The evening leader., 1917-08-14
Department Of Agriculture and
State Officials Set High
Mark For Pro-
duction
THE production of over 100000.

THE production of over 100000
600 bushels of wheat and over
S3,000000 bushels of rye through
the planting of Al, ,3337 900 acres to win
ter wheat and of 5,131,000 to rye this
fall is the immediate war agricultural
program for the nation announced by
David F. Houston, secretary of agri-
culture. This record winter wheat
acreage, an increase of IS per cent
over last year, would yield 672,O00,O0O
bushels If the average yield for the
past ten years is equaled, or under
repetition of the favorable conditions
Of 1914 would give SS0,000,O00 bushels.
In either case with spring wheat
crop next year equal to that of 1915
the nation will have more than 1,O00,-
100000 bushels Of wheat for domestic
use and export.
This vastly increased production of
wheat, needed in any case, will be alb
solutely essential to prevent a serious
shortage of breadstuffs next summer
should the growing corn, now behind
the season. be much damaged by early
frostS.
The program approved by the secre-
tary of agriculture represents the best
Thought of the United States depart
ment of agriculture and of state agri-
cultural officials aid state councils of
defense.
Eany Factors Involved.
The study of this question has involv-
ed many factors, and the specialists
have been aware from the first that
the demands for wheat may exceed the
supply next year. Effort therefore has
been made to recommend 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 neces-
sary 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 sup
ply, but with the understanding 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 transportation facilities will
pe2pr0yIueu anu u TaH price IUr wnHar-
will be established. These factors have
been assumed as fixed and satisfactory.
II any one or more fail to be adjusted
in good time no person can tell how
serious win be the effect on the total
crop.
Unusual Efforts by Farmers.
The flantin. AMI cultivation of these
increased acre.l,;es of fall sown grains
call for unusual effort en- the part of
the farmers. Plans to Place at the dis
posal of farmers all assistance possible
are being perfected in the United States
department of agriculture. the state col
leges of agriculture and other state and
local agencies which cooperate in farm
ing matters. The assistance of success
full growers of wheat and rye in cam
paign to turn out bumper crops in 1918
is assured.
The state officials will do their ut
most to get the acreages expected of
their states into the ground. The pro-
gram as originally worked out by the
federal department of agriculture call
ed for somewhat more than 44,OO0 600
acres to be sown this fall. When this
proposal was presented to the. officials
OF the several states further increase
was considered possible and desirable
by them. AS a consequence the recon-
mendation for the sowing Of Al, ,337 600
acres is made
Following Is summary OF the de-
partment's recommendations regarding
winter wheat and rye:
Wheat.
The planting of approximately At
$4,000 acres to winter wheat. on the
basis Of the average yield for the past
ten years, indicates total production
OF 672,000,O00 bushels, which exceeds
all previous winter wheat crops har-
vested In the United States with the
exception of the crops of 1914 and 1915.
when the acreages harvested and yields
per acre were both above normal. IL
the extremely favorable conditions un-
der which the winter wheat crop Of
le14 was grown are again experienced
the yield of winter wheat next year
VIII be sS0,0o0.OOO bushels, or by far
the largest winter wheat crop ever pro
duced and even larger than the total
Of both winter and spring wheat crops
for all past years except two.
Principal Increases.
The principal increases In acreage Of
winter wheat are recommended In the
areas where the acreage davnfad to |