The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-27
That Amount May Be Needed in
State, Governor Says.
Many Farmers Will Be Unable
To Finance Sowing.
TO DISCUSS PLANS TUESDAY
Council of Defense Expects TO
Take Definite Action.
Money May Be Raised by Pub
lie Subscription Funds.

Kansans may be called upon to sub
scribe $4,000 to seed wheat fund
for farmers in the big wheat produc-
ing sections of the state. Governor
Capper today estimated that 100000
bushels of seed wheat would be need
ed in addition to the amount aVallaple
to men able to provide their own seed.
Plans for an enormous seed Wheat
fund and for a campaign for record
winter wheat acreage will be laid be-
fore the state council of defense when
it meets in the state house next Tues
day.
Detailed information concerning
seed wheat and acreage conditions are
being gathered by state officials and
members of the state defense council.
This information points to the fact
that the state will be called upon to
subscribe heavily to the fund. 1t is
probable the fund will be raised thru
subscriptions by bankers and business
men. The seed will be furnished
farmers on loan basis, expense for
seed to be paid from the 1918 crop
yield. A similar method was pursued
in 1913 when the state provided a
comparatively small seed fund.
Nothing undertaken in Kansas in a
crop relief movement has equaled the
seed wheat problem now before the
council of defense. Not only is there
an enormous shortage of seed wheat,
but prices are sky high. Estimates re-
ceived by Governor Capper indicate
that the state defense council may be
called upon to provide 100000 BUSH
els of wheat. 1t is probable the seed
will cost not less than $3.50 bushel-
Make Plans Now.
! Reports from every section of the
state will be read when defense coun-
Gil members come to Topeka next
week. 1t is. the plan of Governor
Capper and members of the council
tn rF-nrn of far . h. Col
ing campaign.
Members of the council will urge
the planting of not less than ten mil
/. lion acres of winter wheat in Kansas.
That is a record acreage for the state.
The planting last fall was in the
neighborhood of eight million acres
and was one of the largest acreages
the state has known. In spite of the
heavy acreage, the yield this year is
exceedingly short. 1t is estimated at
AZ million bushels in the official re-
port of j. c. Mohler, secretary of the
state board of agriculture. Nearly so
per cent of the states wheat acreage
was abandoned a result of the dry
weather in Kansas wheat counties last
fa4,
! Plans for the seed wheat fund are
now under consideration and will be
submitted in detail when the council
comes to Topeka. If the fund can be
raised thru public subscriptions, that
method will be pursued. Several
weeks ago Governor Capper declared
l that special session of the Iegisla-
ture would be called next fall only in
event of crop failure in the state
With good yield from the enormous
corn acreage, the state will meet de-
mands for seed without a state APP
preparation, it is believed.
Corn Outlook Bright.
The corn acreage is in excess of
nine million acres-the largest in the
history of Kansas. a fair corn yield
would be expected to give impetus
to seed wheat campaign and insure
success in raising the needed funds
There is no doubt but that the
state faces really serious situation
in the demand for seed wheat" said
Governor Capper. TT is a most diff
cult problem and one that must be
worked out at the meeting of the
state council of defense when IT meets
in Topeka next week. L believe the
farmers in western Kansas must bo
provided with two million bushels of
seed wheat in addition to the supply
available to men able to provide their
own seed. q A fund of probably five
million dollars may be necessary, az
it seems certain the seed will cost at
least $3.50 a bushel The state must
utilize every available acre and the
needed money must be provided for