The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-08
CROPS IN KANSAS
q. 8. Department of Agriculture
Report in Detail.
Winter Wheat IS Per Cent or
97,114,OOO Bushels Here.

The regular monthly report Oh the
United States department of agricul-
ture on Kansas crop conditions as OF
June 1 issued today by Edward c.
Paxton, field agent, says:
Winter Wheat-The condition OF
Kansas winter wheat on June l is es,
timated to be rs per cent OF normal
or per cent less. than on May l. FMS
, condition indicates a prospective yield
of 14.43 bushels per acre or 9F,1I4,-
600 bushels of wheat on the 6,43O,0OO
acres left for harvest. The crop is
so close to harvest and moisture at
present SO ample that at least this
large a production is likely to be real
| lied. The years 1914 and 1915 are the
only ones in which Kansas has ex-
ceeded this production In some OF
| the counties in the western two-thirds
of the state and in the northeastern
section the wheat suffered severely
| from the strong winds in the middle
| of May. The heavy rains the last
| week of May have, however, greatly
| improved the outlook. No Hessian
| fly is reported and but scattered and
slight infestation of chinch bug.
| Present indications are that the as
SCISSORS returns will show that
| much larger acreage Of wheat was
sown in eastern third of the state than
was estimated last fall. This is par
ticu1arly gratifying because Of the
|
the state are universally good and ex-
| cellent yields are in prospect.
| Spring Wheat-Altho little spring
| wheat is grown in the state and that
in restricted area in the northwest,
the acreage this year is considerably
increased. Counties not hitherto grow
ing this crop are known to have Sown
two or three car loads last spring. 1t
| is estimated that the state sowed ST.
600 acres this year. The condition is
rated at "a per cent of normal. indi-
eating a yield of 1918 bushels per
acre and a production of $4,000 bu-
shells, to add to Kansas total wheat
crop this year.
Oats-Preliminary estimates, to be
| revised later, indicate a total sowing
in the state of 1921 900 acres as COM
pared with 2,2S4,000 acres last year.
OF last years crop some 10000
| acres were estimated to have been
sown on abandoned wheat land and
as the abandonment of wheat this
year was only about half as great as
last, the acreage of oats has been
slightly reduced. Much of the aban-
doned wheat this year was west of the
line where oats is grown successfully.
With the exception of a few counties
In the northeast, most of the eastern
half of the state sowed an increased
acreage Of oats, but this acreage was
not on abandoned wheat land. The
condition of oats is almost universally
good and greatly improved by recent
rains. 1t is rated as 81 per cent of
normal and production of 81, 800, 900
bushels is forecasted. This is almost
as large as last years crop of 7o,s04,.
600 bushels, which was the record for
the state.
Barley-The average condition of
barley In the state is 80 per cent of
normal and it is estimated that 100
ooo acres were sown this year as COM
pared with 10000 acres last year.
AS was the case year ago, much of
tne barley was sown on abandoned
wheat land and there will be no as
SCISSORS returns by which to check
the acreage accruing from this
source. Because there was less aban-
doned wheat than last year the acre
age mas been somewhat reduced. A
crop of 14,400,000 bushels is fore
casted as compared with last years
production of 100000 bushels.
COMMUNICATIONS are that the
acreage will be largely reduced from
last year because of the increased
acreage OF wheat and oats in the east
ern half of the state and because less
abandoned wheat land will be sown
to this crop. Considerable difficuItv
has been experienced in obtaining a
stand ana much replantfng necessary
weak SEED, cool weather in the early
planting season, and dry windy wealth
er Tor two weeks in May were very
detrimental to termination and
growth. At present the crop is pro.
crossing favorably. Planting is al
most complete but estimates on acre
age and percentage of condition will
not be made till July /.
Hay and Pasture-An hay con.
sidered, the condition on June 1 was
IS per cent of normal and 4,25O.oO(
tons production forecasted, compared
with s,261,000 tons last year The
first crop OF alfalfa was injured b1
the snow and freezes during early
growth and retarded by the droutf
OF middle May. It is quite general,
lighter than the first cutting a veal
ago. The condition of alfalfa on june
l was 81 per cent normal Thousand.
of acres over the state were injured
by the rains during harvest at the enc
of May. With the exception of the
northeast. district. pastures have great
ly improved since a month ago. The
condition is exceptionally good in ths
long grass region centering in Green
wood county.
Apples-Cold, damp weather durinf
! the early blossoming season, prevent