Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-04-03
.SAYSWREAT PR|CCEI: SURE
Besides, a Big Crop Means Backing
the Eoys Who Have Been Sent
~ to the Front to Fight.

needed for other products that wheat
cannot be brought from more distant
points where there is a surplus such
as Argentina, Australia and India This
has made very rigid economy in the
use of wheat necessary. It is not likely
the Allies can produce more in 1915
than in 1917 because their production
has continually decreased since the
war began so that in 1917 they pro-
duced 150,000,000 bushels less than
their average production for five years
before the war. If they produce as
much in 1918 as in 1917 they will need
to import between 550,0O0,00 and 6O0,-
100000 bushels to supply normal de.
mands. The United States is about
$500 miles from England and France;
Argentina Is about $500 miles dis
tant; India is about 10000 miles away;
and Australia 1880 miles 1t is evil
dent then that if there is any scar
city of Ships, the more wheat surplus
we have in the United States the
better it will be- for all concerned.
The Outlook in the United States.
In 1917 the United States produced
about 650,000,O0O bushels with a sur
plus of about 5O,O0O,O0O bushels above
own needs. In 1917 the winter
wheat belt produced 418,O00,000 BUSH
els and the spring wheat belt pro-
duced .232,0O0,0OO buSlels The out
look for winter wheat last December
l indicated a probable yield of 540,-
100000 bushels. 1t may be more, or
less. At any rate much more
spring wheat will be needed than can
be produced so that every acre of land
IN the spring. wheat belt that is suit.
able for spring wheat and that can
be handled reasonably we'll should be
seeded to that crop. It, of course lis
not wise from the standpoint of the
individual farmer to SOW wheat; on
land that will produce a materially
better crop of something else or SOW
wheat on farm not equipped to ham
die the crop economically.
Prices and Profits. ., =
The $2.17 per bushel guaranteed
price for 1918, is high enough = to
make the growing of wheat decidedly
profitable with a fair crop. 1t would
seem, in view of this fact that the
outlook for raising wheat on good
wheat land is as promising as the
outlook for any other crop and be-
sides this, the patriotic appeal : to
furnish bread for the millions who
need it, is very strong. It is doubt
flll if the farmers of the Northwest
ran make a greater contribution to
heir country, or to humanity gener-
lilly, than to grow wheat.
Wheat Looks Most Surely Profitable.
1t is the. opinion of Andrew Boss,
Vice Director of the Minnesota, Elk
pertinent Station, that wheat looks
ike the most surely profitable grain
:rop this year. He states: "The high
price of oats and barley at the pres
INT time, however, is likely to- bring
IN increased acreage of these crops at
he expense of the wheat crop. Farm
Frs will do well to consider the pos
abilities OF profit from these crops
sefore changing the acreage materi-
lily. The average yield Of wheat in
Minnesota for the last 10 year per
cd was 1875 bushels an acre, at $500
bushel, which is about the price
hat the average Minnesota farmer can
expect to net for this years crop, this
would bring return If $27 90 an acre.
The average yield of oats for the same
period was 30s bushels. TO bring
b27.0O an acre, oats would need to sell
at 87.9 cents bushel this year. The
average yield of barley for the same
TO year period was 1916 bushels. To
bring $27.O0 an acre, barley would need
TO sell at $114 a bushel While oats
are bringing something over 80 cents
now, and barley is much higher than
S1.14, it is not probable that present
prices will be maintained if a normal
crop of the small grains is secured,
especially If corn should prove to be
a good crop. That is why wheat looks
the most surely profitable. grain crop.
Barley and oats must compete with
corn as feed crop. Farmers will
prefer to feed corn If It is available.
The consequence will be that barley
and oats will shrink in price more
quickly than wheat. Corn probably
would be keener competitor for
wheat than the small grains were it
no%, for the seed shortage. # this is
over come corn may yet crowd wheat
for. the Increased acreage, The aver aver
age state weld Of corn for the last 10
year period WasS2.3 bushels per acre
To bring as much as an acre OF wheat,
corn must sell af 1873 cents per bushel.
With live stock at present prices. It is
likely that it will sell for that, even
though . normal crop = secured.