The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-16
GOVERNMENT WANTS BILLION BUSHELS OF WHEAT NEXT YEAR

The production of over 1000, ,oOo,0 600 bush els of wheat and over 83,000,000 bushels of rye, through the planting of 47,3S7,0 600 acres to winter wheat and of 5,131, 900 acres of rye this fan, is the immediate war agri- cultural programme for the nation an nouneed by David P. Houston, Sec retary of Agriculture. This record winter wheat acreage. an increase of IS per cent over last year, would yield 672, 900 bush els if the average yield for the past 10 years is equaled or under repetition of the favorable conditions of 1914 would give $500 900 bushels. In either case with spring wheat crop next year equal to that of 1915, the nation will have more than 1000 100000 bushels of wheat for do- mestic use and export.
 This vastly increased production of wheat, needed in any case, will be abso- lutely 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 programme approved by the Secre- tary of Agriculture represents the best thought of the United States de- partment of agriculture and of state ag- ricultural officials and state councils of defense
 
 many factors and the specialists have been aware from the first that the de- mands 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 necessary spring planted crops which are not discussed in detail at this time as they are not food crops in which marked shortage exists
 THE ESTIMATES
 The estimates. the department states. are made with the knowledge that there is some shortage of the fertilizer supply. 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. It is understood also that ample transportation facilities will be provided and a fair price of wheat will be estab- lished. These factors have been assumed as fixed and satisfactory. If any one or more faii 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 gains calls for unusual effort on the part of
  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 successful growers of wheat and rye in campaign to turn out bumper crops in 1918 is as- sured.
 The state officials win do their utmost to get the acreages expected of their states into the ground. The programme as originally worked out by the federal department of agriculture called for somewhat more than 44.00000O 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 con- sequence. the recommendation for the sowing of 47.3S7 600 acres is made
 Following is a summary of the depart ments recommendations regarding winter wheat and rye:
 WHEAT
 The planting of approximately 4, ,3s7, 900 acres to winter wheat on the basis of the average yield for the past 10 years, indi- cates total production of 672, GOO 600 bush- els, which exceeds all previous winter wheat crops harvested in the United 1914 and 1915. when the acreages har- vested and yields per acre were both above normal.
 If the extremely favorable conditions under which the winter wheat crop of 1914 was grown are again experienced, the yield of winter wheat next year will be 880. 900 bushels or by far the largest winter wheat crop ever produced and even larger than the total of both winter and