New-York tribune., 1918-05-09
May Report Forecasts VIM
ter Crop of 572,539,000
Bushels
Secretary Houston
Praises Farmers
Food Outlook Good, but
Cities Are Urged to
Aid Producers

WASHINGTON, May Slope for
the billion bushel wheat crop, for
which the government is striving this
year, was strengthened to-day by the
Department of Agriculture's May crop
report forecasting production OF
572,539, 900 bushels OF winter wheat.
Secretary Houston in a statement
tonight said there was every reason to
anticipate increased farm yields this
year over the record production of last
year. lie added however, that the
promise did not warrant relaxed eff
forts for greater production and for
greater conservation, and called upon
the people of towns and cities to real
ize that the farmer cannot work mir
acles. and lend him the assistansce
needed at harvest time.
Wheat Making Good Progress
Realization of winter crop as large
as that forecast would place this years
harvest of that grain as the third larg
est ever gathered. The estimate is
12,500 900 bushels more than forecast
in April from conditions then existing
and 154,400,000 bushels more than the
crop harvested last summer. On con-
ditions from now until harvest time
will depend whether the crop will be
larger or smaller than to-day's forecast
based on conditions May i. In the
week since then generally favorable
weather for wheat development con-
tinued, and the crop has made excel
lent progress in all principal producing
areas.
Efforts have been made to stimulate
production of spring wheat, and pre-
llminary reports indicate an increase
in the acreage of that crop, which may
be sufficient under good growing con-
ditions to bring the total wheat pro-
duction this year we'll toward the
billion bushel mark No official re-
port has yet been made on the acre
age of spring wheat. The first an
nouncement will be made in June. Re-
ports indicate the seed already planted
has terminated we'll generally
Record Rye Production
Rye production will be record. the
forecast of the crop being S2,620,00O
bushels, or 22,000,00O bushels more
than last years crop.
with favorable weather and with
q supplement OF man power from the
towns and cities to help in farm tasks
of particular strain, especially in
harvesting" said Mr.. Houston's state
ment, "there is every reason to antici-
pate increased yields of farm prod
ucts this year over the record pro-
duction last year. but the promise for
the future does not in the least war
rant relaxed efforts both for greater
production and for greater conserva-
tion. The increase should be reas-
suring to consumers and a matter of
encouragement to farmers that they
can again overcome difficulties. There
is a continuing need for large supplies
of food and feed products, rot only
for our own population, but for the
Allies in Europe, who will depend more
and more on this country.
Praises the Farmers.
"The farmers last year responded
generously to the patriotic appeal of
the President, the Department of Agri-
culture, the state colleges of agricult-
ure and other public agencies. by
planting and harvesting the largest
acreage in crops on record in this
country. Since last July the depart
ment, in cooperation with the agricult-
ural colleges and other state and To-
cal organizations, has labored unceas-
ingly to maintain and, if possible, to
increase in 1918 the record acreages
of 1917, with necessary adjustments
especially to provide for larger pro-
ductions of wheat and other bread
grains which are most needed.
"The indicated increased acreage in
food crops this year over the record
crop of 1917 is gratifying. An increase
over the record for peace times would
have been striking, in view of all the
difficulties. The vigorous efforts of the
farmers evidence their patriotic deter
mination to help win the war;
Cities Must Aid Farmers.
Reports indicate that in order to
plant larger acreages with less help
than ever before farmers are working
from early dawn until black darkness,
utilizing to the fullest capacity all
power and machinery and setting an
example of extraordinary exertion and
efficiency which might we'll be followed
in other essential industries. The
work OF the farmers and of the agri-
cultural agencies is not spectacular and
does not catch the public eye, but it is
nevertheless unceasing and reflective
and Is as vitally important as any other
service rendered in the nation in this
emergency.
Farmers have done and will con-
tinue to do their part. They have
planted, generously. They will need
the assistance~in in cultivation and har-
vesting of many additional laborers.
The critical factors in crop production
after planting will be weather and
labor. Weather is beyond human con-
troll, but the necessary labor for culti-
vatlng and harvesting the food crops
piap1eo py the farmers of this country
must be supplied when and where most
needed. A''''