Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-05-16
OUR WHEAT SUPPLY IN 1918

used. Efforts are being made to i'm
port wheat from South America, but
such plans depend upon the uncertain
quantity of arrangements with neutral
nations and there are restrictions as
to trade routes in the utilization of
these vessels.
Drive for Great Wheat Acreage.
simultaneously, a great drive is on
to increase, the 1918 crop to a sufi-
cient yield to meet domestic consump-
ton and the Allied needs next year
1t is estimated that domestic needs
for all purposes for the year begin
ming July, 1918, on the basis of nor
NAL consumption, will be about 600,-
100000 bushels. This will include the
reservation of certain stocks for seed
ing purposes. The Allies import
needs from the United States for that
period will be about 300,000,000 bush
els. Our total necessary production
will then be 9O0,000,OO0 bushels.
The winter wheat crop based upon
the condition as reported December l,
which may change greatly before har-
vest, is estimated at 540,000,000 bush
els This will neceSSitate spring
wheat production of at least 100000
900 bushels or an increase Of about Sc
per cent over the 1917 spring wheat
crop, which was 232,758,00 bushels.
Government Distributes Seed Wheat.
Reserves Of wheat are SO low that
special arrangements have been made
by the Food Administration Grain Cor
Agriculture to distribute necessary
seed stocks. Last September the Grain
Corporation arranged for a special Ii
cense by which elevator and ware
house owners were permitted to hold
seed wheat stocks until the close Of
the seeding season this spring. The
license required such owners Of stor-
age to submit samples of the wheat to
the agents Of the seed stocks commit
tee for examination as to terminating
power, freedom from weed seeds, etc.
An elaborate scheme for location OF
an organized distribution according to
needs, has been applied Jointly by the
Department of Agriculture and the
Food Administration Grain Corpora
ton The zone agents of the Grain
Corporation located and placed in
storage a large quantity of wheat
suitable for seeding, In addition about
100000 bushels of Canadian grown
Marquis wheat of good quality was Sc
cured and placed in storage in Buffa-
10, NJ Y, Minneapolis, Omaha and
Portland were also used as distribut-
ing Joints. Owners of warehouses and
elevators accommodating approved
stocks of seed have been permitted to
sell at price not to exceed Is per
cent of the price paid for wheat of the
same grade.
The success of the wheat cOnserva-
ton plan undoubtedly rests upon the
free flow of wheat from farms to mar
ket. If the flow should be continuous
and of sufficient volume than the gov
ernment's program will be achieved;
for the distributive interests can be
controlled and the supply of wheat al
lowed to go into circulation will be
regulated according to the schedule.
But if farmers do not move the wheat
now on farms with sufficient rapidity
the plan will either break down o.
force the government to requisition
wheat to meet the general need. Much
concern was felt in Washington over
the slack movement of wheat from
farms in March. The decline was
about so per cent.
In some districts pro-German inf1u-
ences have been at work. Recently
the Food Administration found it nee
essary to authorize requisition of a
large quantity of wheat from two Ger
man farmers in New Mexico. Seizure
was unnecessary, as the wheat was
given up and placed in circulation by
the Food Administration. This slack
movement and discovery of enemy in
fiuences has led to an announcement
by the Food Administration that it
will take steps to reQuiSitiOn wheat
wherever there is evidence to show
that boarding has been willful. This
decision comes with the improvement
of transportation facilities. Farmers
are urged to sell their wheat as rapid
ly as they can.