The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-17
Complete Text of Annual Address of
Pres. WdLdrOn of Tr-Stdte Growers

further fact also that the soil over
the state Is now very deficient in
moisture, while the oat crop requires
considerable moisture, il would seem
wise to keep the Oat acreage down to
! the minimum.
! Owing TO the extreme shortage Of
seed corn in Minnesota, Wisconsin,
South Dakota, Iowa and even in IL
! linois, ohio and states further south,
the oat acreage I'm these states is
sure to be much larger than norm
! al. 1t would seem to be we'll. there
fore. TO leave the growing of oats
| largely to the regions that have more
| encouraging prospects than we have
! at this time.
A crop which requires less mois
ture than oats is emmer, commonly
| known in the northwest as speltZ.
Covering a period Of years at the
Dickinson experiment station the
yield OF cmmer was greater than that
. of oats or barley. At the WillistOn
station. on a heavier type of soil,
the yield was somewhat less than
that Of either barley or oats.
Under the present circumstances
it would seem 10 be good policy for
farmers generally to secure seed OF
this crop as soon as possible and
grow It largely in the place Of oats,
particularly upon the lighter soils.
In the eastern part Of the state and
on heavier soils generally, barley
has been a more popular crop than
emmer.
In view Of our all but hopeless
shortage Of seed corn. as between
the two crops Of oats and barley, the
advantage would seem to be alto
gether in favor Of barley.
AS between the different varieties
Of oats when there Is a prospect Of
lack Of moisture the earlier varieties,
like the sixty day and Swedish select
should be given preference over the
VsiltNe Russian and other later variet-
les
Because of it's usefulness in the
control Of wild oats and it's ability
to produce a crop on poor soil with
A minimum Of moisture, the rye
crop has made rapid Roadway in the
northwest in the last few years.
In spite OF the very dry fall Of
1917 the acreage Of winter rye for
North Dakota was greatly inCreas-
ed. Most Of the seeding was delay
ed on account OF the dry conditions
and the fall growth was very slight,
while in many instances the grain
had not terminated on the approach
OF winter. Just what these fields
will do toward making a crop re
mains to he seen. If the crop was
anything but rye we would say that
there is little hope of a crop, but
as il is we are justified in expect |
ing something. Winter rye is so
hardy that spring rye is but little
grown. In the more northern pOr-
lions Of Siberia, however. IL is one Of
the leading crops and 1t is gaining
Roadway in the colder parts OF this |
country The demand for spring rye
seed is greater in North Dakota than |
ever before. This is a good indiCa- |
ton, for while 1t Is not normally so |
high a yielding crop as barley or |
oats 1t is a safer crop to SOW on poor |
soil or very dry soil, and under the |
now existing 1t should be |
generally sOwn.
For the last fifteen years or more /
farmers have constantly been ad-
vised to grow corn and more corn. In
view Of the present seed corn situa-
ton that advice will need to he mOdi-
fed. We can't think Of giving up
the corn crop entirely even in the |
face Of conditions like the present, |
and vet because Of the hazard that /
accompanies the growing Of that I
crop in the northern ATTITUDES we /
win naturally be a little conserva
tive in the matter Of corn growing |
when there is so much at stake.
there is no danger OF the
corn acreage being over large this
year.
IF one can possibly obtain suitable
seed for even a few acres they should |
be planted and most carefully tend
ed, as a measure OF safety not only
Tor this year but the years to come.
Seed corn suitable for the north
west is sure to be high in price for
another year and probably two or
hree after this. and that fact alone
should Justify growing 1t in reason
able amount.
With prospects Of a shortage Of
moisture the flint corns should be
planted in preference to the dents.
In this as in previous years the
wheat acreage will naturally pre-
dominate. Aside from all other con-
when we take into ac-
cunt the price Of seed and the as
Jurance Of a fair price at harvest,
Is prospect as a money maker would
ieem to be equal to that OF any OF
he other farm crops.
With the experience of the last
wO years, however, there will be
many farmers that would like to
AVE some assurance that they
would at least get their money back
hat ii costs to grow the crop, to say
nothing of the eight per cent prof
t that the government guarantees to
hose engaged in industries not less
fundamentally important.
The criticism that came from GER
ain quarters when the government
xed a price Of $2.20 per bushel on
70. wheat at the terminal has
bout died out.
1t has come to be fairly well I'M !
erstood that with the high price of
abOr, machinery and other factors /
hat enter into the growing of a
Wheat crop and the industry Of :
arming generally, the price agreed I
pom will not place the farm !
T in the class Of war profiteers. I
The farmers Of North Dakota and Z
he northwest generally have always
hown their willingness to take risks 9
nd by their optimism, industry and I
heer nerve in the face Of debt, /
mall prices great privations and 9
ncertain yields, have done their ut t
most to keep production up to the
ighest point. &
Some of the farming methods have :
cen below standard and we have all | I
cen where improvements could be
lads, but improvements Of any kind I
Ost money and considering the high q
interest rates and the uncertain and I
ften inadequate prices, the farm {
rs as a whole have branched out {
bout as much as they have been
Istified in doing. c
However that may be the DISPOSE 3
on of the men who grow the grain Z
Jr the nation in it's present need I
J to do all that courage and energy
re capable Of. asking only in return 4
hat their share of profits be great +
nough that their industrial enter i
rise may not be imperilled and that I
Tiers may not reap great rewards. I
That rnI1rh has haar dnnn aud ia