Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-25
A BIGGER CROP
FOR NEXT YEAR
BElNCPLANNED
Federal Dept. Of Agriculture
Proposes a IL Per Cent In
crease in Wheat Acreage :

Washington, July 25.-A national
plan for a great Liberty Wheat Har-
vest in 1919 was announced today
by the U. s. Department of Agricul-
ture. American farmers are asked to
SOW. to winter wheat this fall not less
than 45,O0O,00O acres-an increase OF
|7 per cent over last years sowing
and the Department suggests that an
even greater area, approximately
Al, 900 acres-an increase Of more
than IL per. cent over last year
could be sown, II conditions are espe-
cially favorable in all the states and
would better meet the needs of the
tAllied nations at war.
From the smaller acreage a harvest
of $50 million bushels might be ex-
pected, it is estimated, and from the
upon an average yied Of 1871 bushes
al" acre and an abandonment Of 10
per cent of the area sown on ac-
count of winter kill. The plan fixes
definite acreages by states, and in a
campaign to be launched Immediately
by the Department and the state ag-
ricultural colleges and. leading farm
ers throughout the country. growers
will be asked to make good their
regarding the planting Of spring
wheat and other spring crops and re-
garding live stock will follow later.
The total acreage assigned to the
several states, both minimum and
maximum, are shown in the accom-
panying table with the percentage OF
increase over the acreage sown last
year indicated for each state. In
some states where a .large increase OF
winter wheat acreage is suggested. II
is planned correspondingly to reduce
the spring wheat acreage. Winter
wheat is a safer crop and produces a
large yield per acre, sc the exchange
is desirable in sections where this is
practicable. The unusual weather
conditions of the last two years are
responsible for the increased acreage
Of spring wheat this year in some sec
tons where winter wheat usually is
more extensively grown.
In announcing it's wheat production
program the Department considers
the growing needs Of this country
and it's Allies for this essential food.
The last crop report forecast aA191s
harvest Of 100000 bushels OF
winter and spring wheat.
Although this forecast is gratifying
it is pointed out that the reserve sup
ply or carry-over of wheat this year
is practically exhausted and is the
smallest on record. The need OF
Ou1AoAA4S uP 4CSOA VSo VI "AASoI u eva
dent. 1t is pointed out that although
this country produced a small wheat
crop in 1917, the total exports OF
wheat in excess Of imports, includ-
ing flour in terms of wheat, amounted
to approximately 100 million bushels
for the year ending June 80, 1918
This is in comparison with 178 mill
lion bushels exported in 1917. 236
million bushels in 1916, and 331 mil
1So,, ,,C H. tn 01 E t. WOO ry1y -
sible for the United States to export
wheat in large quantities in 1915 and
1916 because of the large wheat
crops of l912-13-14-15, which gave
this country an, accumulation OF
stocks Of this grain. The 1916 and
1917 crops both were smaller than
any crops since 1911 and besides this
there was a greater demand for seed
wheat and an increasing population.
Moreover, it must be borne in mind,
says the Department, that the carry
yer in all the ten importing coun-
tries of Europe was practically ex-
hausted this year before the new
harvest; that the, normal consump-
ton requirements of the exporting
countries are increasing with the
growth of population instead Of .di-
minishing, that some losses in storage
and transit may. be expected 20 con-
tinue, and that it is highly desirable
that a surplus should be accumulated
ure next year. To provide for these
additional requirements it is there.
fore extremely desirable that the
maximum acreage of winter wheat
recommended be planted by the farm
ers in the United States this fall.
Acreage Of winter wheat suggested
for sowing in the fall of 1918, with