New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-08-02
PLANTING LIBERTY
HARVEST FOR 1919
Farmers Urged to Plant 45,OOO,-
900 Acres to Wheat

Washington, D. c., Aug. "A ma
tional plan for q great liberty wheat
harvest IN 1919 is announced by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture. American farmers are asked
to sow to winter wheat this fall not
less than 100000 acres-an in
crease of I per cent over last years
sOWlng-and the department suggests
that an even greater area, approx
mately 47,500,000 acres-an increase
OF more than II per cent over last
year-could be soWn if conditions are
especially favorable in all the states
and would better meet the needs of
the allied nations at war.
From the smaller acreage a har-
vest of 636 million bushels might be
expected, it is estimated, and from
the larger acreage 667 millions, based
upon an average yield of 1877 bushels
an acre and an abandonment of 10
per cent of the area soWn on account
of winter kill. The plan fixes def
mite acreages by states, and in a cam
paign to be launched Immediately by
the department and the state agricul
tural colleges and leading farmers
throughout the country, growers will
be asked to make good their state
ing the planting of spring wheat and
other spring crops and regarding i've
stock will follow later.
The total acreages 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 win
ter wheat acreage is suggested, it is
planned correspondence to reduce
the spring wheat acreage. Winter
wheat is safer crop and produces
a larger yield per acre, so the ex-
change is desirable in sections where
this is practicable. The unusual
weather conditions of the last two
years are responsible for the in
creased acreage of spring wheat this
year in some sections where winter
wheat usually is more extensively
grown.
In announcing its wheat production
program the departm ent considers the
growing needs of this country and
it's Allies for this essential food The
last crop report forecast a 1918 har-
vest of $780, 900 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
building up reserves Of wheat is eVl-
| dent. 1t is pointed out that although
| this country produced small wheat
| crop in 1917, the total exports of
| wheat in excess Of imports, includ-
5>f IE-In f.
| ed to approximately 100 million
! bushels for the year ending june 80,
1918. This is in comparison with
| 17S million bushels exported in 1917,
| 236 million bushels in 1915. and 331
| million bushels in 1915. 1t was
| only possible for the United States
| to export wheat in large quantities in
1915 and 1916 because of the large
! wheat crops of 1912-13-14-15 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 bes1oe6 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-over in all the 10 importing
| countries of Europe was practically
exhausted 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 StOr-
| age and transit may be expected to
! continue, and that it is highly de-
| sirable that surplus should be &C
| cumulated as insurance against par
tiaI crop failure next year. To pro-
| vide for these additional require
ments it is therefore extremely de-
| sirable that the maximum acreage OF
winter wheat recommended be plant
ed by the farmers in the United
States this fall.