The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-05-09
Condition OF Wheat

Condition OF Wheat
A possible 60,OO0,OOO bushels, the
greatest winter wheat crop since the
record breaking yield of 1915, together
with a probable increase of Is per cent
in the acreage of spring wheat - that
is the forecast made in report on the
condition of winter wheat issued today
by the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States through its Committee
on Statistics and Standards.
"The present acreage now standing
in winter wheat" says the report" is
20 per cent greater than the acreage
at the same time in 1917. But the
greatest promise of high yield of win
ter wheat is found in the general high
condition of the wheat, condition
which has improved steadily since the
first of April.
Estimates of coming yields are al
WAYS uncertain because of the possible
vieissitudes of weather and depreda
tions of insect enemies. But the crop
has come through the trying month of
J March with a higher condition than it
entered it, and with moderately favor
able weather from now on there is
promised a production of at least Co.,
100000 bushels. 1t may go as high as
650,000,00O bushels if all goes well. -
On the subject of spring wheat the
report says: "There is little to be said
of spring wheat, but that little is most
Encouraging. Seeding is nearly com
lpleted and under most favorable cOndi
tions. One of the most important of
which is the large amount of moisture
in the sub soil The outlook is for an
increased acreage over last year Of
about 10 per cent. The increase is so
large in Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebras-
ka, that it reads like the operations of
an adding machine. Where the plant
is up the condition is excellent"
The report continues, with reference
to winter wheat, "the striking improve
ment in the condition Of the growing
crop is general, save the usual eXcep
tons here and there which fortunately
fail to affect the general total
"The prospect in Michigan does not
compare we'll with that of her neigh
boring States because of an unfavor-
able start in the fall, followed by win
ter killing and dry weather well into
the spring. Recent rains, however,
have greatly helped matters. Ohio and
Indiana had somewhat the same exper.
fence; and in consequence they have
some plowed up fields. Both of these
states have come back strong because
of recent abundant rains. The Middle
States are III much the same condition
as last year.
"The South will raise more winter
wheat than ever before. 1t will raise
at least 25ft of all the winter wheat
grown in this country. Texas and Ok.
lahoma alone will fall somewhat behind
last years production, because of pro-
longed drought and cold high winds
which blew the soil away from the
plants and left the roots exposed to
the long and bitter cold of last winter.
These same winds did some damage in
Colorado and Nebraska, and much in
the northern part of Kansas
"Among the Southern States, Arkan-
sas in particular, has learned to raise
wheat and likes it, as this year S yield
will demonstrate. Illinois, Missouri,
Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, will have
bountiful crops. Kansas should double,
and Nebraska triple, last years pro-
duction, if the weather goes well and
predatory insects be absent.
"Throughout the West and North
west to the Pacific the general story is
of a largely increased acreage and
generally high condition. The percen.
tage of abandoned acreage is very
small, especially as compared with a
year ago. There is some in Michigan,
Indiana, Ohio, more in Oklahoma, par.
ticularly In the southwestern and north.
western portions, good deal in Texas,
and a large quantity in Kansas, al
though what is left in the latter state
is nearly double that harvested last
season. There are no records any.
| where of insect damaua -
Conditions in Canada are reported as
excellent. Favorable weather and ear.
ly seedinging conditions there forecast
an unprecedented acreage of spring
wheat. In short, we shall doubtless
have wheat. The real job will be to
get it to Europe. The rift in the Lutte
is ships.