Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-30
START 1919 WHEAT DRIVE.
Govsrnment Asks Farmers TO Feet
Allies and Produce Surplus.


The food administration aad the de-
partment OF agriculture still believe
that food must win the war, and the
officials Of both realize that IL may not
be Won till long after the 1919 harvest
So to be sure OF having the food am
munition ON hand q great liberty har-
vest for next year has been organized
It Is planned to bring ell the country's
patriotic forces to bear upon the wheat
farmers and make tho 1919 crop the big
gest In history.
American farmers are asked to SOW to
winter wheat this fall not less than
46.000.0 900 acres. an increase OF per
cent, over last years sowing, and It is
| suggested that an even greater area
approximately 347.5o0,O00 acres, an In
crease Of more than i2 per cent over
last year. could be eown II conditions
were especially favorable In all the
states. and would better meet the
needs Of the allied nations at war.
From the smaller acreage a harvest
or S6IOO0,O 900 bushels might be expect
ed, 1t 10 estimated. and from the larger
acreage 667,000.000. based upon an aver
age yield OF 1851 bushels an acre and
an abandonment OF 10 per cent OF the
area sown on account OF winter kill.
The plan fixed defines acreages by
states. and in a campaign to be
LAUNCHED Immediately by the depart :
ment and the state agricultural col
leges and loading farmers throughout
the country growers will be asked TO
make good their state quotas. The
Recommendations regarding the plant
Ing Of spring wheat and other spring
crops and regarding live stock will fol-
low later.
In some states, where large increase
OF winter wheat acreage ~ suggested,
It IL planned correspondingiy to reduce
the spring wheat acreage. Winter
wheat 10 a safer crop and PRODUCES a
larger yield per acre, so tho exchange
Is desirable in sections where this Is
practicable. The unusual weather con
ditaons OF the last two years are respon-
sible TOR the Increased acreage OF spring
wheat this year In some sections where
winter wheat usually is more eten-
sively grown.
In announcing the. wheat production
program the growing needs OF this
country and its allies for. this essential
food are considered.s The last crop re-
port forecast a 1918 harvest OF $780,
900 bushels OF winter and spring wheat. d
Attic this forecast ID gratifying, IL
Is pointed out that the reserve supply or
carry -over Of wheat this year is prac-
tically exhausted and il the smallest on
record. This need Of building up re-
serves Of wheat is evident. It IL pointed
out that altho this country produced
small wheat crap in 1917, the total ex-
ports OF wheat in excess OF imports, In
Guiding -four in terms of wheat,
amounted to approximately 00,000,OO0
bushels for the year ended June 50
1918. This is in comparison with 49,
100000 bupshels exported in 1917, 2as,-
100000 bushels In 1916. and 331 200, 900
bushels in 1915. It was only possible
for the United States to export wheat
in large quantities In 1915 and 1916 be-
cause of the large wheat crops of
1s12-1s-14-15. which gave this country
an accumulation Of stocks OF this grain.
The 1915 and 1917 crops both were
smaller than any crops since 1914, and
besides this there was greater demand
for seed wheat and an increasing popu.
lation.
Moreover, It must be borne In mind.
says the wheat propagandists. that the
Carry over In all the ten importing
countries Of Europe was practically ex-;
hausted this year before the new har-
vest; that the normal consumption re-
quirements Of the exporting countries
are increasing with the growth Of pop-
ulation instead of diminishing; that
some losses in storage and transit may
be expected To continue and fho% a. ts I
highly desirable that a surplus should
De accumulated as insurance against
partial crop failure next year. To pro-
vide for these additional requirements
1t is, therefore, desired that the max
imum acreage OF winter wheat be
planted by the farmers this fall