Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-03-21

The Crying Need Is for Wheat
Every citizen of our country
now appreciates fully that our
present supply of wheat is lower
than ever before in our history.
Under present war conditions
this is a serious situation be-
cause of the very important
place wheat holds as a war food.
1t constitutes about one-third
of the food supply of the mod
ern soldier. The war has made
a demand for our wheat such as
we have never before known but
just at this time when we need
vastly more wheat we have a
supply that is alarmingly less.
Many appeals have been made
to the American farmer in the
recent past to increase produc-
ton in different lines, but the
most urgent need at present.
from the farms, is a record
breaking wheat crop. A bounti-
full supply Of wheat is necessary
to win this war quickly. The
farmers of this nation are in
the battle line when they are i'm
their wheat fields Just as surely
as are our soldiers when they
are in the trenches in France.
1t has been said that the
farmers will be inclined to plant
other crops than wheat, because
the present prices Of those other
other crops are higher than the
present fixed price of wheat,
and if that condition continues
it will be more profitable to
raise other crops than to raise
wheat. but it is very doubtful if
. farmers will do this because il
is not at all certain that it will
be more profitable to raise other
, crops.
There is no fixed price on flax
barley or other cereals and big
crops of those other grains
might mean very much lower
prices, but no matter how large
, the crop of wheat the price is
t known now. There can be NJ
f losses due to glutted market:
? or delayed transportation. The
: only uncertain conditions il
! connection with growing whea
= this year are conditions ovel
4 which man has no control anC
t those conditions will affect th'
t growing of other crops the sam'
e as wheat. In these uncertain
= war times it will be much bette
: to stand on a sure thing than t
take any speculative venture.
5 Even tho it might not be q
r profitable to raise wheat as t
v raise other cereals, and alth
v wheat may be cheaper food fO
s stock than is other cereals a
y present. the farmer who raise
h morew heat for less money o
II saves wheat and feeds, wher
f possible, other grains that cos
more money will not be bearin
= a burden alone. 1t is cOstin
r the consumers of this country
q including the farmers then
i selves, more than ri million do
Y lars a day to use other food
+ and save wheat but wheat mus
= be raised and wheat must b
,r saved, regardless of cost, be
N cause wheat is now war nece'
,r sity. Farmers can do more t
Tighten this burden than anyon
J. else and with safety to then
- selves. They can do it by raj!
i, ing more wheat which will lie.
( sen the demand for substitute
,e and thereby reduce the price {
~ substitutes.
a. But the possibility of tt
ic greatest profit is not the grea
Id est thing to consider. TT
b. farmers of this state can not {
r. anything just now that w
serve their country better ths
to SOW wheat; they can not {
o. anything now that will bett
q assist to properly care for the
boys at the front than to so
re wheat; they can not do an
c. thing Just now that will relie'
od the consumers Of our countl
nd more than to SOW wheat; tn,
of can not do anything Just nc
k that will be safer for themselv
as than to SOW wheat. The imm
re, diate battle cry of the farme
IL who can grow spring whe
w should be, Sow more wheat