The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-08-10
Big GAIN IN
ALL CROPS.
NORTH DAKOTA
So Grsp 3 ~
KS -------
Federal Agricultural Field Agent
Marks Reversal in Con.
ditions in State
PROSPECTS GOOD
Grain Ripens Nicely and Heads
Well FiIled-Rye Below the
N0rmal-Flax Average

Grand Forks, n. D., Aug 1O-Ac-
cording to the government crop report
issued today by the U. S. bureau OF
crop estimates. the outlook for North
Dakota crops on August / was near
average or better except for rye and
hay which are %noticeably poorer.
Reviewing state conditions Field
Agent A. J. Surratt says that June
drought continued up to July 20 with
exception of a few spotted rains most
~ in the eastern part OF the state.
Moderate temperatures alone prevent
ed a near failure in the western half
OF the state especially the northwest
ern counties. July rainfall while nor.
NAL DR. nearly so except in north CEN
trail counties was either normal or
nearly SO except in north central n
5. c-nti.i counties was either
largely or wholly recorded after July
20. These favorable heavy rains were
too late to materially help bulk Of rye
crop, but the recovery Of all spring
sown crops especially late crops has
exceeded all earlier expectations. IN
%aageneral way crop conditions taper
from normal or near nornl in eastern
counties to about half crop in north
western and a slightly better prospect
in southwestern counties. There IS
spotted grasshopper damage In limit
ed sections mostly west of the Mis-
souri, river. Numerous farmers are in
dustriously combating this pest with
considerable success Damage is often
severe locally but it probably will not
seriously affect state production. 10
cal hail storms were unusually severe
In narrow strips OF Vets, Stutsman
and LaMoure counties, and to some
extent in adjacent territory. Condi-
tions at the time this report was Ia
ken were directly opposite Of a month
ago, in that on June 10 with exception
Of winter rye allscrops %ere showing
a daily decline, while Oh July l all
crops with the exception OF winter rye
were showing a substantial daily i'm
provement. A continuation Of present
ideal filling as we'll as growing wealth
er will warrant considering this state
report rather conservative by the
time it reaches readers hands.
Wheat Prospect.
The above conditions are especially
true OF wheat, oats and barley. which
sho wan excellent fill. Heads are rath-
er short in western and not above
average inryeastern sections, but re-
markedly well filled with large plump
kernels. Stands are quite uniformly
good in eastern, but~both good and
poor in western half Of state. Late
acreage shows a more even and favor
able standAdue to late July rains. This
part of the crop gives very favorable
Promise and has especially improved
the farm seed outlook in the western
half Of the state. EARLY wheat, oats
and barley fields were ripening at the
close of the month and harvest is eX-
pected to be general about August IL.
Rye Below Average.
Excepting a few scattered counties
rye fields are below average and vary
sharply for the different counties &C
cording to- moisture conditins. Yields
inclined to be much more favorable in
eastern than western half of state. In
addition to rather poor p0llinati0n due
to June drought at least half Of the
state acreage representing as a rule
the earlier fields was unfavorably ef-
fected by the July drought during the
filling stage. State quality is inclined
to be below average due to part OF
the crop showing more or less shrunk-
en- kernels. Harvest was general at
the close of July with yields quite OF
ten disappointing. Spotted grasshop,
per damage to rye kernels is notice
able in southwestern counties.
Corn condition is slightly below av-
erage for the state being average or
better in southern third of the state
but becoming poorer and below aver
age from this line north. State growth
is rather backward. July weather too
dry and col for favorable corn growth.
Flax About Average.
Flax outlook is about average for
the state. Very favorable in eastern
half of the state tapering off to both
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