Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-07
Condition on Aprlr list
Per Cent of Normal Com
pared to 1873 in 1916.
MUCH OF CROP
BADLY DAMAGED
Acreage Largest in History,
But Much of it Will Have
to be Abandoned.

Washington, April IA prospec-
tive slump of more than 50,0OO,0Oo
bushels in the winter wheat crop as
compared with last years crop is the
frst war feeding problem to confront
the country. Official estimates OF the
department Of agriculture today-the
first for the 1916 harvest-forecast
that much Of a decrease although the
acreage is much greater.
Last year, 481,740,00O bushels were
harvested and 67S,s47,000 were pro-
duced in 1915. -.
Condition on April i was es;4 per
cont Of normal. compared with 1873
last year; 8S.S In 1916 and S6.2 the
ten year average. The condition de-
creased 22.3 points from December
to April compared with an average
decline of four points in the past ten
years between those dates.
Condition of rye on April / was SO
per cent Of a normal. compared with
s7.s last year; ss.5 in 1915 and ss.e
the ten-year average.
Condition of winter wheat in the
important growing states on April 1
was: Ohio. 80: Indiana. 81; Illinois,
so; Missouri, 62; Nebraska, IS; Kan
sas, As; Oklahoma. "a.
Paramount Question.
The food problem Of the coming
year being one of the most para
mount questions affecting the United
States in the war, extraordinary in
terest centered in the governments
report today showing the condition
and production forecast of the win
ter wheat crop planted last autumn.
The extent of the winter wheat
crop, usually about two-thirds of the
entire production of wheat in this
country, is vital question inasmuch
as the allies will depend to large
degree upon American supplies, and
Argentina has placed an embargo on
largest AcreaSe.
The winter wheat area last autumn
was 4O,090,000 acres, one Of the larg-
est acreages ever planted. How much
Of this acreage will have to be aban-
doned because of conditions which
prevailed during the winter has been
!, 2 cause of much speculation. Reports
from different sources reaching the
department of agriculture have indi-
Gated that there was some winter kill
ing of winter wheat in many sections.
Whether the extent Of the damage is
more than the average was uncertain.
Lack of adequate snow covering dur
ing the winter has been. reported and
prolonged and severe drought condi-
tions have followed. Much of the
winter-soWn acreage that has been
abandoned undoubtedly will be sown
to spring wheat because of the indi-
Gated shortage of the winter crop and
the prevailing high prices.
Cereal specialists Of the department
. OF agriculture are recommending to
farmers that If the crop is not more
than half killed to let it grow. Where
more than that has been killed in the
northern part Of the belt, seeding to
spring wheat is recommended, but in
the southern part of the region plant
ing Of corn is proposed.
Notwithstanding the heavy decrease
in the prospective winter wheat crops,
the production of rye is forecast by
the dept of agriculture at 6o,OOO,0OO
bushels. the largest output Of that
crop ever recorded in the United
States. Last year the production OF
rye was 47,3S3,000 bushels: in 1915
it was 54.050,000 bushels. and the
{. average Of the previous five years was
37,66S,000 bushels