat and rye:
Wheat.
The planting of approximately A.
$4,000 acres to winter wheat, on the
basis of the average yield for the
past ten years indicates a total pro-
duction of 672 million bushels, which
exceeds all previous winter wheat
crops harvested in the United States
with the exception of the crops OF
1914 and 1915 when the acreage har.
vested and yields per acre were both
above normal.
If the extremely favorable condi.
tions under which the winter wheat
crop of 1914 was grown are again ex.
perienced, the yield of winter wheat
next year will be sSO,OOO,OOO bushels
or by far the largest winter wheat
crop ever produced, and wen larger
than the total of both winter anG
spring wheat crops for all past years
except two.
1t is too carly to determine the area