The Ordway new era., 1918-02-22
Outlook Good For
Larger Colorado
Beet Acreage

State Food Administrator Appeals
To growers-guarantee beet price
favorable factor.
Under date of January 25 Thomas
B. Stearns, Federal Food Admins
traitor for Colorado, sent out an ap-
peal to all beet growers of Colorado
to increase theii beet acreage in
1913. The appeal is urgent and di-
rect, and asks for Sacrifice in every
direction to comply with this re-
quest"
SHORTAGE DANGER EMPHASIZED
1t calls attention to the fact that
France is rationing to 90 per cent of
normal, or 13 pounds per person
yearly, as against &C pounds con-
sumed in the United States; that
England has taken similar measures
and that Italy is practically without
sugar supplies; and points out that
this places a very great burden on
the United States and that unless the
beet growers of this country respond
to the demands of the situation the
consequent shortage will be very
serious. 1t is too early to judge
what effect the appeal will have.
A number of influences are work
ing toward increased beet acreage
in Colorado. The instability of price
for beans, potatoes and lambs is re-
acting in favor of beets. There are
70, 900, 900 pounds of last years har-
vest of beans in Colorado that have
not been marketed. The price of po-
tatoes is not at all satisfactory to po-
tato growers and the price of lambs
has been disappointing. The guar
antee prices for sugar beets are to be
depended upon and many who were
hesitant before are deciding to grow
beets. The contracts thus far signed
up by the Great Western and the
American Beet Sugar companies in
dicate that there will be an increase
in acreage.
MANY LEASES EXPIRING
Many of the three-year leases in
this state will expire in March. 1918.
As these will have to be renewed an
ether veritable factor enters into es-
timates. The sugar companies are
advocating five-year leases. recon-
mending that they begin the middle
of February.
There is growing sentiment
among the people of Colorado of ap-
probation of the Importance of the
sugar industry, which is twice as
large as any other industry in the
state. This is reacting favorably to-
ward increased production. The fact
that Colorado has sixteen sugar fac
tories and that the farmers in 1917
received S14.000.000 for beets ap-
peals to state pride.
Just at present certain politicians
OF the state are trying to make DO
litical capital out OF. the agitation
among the growers for higher prices
for beets. The Non-Partisan Voters
league is gaining some strength and
L., o. ~, tI1 cit
are evidences that interests identi-
fed with certain eastern refiners are
endeavoring to discourage the sugar
industry of this state.
The Greelev Tribune reports the
results of survey made by COM
mittee of twenty members of the
Farmers Union showing that the
gross receipts for beets in Weld coun-
tv for 1917 were $95.50 per acre.
This committee reported that the av-
crage cost of making the sugar beet
crop was $3.50 per acre. leaving
net profit to growers of $42.70 per
acre for 1917.
The average crop in Colorado for
1917 was twelve tons per acre, but
in some years II has approximated
fifteen tons. and by some growers
more. The average Weld of wheat
is about fifteen bushels per acre;
on irrigated land 1t will average
higher than that. but the net profits
per acre are not as great as they
arc with beets.
The average Weld of 100000 acres
of beets ordinarily grown in Colorado
has been about as follows: Fifty per
cent of the acreage yields eleven to
sixteen tons per acre; rs per cent
yields sixteen-plus tons per acre; 25
per cent yields less than eleven tons