The weekly soliphone., 1917-08-09
BILLION BUSHELS OF
 WHEAT NEXT YEAR
United States Department of Agri- culture and State Officials Set High Mark for Wheat Pro-
 duetion.

nd1h lUI w IlCpt lO-
 duetion
 Washington, Aug. 9.-The pro- duction of over one billion bshels million bushels of rye, through the planting of 47,337, ,000 acres to winter wheat and of 2,131, 900 acres to rye this fall is the imme- diate war agricultural program for the nation announced today by David F. Houston, secretary of az acreage, an increase of Is per cent over last year, would yield 672, ,000,- 900 bushels if the average yield for the past ten years is equaled, or under a repetition of the favor able conditions of 1914 would give | 80,000,000 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 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 sec retary of agriculture represents the best thought of the U. s. Depart ment of Agriculture ad of state ag- ricultural officials and state coun- cils of defense.
 The study of this question has has involved 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 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 knowl- edge that there is some shortage of the fertilizer supply but with the understanding that there will be no general shortage in the sup ply of seed or of farm machinery which is necessary in the production of the wheat crop. It is understood also that ample transportation fa- |cilities will be provided and fair price for wheat will be established. These factors have been assumed as fixed %.and satisfactory. If any one or more fail to be adjusted in good times no person can tell how serious will be the effect on tfie total crop.
 The planting and cultivation of these increased acreages of fall sown grains calls for unusual eff fort on the part of the farmers. Plans to place at the disposal of farmers all assistance possible, are being perfected in the U. s. De- partment of Agriculture, the state colleges of agriculture, and other state and local agencies which CO., operate in farming matters. The assistance of successful growers of wheat and rye in campaign to turn out bumper crops in 1918 is assured
 The state officials will do their utmost to get the acreages expected of their states into the ground. The program as originally worked out by the federal department of agriculture called for somewhat more than 44,000,000 acres to be sown this fall. When this proposal was presented to the officials of the several states further in crease was considered possible and dsirable by them. As consequence the recommendation for the sowing of 47,337, ,O00 acres is made.
 Following is a summary of the department recommendations re- garding winter wheat and rye:
 WHEAT.
 The planting of approximately 47,337,000 acres of winter wheat, on the basis of the average yield for