The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-21
RYE ACREAGE In
NORTH DAKOTA is
TWICE GREATER
Than LAST YEAR.
Tremendous Increase In
Acreage In Central and
Western Sections
$4,000 ACRES /
IN WINTER CROP
U. s. Agent Says Condition
Below Normal Many
Influences at Work

The North Dakota acreage of rye
is over twice as great this year as
1t was last year, the figures issued
by the federal government in the
December crop report, distributed by
A. ]. Surratt OF Grand Forks, field
agent of the department of agricul-
ture, showing a jump in acreage
from 1,O66,O00 acres last year. to q
$4,000 acres this year.
The condition Of the winter rye
on Dec. !, however, was below the
normal average OF SS per cent, the
state rye showing at 70 per cent
normal, compared with 81 per cent
normal on the same date a year ago.
The North Dakota rye is five points
under the general condition OF rye in
the country at large.
Mr.. Surratt, in his review OF the
rye situation, points out several i'm
portant elements that have entered
into bringing about greater acreage
OF the winter crop.
Rye Makes Hit With Farmers.
North Dakota shows a tremend-
Gus increase in winter rye acreage
again this fall following the extreme
ly heavy increase OF a year ago.,
says the field agent in his report.
Rye acreage is with few exceptions
as heavy or increased in the heavy
rye areas Of last season, and in addi-
ton has spread over practically the
entire state. The prominence of rye
acreage is especially noticeable in
the central and western sections.
Numerous farmers in these sections
believe that rye promises a more
sure crop than wheat in the event
that next season is dry, and
especially where the acreage Of
wheat is so large that all cannot be
seeded early.
Labor Element Important.
"The more prominent causes OF the
heavy change in rye are-fear of
1918 labor shortage. Transient labor
high priced and often unsatisfactory.
Foul seed growth In numerous farms
Is heavy and farmers are anxious to
plan a profitable cleaning crop. De-
sire is qtite general to avoid summer
following under the prevailing high
rye prices. Fear of rust damage to
wheat. Rye as a rule will escape
both rust and hail damage. Rye will
divide the farm work to better ad-
vantage, and permit handling the
usual acreage with less help. Day
labor usually cheaper and more
easily secured in rye harvest period
than later. Grain and hay feed was
a short crop in the western half of
the state, and numerous /. farmers
were financially unable to purchase
high priced feed to do the usual
amount OF cultivation. Seeding a
much larger acreage OF rye than
usual appealed to them as the best
way out of their difficulties. Rye
usually sown on the stubble with
little or no preparation previously.
A large amount of labor Is thus saw
ed and rye yields have either edualed
or exceeded wheat in the past with
few exceptions"
Moisture Influence Great.
Fall condition of rye is frealSishly
uneven and spotted due to uneven
moisture conditions, and due to the
seeding period being extended into
November. In several instances
early sOwn fields in central and west
ern sections terminated quite we'll,
but partially dried out later due 10
fall drought. Owing to October
snowfall over northern and eastern
sections with subsequent mild
weather, the latter sown rye in this
area is inclined to average up more
favorably, but due to moisture
deficiency prevailing over areas OF
the central and southwestern parts
of the state, the conditions there as
8. rule are unfavorable. Considerable
rye was sown tor late to terminate
before the winter freezeup and
condition cannot be determined until
spring. The merits Of this method
of rye seeding may be debatable,
but the practice has been reasonably
thus far. The consensus
Of opinion indicated by personal
and written reports from
the state as a. whole. also from per-
sonal investigation. shows the rye
condition to be noticeably below aver
age.