The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-10
WHEAT OUTLOOK
ABOVE AVERAGE
/. IN THIS STATE
Prospects Are For IS Per Cent
Yield as Against 70 Per
Cent July l, 1917
DROUTH HAS HURT MUCH
But for June Dry Spell Yield
Would Have Broken All
Records, Says Expert
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE unS
Bureau Of Crop Estimates
A. J. Surratt, North Dakota Field
Agent

Grand Forks, N. D., July 1O-Ac-
cording to the government crop report
issued today by the U, S. Bureau OF
Crop estimates, the North Dakota
crop outlook on July l, was about
average with the exception of rye, hay
and pastures which were noticeably
poorer. Flax and potato acreage
shows little change, from year ago
but corn acreage is heavily decreased
Drought Hurt.
Owing to prolonged June drought
the excellent June I crop outlook has
suffered a severe setback especially
in the western third of the state. June
rainfall was unusually hight and un-
even ranging in the general way from
nearly three-quarters Of normal in
eastern counties to as low !. or
lower than a quarter of normal in
several western counties. Earlier
favorable climatic conditions devel-
Oped too heavy top growth OF grains
to be supported by the small amount
Of subsoil moisture over most of the
state during the latter part Of June.
Crops began going back daily. Dam
age was most severe III western sec
tons, especially northwestern coun-
ties where grain fields show scattered
spots that are already fired. Prospects
exceptionally. favorable as rule in
southeastern part of state, but owing
to the uneven rainfall crop conditions
over the entire state are beginning to
show more orr less spotted appear
ance. Generally speaking the outlook
tapers off from nearly normal in the
eastern counties to less than half a
crop in western counties. Outlook be-
comes rapidly poorer as one passes
into the western third of the state.
The above conditions are especially
true Of wheat, oats and barley. State
barley conditions somewhat better
than wheat or oats as the acreage is
prop0rtionally heavier in the eastern
or more favorable part OF the state.
Rye. .ts
Rye outlook similar to other crops
Is better in eastern than in western
counties. Condition is very spotted
and shows marked reduction from
the very moderate prospect of last
month due to drought The long dry
spell caused poor pollination as
numerous heads are either, poorly
filled or not at ALL Numerous plants
apparently died during the towering
stage for lack of subsOif moisture, es-
pecially where the soil was very hard
or on higher parts OF fields. Bulk OF
damage reports range from to 20
per cent. This crop seems to have
been continuous victim OF hard luck
since it was sown last fall. Unless
carly July rains improve the rye
plants vitality North Dakota rye pro-
duction will Show further heavy
curtailment. III. ....
Flax acreage, about the same as
year ago. The fax belt usually To-
Gated in the central and western sec
tons especially the southwestern
quarter of the state shows from 5 to
20 per cent decrease with few excep-
tons. This loss is just about offset
by the unusual increase in the eastern
half of the state Winter loss to
numerous tame pasture and hay fields
was so severe that number OF these
fields were plowed down and soWn to
fax in this area A small amount OF
the plOwed down rye acreage was also
sown to fax. Several communities
in the eastern part of the state, most
noticeable in the northeastern coun-
ties, have at least doubled their flax
acreage of year ago or slightly more.
Flax condition is above average for
the state as whole Especially ia
vorable in the eastern half OF the state
where numerous fields are in bloom.
About 20 per cent of the state acre
age located in the western sections
especially the southwestern is very
spotted as it was sOWn too late to ger
inmate evenly and is notlceably pc
low average. nm ses
Potatoes.
Potato acreage shows little change
from last season. Majority OF heavier
producers in the Grand
Forks and Fargo districts nave de-
creased their acreage due to the -4apor
situation and increased their wheat
acreage. This decrease, however, IS
Offset by the increase in potato acre
age in the. remainder OF the state.
Potato condition for the state is above
average but similar to other crops is
inclined to be below average in west
ern sections due to dry weather.
Corn.
Corn acreage shows from 10 10 20
per cent decrease quite generally IN
the state. Labor situation, unfavor.
ably cool planting season, lack OF ana
high price of good North Dakota
grown seed and unsatisfactory corn
crops the past few seasons are OF the
CHER causes of this decrease. Ma
tional call for heavier wheat acre.
age also worked a disadvantage tot
corn acreage. Warm weather during
latter part Of June brought corn up
from a very backward condition to
nearly average at the close of the
CutWorm damage has been
unusually severe. this season quite
generally. Considerable replanting
necessary and in few instances dam
age has been so severe that fields have
been resown to millet.
Hay and Pastures.
Hav and Pastures outlook is be-
low average for the state and IS pc
coming especially short along the
northern counties and in the western
half of the state. Numerous tame hay
fields especially timothy showed 81
ner cent or, more loss from winter
killing. Part of this acreage loss has
been made UP by new seeding. Other
fields noticeably thin to the extent
that yields will be very light. A large