New-York tribune., 1918-08-06
Canada Wheat Cron
May Be Only Hall
OF Promised Yield
1000, 900 More Acres Ars
Planted, but Drouth and
Wind Wreak Havoc

Especial Correspondence Of Tho Tr;bs,.,
TORONTO, Aug. 5.-The bright hons.
held out late in the spring for
bumper yield of wheat in Canada hav.
been damped Subsequent weather
conditions proved destructive to III.
growing fields over extensive area, IN
Western provinces. and in Ontario
which is principally winter wheat
province, an unfavorable winter cut the
prospective yield in two. As result
the best informed authorities antic.
pate that Canada will raise barely lso.
100000 bushels. The relative small
ness of this volume may be Judged
from the fact that last year Canada
raised 249,OOOO00 bushels; in 1915.
221, 100000 bushels, and in 1915 high
record crop of 379,000000 bushels.
In response to the strong appeal Of
the Food Board of Canada. the farmers
of the country planted 100000 acres
more wheat than was put in last wear
For a time tie young plant promised
we'll. Some two months ago large see.
tIons of the prairies were visited bv
severe drouth and terrific winds, which
devastated wide areas This partial
disaster was followed by rains, which
revived the hopes of farmers for
time. Subsequently, however. extend.
ed drouth over most of the central
and southern portions of the three
prairie provinces served TO lay wasts
further large areas. The farmers ex.
pected a yield of at least 3OO.000OOO
bushels. They will harvest barely half
that amount.
Seed Wheat Will Be Scarce
So serious are conditions in large
sections of the Middle West that many
farmers will be forced to buy seed
wheat for planting next spring.
The small crop will leave a relatively
small surplus for export. probably be.
tween 50000,000 and 10000 900 bushels
A contribution from Canada for export
of at least 20O000,00O bushels is
urgently needed to feed the soldiers
and our European allies.
The small yield Will also have
direct effect on domestic economic
conditions. The loss of some 10000
600 bushels of wheat represents re-
duction in revenues to farmers this
season of no less than $500 600 900 In
the first place, this will react on gen.
eral business. Fortunately the farm
ers have prospered during the past
three years, so that serious financial
troubles will be obviated. Generally
speaking, farmers have more than
sufficient financial reserves to carry
them through another year. Neverthe.
less, the buying power of the country
will be definitely reduced.
The small harvest in prospect will
also have a bearing on the impending
Victory Loan campaign. The Ottawa
government has been figuring on
generous contribution to the next war
loan by the farming community,
especially of western Canada The
farmers will still be able to buy war
bonds on a liberal scale, but if as
large loan as the last one is to be
raised every person in the Dominion
who is able will have to buy war
bond.
Live Stock Outlook Bad
Drouth in the Canadian West Is
also injuring the pastures. In recent
years prairie farmers have been going
more into mixed farming, with re-
suit that rapidly growing live stock
industry has been established. Be-
cause the pastures have been burned
up IN the numerous and extensive
Tancnes OF the central and southern
portions of Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and Alberta, both cattle and hogs, in
many cases in an unfinished condition,
have been pouring into Western stock
yards. The result is that prices have
receded. Fortunately, liberal mar
ket exists IN the United States for
Canadian cattle at prices that are still
profitable. How long the market will
stand up against the pressure Of re-
ceipts, however, is uncertain.
One Of the largest packing concerns
in Canada. which has extensive ranch
ing interests in the West, in southern
sections, has been forced because Of
shortage of pastures, to ship some 49,.
900 head Of cattle north, into the Peace
River. District. where pastures are
abundant.
The yield Of coarse grains IN the
West will be affected by drouth, With
the result that there will be a shortage
of feeding grains. II is not unlikely,
therefore, that there will be q serious
depletion of herds this fall and win
ter. While the immediate results Of
heavy marketings of live stock will in.
evitably mean a break in prices, the
ultimate effect will be the Opposlte.