New-York tribune., 1919-01-27
Sound L ar111ing
Policy for This
Season Outlined
Department of Agriculture
Finds No Cause to Fear
Shortage of Food Supplies

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-Farmers Of
the United States were urged to-day
by the Department of Agriculture to
return to sound farm practice in the
coming season, abandoning certain
emergency measures adopted during
the war, so as to assure ample sup
plies of all kinds for this country and
Europe.
No cause for alarm as to the ability
of American agriculture to maintain
its position in world trade during the
period of readiustment is foreseen by
the department, which declared that a
considerable demand from European
countries for foodstuffs was almost as
sured for year or more.
The signing of the armistice found
the United States with fairly large
stocks Of foods, but with smaller stocks
of feeds. 1t was recommended that
pasture lands plowed up for growing
grains and other food crops should be
reseeded to grass and that regular and
satisfactory rotation OF crops be re-
sumed.
A wise livestock programme was said
to include maintaining horses and
mules without material increase, nor
NAL increase in dairy cows and beef
cattle, conservative increase in swine
until the relative shortage and high
price of feeds are overcome, an in
crease in sheep consistent with facili-
ties, and in poultry if minimum of
purchased feed is required.
The Indicated plant programme was
said to be not so definite. The depart
ment is certain that farmers will be
justified in maintaining their acreages
of corn, oats and barley, large produc
tions of which are necessary to live
stock production. but the policy as to
wheat, of which Europe will need
72S, 100000 bushels, depends upon q
complicated set of conditions yet un-
determined 1t appears desirable to
increase hay production by 25 per
cent.
Acreage planted to cotton, of which
an apparent deficit is Indicated should
be adjusted SO that the Southern farm
ers may produce enough food and feed
for his family and livestock.
Probable Needs of Europe
Total import wheat requirements for
Europe, including Germany and Aus
trla, appear likely to exceed 728,000, 900
bushels. The estimated surplus stocks
from Canada, Argentina and Australia
total $4,000, 600 bushels. From the
1918 crop the United States will prob
ably have surplus Of 277 900, 900 bush
els for export and carry-over. If the
total surpluses of other countries are
eXhausted-an Russia, which before
the war produced an exportable sur
plus Of 162,000,0 900 bushels, is not relied
Upon for anything this ycar-thc
United States would be called upon to
export 233 100000 bushels and would
have carry-ovcr into next year of
100000 bushels. This carry over,
however, is likely to be reduced by in
creased consumption in the United
States and Europe, following several
years of short rations. The 191? wheat
crop in the United States is expected
to give an cNportable surplus Of from
$50 100000 to 100000, 900 bushels. The
question of price and the ability of
European countries to finance pur-
chases are pointed out as the decisive
limiting factors
need to import, both this year and
next. about 65,O00,0oO bushels of rye,
179, 100000 bushels Of barley, 11S, ,0O0,- ,
GOO bushels Of oats and 255, 900, 900 /
bushels of corn. The United States
can supply from its 1918 crop all the /
oats required and viii have still q
surplus Of 166 100000 bushels, but will
lack 100000 bushels of rye, $1,000
900 bushels of barley and 4O2 ,oUUOOU
bushels Of corn for domestic consump- /
tion and net requirements for Europe, ,
which cannot be supplied elsewhere.
The estimated requirements for flax ,
seed by the United States and Europe
are 100000 bushels. There appears
to be deficit of about % 600 coo bush
els when all visible supplies are in
cluded. This deficit is due to increas-
ed demand for linseed oil, to the climi-
nation OF Russia from the estimates,
and to small surpluses in other flax
producing countries.
For the five years preceding the war
the average cotton requirements of the
European Allies, Japan. Germany and
Austria Hungary were 100000 800 |
pound bales. Total surplus stocks Of
all cotton-producing countries appear
to be about S,2S0000 bales This leaves
an apparent deficit of 4,730,OO0 bales.
This, the department holds, is not
to be accepted as an absolute deficit,
because there is no means of knowing
whether or not European requirements
will be the same as they were before