Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-04-03
MORE WHEAT IS
!. GOOD BUSINESS
State Food Administration Issues
Call for Larger Acreage Both
for Profit and Patriotism.
SAYSWHElE:ATP R|CE: SIRE
Besides, a Big Crop Means Backing
the Eoys Who Have Been Sent
TO the Front to Fight.


TO the Front to Fight.
The Federal Food Administra tion
for Minnesota is issuing a call for a
larger acreage of spring wheat It
makes the following statement of
world needs the basis for the call:
The United States, Canada, and the
Allies england, Fra ce, Italy and Bel
gium) in 1917 produced 400,000,O00
bushels less wheat than they needed.
Shipping is so limited and so badly
needed for other products that wheat
cannot be brought from more distant
points where there is a surplus such
as Argentina, Australia and India. This
has made very rigid economy in the
use OF wheat necessary. It is not likely
the Allies can produce more in 1915
than IN 1917 because their production
has continually decreased since the
war began SO that in 1917 they pro-
duced 150,000,000 bushels less than
their average production for five years
before the war. If they produce as
much in 1918 as in 1917 they will need
to import between 550,00O000 and $780,
100000 bushels to- supply normal de-
mands. The United States is about
$500 miles from England and France;
Argentina IS about $500 miles dis
tant; India is about 10000 miles away:
and Australia 1850 miles 1t is evil
dent then that if there is any scar
city of Slips, the more wheat surplus
we have in the United States the
better it will be for all concerned.
The Outlook in the United States.
In 1917 the United States produced
about 650,000,000 bushels with sur
plus of about 50,000,000 bushels above
own needs. In 1917 the winter
wheat belt produced 41S,000,000 BUSH
els and the spring wheat belt pro-
duced 232,000,000 buSlels. The out
look for winter wheat last December
l indicated a proba BILE yield of $780,
100000 bushels. 1t may be more, or
less. At any rate much more
spring wheat will be needed than can
be produced so that every acre of land
II tne spring. wheat belt that is suit.
able for spring wheat and that can
be handled reasonably we'll should be
seeded to that crop. It, of courses is
not wise from the standpoint of the
individual farmer to SOW wheat on
land that will produce a materially
better crop of something else or SOW
wheat on farm not equipped to han
die the crop economically.
Prices and Profits.
The S2.17 per bushel guaranteed
price for 1918, is high enough to
make the growing of wheat decidedly
profitable with fair crop. 1t would
seem, in view Of this fact that the
outlook for raising wheat on good
wheat land is as promising as the
outlook for any other crop and be-
sides this, the patriotic appeal to
furnish bread for the millions who
need it, is very strong It is doubt
Hl1l If the farmers Of the Northwest
ran make a greater contribution to
!hHir country, or to humanity gener-
Wy, than to grow wheat.
Wheat Looks Most Surely Profitable.
1t is the opinion of Andrew Boss,
Vice Director of the Minnesota, Tx
pertinent Station, that wheat looks
ike the most surely profitable srain
:rop this year. He states: 1.-THE high
price of oats and barley at the pres
INT time, however, is likely to bring
IN increased acreage of these crops at
Re expense of the wheat crop. Farm
Frs Will do well to consider the DOS
;ibilities OF profit from these crops
before changing the acreage materi-
lily. The average yield of wheat in
Minnesota for the last 10 year per-
cd was 1875 bushels an acre, at $500
/ bushel, which is about the price
hat the average Minnesota farmer can
expect to net for this years crop, this
would bring a return of 5000 an acre.
Fhe average yield of oats for the same
period was 30.S bushels. TO bring
i2700 an acre, oats would need to sell
at 87.9 cents bushel this year. The
average yield of barley for the same
10 year period was 1876 bushels. To
bring $27.00 an acre, barley would need
to sell at $114 bushel. While oats
IRE bringing something over 80 cents
now, and barley is much higher than
s1.14, it is not probable that present
prices will be maintained if normal
crop of the small grains is secured,
especially if corn should prove to be
a good crop. That is why wheat looks
the most surely profitable. grain crop.
BARLEY and oats must compete with
corn as a feed crop. Farmers will
prefer to feed corn if It is available.
The consequence will be that barley
and oats will shrink in price more
quickly than wheat. Corn probably
would be a keener competitor for
wheat than the small grains were it
no** for the seed shortage. If this is
over come corn may yet crowd wheat