Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1918-02-08
SEED CORN SCARCE in
NORTHWESTERN STATES
Outlook in Stevens County Not as
Bad as in Other Counties and
States

SeeQ corn LnaL Will SermlnaCo is
very scarce in all of the Northwest
ern states and in some localities the
situation is alarming. The outlook
in Stevens county is that there is
just about enough seed corn to go
round, providing some way can be
found to get it distributed. Some
farmers have just what they need
, and others have more than they
need, which will about make things
even with those who have short
age.
Other counties are not so we'll fav-
ored and some of the adjoining states
are practically without seed corn.
Most of the corn in Wisconsin,
Minnesota, North and South Dakota
is soft. Only comparatively small
percentage will terminate, and a
still smaller percentage is what can
be called first class seed.
North Dakota is practically with
out seed corn. Only 20 per cent of
the crop in Minnesota will germin
ate.
Iowa and Nebraska seed cannot
afely be sown in this district, be-
0ause it will not produce good corn.
At best it is only good for fodder
orn and ensilage.
Farmers in these states, will there
ore, have to depend upon such seed
IS they can obtain locally. Every
armer is urged to Immediately sort
'ver his corn, selecting the good ears
md drying them. The best of the
orn is very low in terminating quail
ty. Each ear should be carefully
tored and protected, and held for
pring use.
Under no condition should corn
fit for seed be fed or sold at this
time If the farmer has surplus of
seed corn, even tho it may be only
a few bushels, he should make the
fact known and find some way to get
it on the market and into the hands
of those who need it. This matter
can be handled by the local banks,
they reporting any surplus of seed
corn to the Federal Reserve Bank
and the Reserve Bank will endeavor
to put the farmers in touch with dis
tricts where seed is urgently needed,
and where all corn fit for seed will
command an excellent price. The
price will be high enough so that
farmers will be justified in taking
pains to sort out, dry and test the
corn he has for sale.
If surplus seed cannot be obtained
in this way, there will be many local
tiles in Minnesota, North and South
Dakota that will not be able to
plant corn in the spring. Every bus
hel of seed that is not saved for
planting represents loss of from
six to seven acres of next years crop.
b In order to find out just how the
seed corn situation stands, the Ninth
District Federal Reserve Bank has
been taking a census of the quantity |
in this district. More than 10000
seed corn posters have been distri-
buted and $4,000 warnings have
been sent out, but the amount Of seed
in the district has not been disclosed.
About $4,000 bushels of tested seed
corn have been listed, but this !
represents seed for only |
100000 acres. In only a few cases
has the bank been able to locate
amounts as high as 1000 bushels.
The best reports have come from
South Dakota, particularly in the
eastern, south central and southern
portions Of the state.
Blanks are now being sent to every
part of the district where corn is
grown asking banks to report names
Of farmers who have seed corn for
sale.
1t is evident from information SO
far obtained that many farmers will
have to take a longer chance than
usual in the spring, and instead Of
combining planting to corn grown
with 100 mile radius, they will be
obliged to take whatever corn they
can get, so long as 1t is grown within
the Ninth district. This will involve
of Southern Minnesota
corn into North Dakota and corn