The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-05-09
States Returning to Bred Crop
John H. Rich Finds Cause
Il for Optimism
JOHN II. RICH

EAalSer>S desperate drive on the west
ern front has been a double offensive
| far behind the lines on the farms and
ranches Of the northwest. AS county
after county in the purely farming
sections has reported the heavy, over
subscriptions Of it's Liberty loan quota,
and as the district as a whole has
been piing up q surprising margin ov-
Ell it's official allotment, reports have
likewise been coming in which indicate
that there is not a locality that has
not joined in the heavy drive for a
record production Of crops and food
stuffs. # &, fisI.1' IN
A Montana ranchman writes that he
made up his mind last fall to turn off
one million pounds Of prime beef as
his contribution to food production for
1918, and that he is. going to make
the figure he has set. Organized work
is in progress among the stockmen to
increase the states output Of market
able livestock, and efforts are being
made to put cattle into the hands Of all
the small farmers who are qualified
and equipped to feed and finish them.
( Going in for Wheat.
J, Districts in. eastern South Dakota,
southern Minnesota and Wisconsin
that for many years have paid com.
paratively' little attention to the bread
crop; are going in heavily for wheat
and will add substantially to the dis
ltrict's production tbs year. Farmers
have welcomed the very favorable
weather of the past ten days and have
crowded flax planting to point far.
beyond any expectations 80 days ago
The western half of, the district HAS
broken an unusual amount of new
land, and is working from daylight
until dark to get it into crop. South
Dakota and southern Minnesota, both
OF which were expected to show de.
;creases in corn acreages, will plant
more heavily than has been anticipat-
ed, and some localities, at least, will
be able to bring the acreage up to
very near normal point in spite Of
the seed shortage. In every part OF
the district fine spirit Of loyalty is
being shown by the farming popula:i
ton, and the expression is everywhere
heard that, I'VE must back up the boys
with the biggest crops that have ever.
been planted. Il
Such spirit on the part Of the
farmers is far more important than
is ordinarily realized. They represent
an immense army of trained special
lists in food production. Their strength.
is equivalent to % German army di.
Divisions, or approximately 451. 900
men, for the! district as a whole. Their
farms embrace 1lS,92S,e00 acres, OF
which 70,0OO,0O0 acres may be consid-
cred as improved land which will be
devoted in very large part to crop
production this year. They are finan-
cially fortified with the active and Wig
orous support OF nearly 1900 banks
and the weak spots have been bolster
ed up by numerous county seed bond
issues, the proceeds of which are
available to stimulate crop production,
but which from present indications
will be utilized only in part and only
where it s necessary to supplement
the existing banking facilities.
4f The Northwest's Answer.
Considering the farm help that Isl
represented by those under employ
nent and by the members OF the farm
er's immediate family, it is very safe
to estimate that the onslaight of the
Kaiser's shock troops on the western
front will be answered this year in the
states BY the drive of
at least forty divisions that are. devOt
ing themselves to providing wheat
and other small grains, corn, forage,
livestock, wool, dairy products. poul.
try, and garden products for the sup.
port of the fighting forces at the front
as a contribution to our allies, and to
create safe margin of foOdstuffs for
the Ipopulation at home.
The reports by states are very en-
Montana has had very
favorable weather for spring wheat
planting, and the grain has gone IN
fully six weeks ahead Of last year.
Over the eastern half of the state
winter wheat acreageis increased ap-
80 percent, with less than
10 percent winter killed, while spring
wheat may show an increase as great
as 40 percent A large amount OF fax
has been planted on new breaking.
Rains and some snow during the past
ten days have been very beneficial
and moisture conditions are excellent.
The prospect for a record breaking
is such that representative
Montana men are now in New York
in consultation with the Federal Grain
regarding the financing
and TRANSPORTATION Of what promises