The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-09
Government Estimates for
May Show Barely Enough
for Home Use.
PREDICT SMALLEST
YIELD IN 13 YEARS
Figures Show Winter Wheat
Over Hundred Million
Less Than 1916.

Washington, May S.--Official wheat
crop estimates announced today show
that with the world facing II bread
shortage the United States, unless it
cuts it's present consumption. prob
ably will produce only enough wheat
this year to supply it's own population.
The forecast. compiled by the de-
partment of agriculture on conditions
May I, put this country's winter wheat
yield at $1,000 900 bushels, the small
est in l3 years.
There will be no estimate of spring
wheat acreage until July. but with
higher than the average, this country
would grow this year total of only
GIG, 100000 bushels. the normal Amer
lean consumption with seed require
ments is put at slightly more than
600 O00.0O bushels.
Below Five.Year Average.
The country's greatest spring wheat
crop was 352,00O,O0O bushels, produced
in 1915. The five-year average from
1910 to 1914 is 234.O00,oOO. The esti-
| mated production this year of 66,O00,-
| 900 bushels of winter wheat falls 49,
| 900. 900 bushels short of last years poor
crop and 30s,0O0,O0O below that of 1915,
a bumper crop. 1t is 129,O00,O0O BUSH
els less than the average for the pre-
ceding five years.
| Reserve stocks this year are said to
be lower than at any previous time
at this season. The visible supply is
put now at 30,OO0,OOO bushels, with a
somewhat larger visible stock. The
lowest visible stocks ever reported in
the United States We're 100000 on
July I, two years ago. When harvest
ing of the new crop begins in July of
this year. it is estimated that the re-
serve will be even lower than that.
| The allies wheat requirements for
the coming year are put at 1000 o0C
bushels as a minimum. The United
States will &C asked to supply more
than half that amount. Wheat crops
in other parts Of the world are poor
The Argentine crop failed and home
consumption will require the entire
yield. Canada's production is confined
chiefly to spring crop of normally
about 2OOoOO.Ooo bushels. much OF
which is available for export.
Since the war started, America has
eXported to Europe vast quantities o.
wheat. reaching a high mark of 332,,
10000 bushels in 1915. Last year thu
total fl to 243,O00, 900 bushels. Befor.
the war it ran slightly less than 100,
100000 bushels.
! In statement accompanying its re-
port today. the agriculture department
declared that although the winte
wheat crop condition is the poorest OF
record. crop conditions otherwise ar
favorable.
THE extent of plowing and rlantin,
done by May l." the statement said
was above the average. In 1912 tn
winter wheat crop fell below 400, 900,
900 bushels. the lowest since 1904. bu
notwithstanding this low production O
winter wheat, the spring wheat crop
and total production Of all crops i
that year was the largest on record.
> The department is making every ef
fort to educate the American people t
a greater use of cornmeal for bread
Department officials believe Americ
must turn to corn to release whea
l for shipment abroad If the allies ar
to be fed and Germany is to be de
feated.
Hoover Urges Food Department.
f Herbert c. Hoover, chairman of th
k food committee Of the Council of Ma
tional Defense. who is strongly in ia
vor of a more limited use OF wheat
this country. appeared before the ser
= ate agricultural committee today ar
y urged a separate department of II
q government to deal with the food que.
+ ton. He recommended absolute go,
n ernment control of certain staples. pa
f ticularly grain and sugar. He ask'
, i prompt action on the administration
h food bills.
~ Capitalization Of food CONTROL Nj
Hoover told the committee. is viti
n Europe. he said. had found maximu
# price fixing a failure. but minimu
!, price fixing has had success.
"a, The bills advocated by MIR. Hoov
CONTINUED on Pare Seyonl