Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-29
WHEAT CROP OF
NEBRASKA HANGS
IN THE BALANCE
University Experts, Farmers
and Grain Men Hold Meet
ing and Discuss Condi-
tions in the State.
MUCH DAMAGE REPORTED
Steps Taken to Get Spring
Wheat for Reseeding Where
Plant Is Winter Killed.
MORE CORN TO BE PLANTED
TO SECURE SPRING WHEAT.

TO SECURE SPRING WHEAT.
A committee of the Omaha
Grain Exchange will be charged
with the duty of securing such
spring wheat as may be available,
starting for the most promising
sources of supply at once.
All transportation lines pledge
prompt uninterrupted service for
any shipments of spring wheat
sought to be moved from such
sources.
Farmers wanting spring wheat,
communicate with secretary of
Omaha Grain exchange. Wheat
will be furnished at cost, approxi-
mately at $3.50 per bushel in car
lots f. o. b. Omaha.
The University Of Nebraska
will cooperate in giving out in
formation in regard to re-seeding
of damaged fields.
The foregoing was the result of ;
meeting of soil experts of the Uni
versity of Nebraska, Nebraska farm
ers, Omaha grain men, railroad off
cials and bankers held at the Omaha
Grain exchange yesterday afternoon
called for the purpose of considering
the wheat crop conditions in the state
The Omaha meeting was attended
by 200 prominent business men and
farmers and was presided over by F
L. Haller, who spoke of the outlook
for winter wheat, asserting that
from what information he could
gather the plant, especially through
the South Platte country, had been
seriously damaged. He urged quick
action and cooperation with the
farmers in their efforts to re-seed
their fields.
Conditions Are Bad.
Chancellor Avery OF the Nebraska
University asserted that conditions in
the South Platte country are very
bad, so far as the winter wheat is
concerned, and that unless speedy
action is taken the outlook for a
wheat crop this season is very bad.
He asserted that the university stands
ready to do everything in its power
to cooperate with the farmers in aid
ing them to get in crop to take
the place Of the wheat that is badly
damaged or is a total loss. He knew
that the farmers would welcome sug-
gestions, if wisely made.
Professor Burr of the university
told of having visited numerous fields
of the state experimental stations and
his estimate that the damage to the
wheat, by reason of weather and eli
matte conditions, would be 50 to 80
per cent. The area where the damage
is the greatest, he said, is through the
southern counties of the state and
east of Holdrege, in some instances
extending as far north as line drawn
through Central City.
Many Fields Dead.
The professor told of examining
fields between Omaha and Lincoln
and in many of them the winter wheat
was all dead, while in others it would
run close to go per cent.
Professor Burr contended that if
weather conditions continued favor
able spring wheat could be .sown, but
his judgment was that there is but
little available in the state. He
thought corn could be planted and
that the profit would be large, as
everything points TO the prices con-
tinuing high.
Dean Burnett of the university
thought that crop OF spring wheat
could be sown with good results il
seed could be secured quickly, but ad-
vised against sowing much after the
irst week in April, especially in the
southern part Of the state.
Shortage of Horses.
Prof. Chase told of having visited
| large number of winter wheat fields
md that in most of them the wheat
,lants failed to show any signs of life.
He advised planting to other crops.
,ut contended that the lack Of power
vas the obstacle that confronted the
Continued on Page Two, Column TwO.)