The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-07-16
CROP REPORT
SHOWS GOOD CON-
D|T|ON IN STATE
MAJORITY OF CROPS IN BETTER
CONDITION THAN THEY HAVE
BEEN IN MANY PAST YEARS

The outlook for corn, wheat and
rye is the highest for more than Is
years in the state, according to the
joint report issued by Coleman C.
Vaughn, Secretary of State and Verne
H. Church, Field Agent, Bureau of
Crop Estimates. The state will pro-
duce more than double the amount of
wheat, nearly 40 per cent more rye
and from present indications, nearly
40 per cent more corn than last year.
The condition of all other crops is
generally satisfactory except that of
oats and barley which are Ia and IL
per cent, respectively, below the ten
year average, and hay which is three
per cent below. The ground is ex-
ceedingly dry and all crops are be-
ginning to suffer. Unless good rains
come soon marked deterioration is
inevitable.
The condition of winter wheat is
80 per cent, the highest on record for
more than Is years. 1t indicates q
production of 21 ,008,00 bushels which
is also the largest within the same
period Of time, being 100000 bushels
greater than produced in the banner
year of 1915. Harvesting is well ad-
vanced in the southern half of the
state and is being prosecuted under
favorable weather conditions but with
shortage of labor. Only three other
wheat states show better condition
than Michigan at this date.
The acreage Of corn is estimated at
1,707 900, being 6 per cent greater
than last year. The condition is 81
per cent which is equalled by only one
other state, Wisconsin, and which Is
II per cent better than the ten-year
average. About 40 per cent of the
acreage is generally cut for silage,
leaving an indicated grain production
Of approximately 100000 bushels.
The oats crop has suffered much
drought and heat which have reduced
the condition to 73 per cent. This
forecasts a crop of Al ,385,00 bushels
or about two-thirds that of last year.
The condition Of Barley has also
been owered during the month being
/ 76 per cent which indicates a produc-
tion of $6,278, 900 bushels.
The condition of rye improved one
point during June, being SO per cent.
Like wheat, it is the highest July l
condition for more than Is years. The
estimated total production is 9,345,
900 bushels.
The hay crop is being secured un-
der gen orally favorable conditions,
but the yield has ben shortened by dry
weather. The present outlook is for
a crop of 3,217,000 tons. While this
is less than the average, it is consid-
erably more than the light crop Of last
year which amounted to cnly 2,718,-
300 tons.
The acreage of beans has been re-
duced considerably from that of last
year, the greatest reduction being in
the counties on the southern and
western edges of the bean district. In
the heavy producing counties, where
the yields have been best, the reduc-
tion in acreage has been much less.
The preliminary estimate is 353, 900
acres; condition, 80 per cent; and the
total production, 1864 900 bushels.
The acreage devoted to potatoes is
estimated to be $4,000, two per cent
less than that Of last year. The stand
is generally very good, the condition
being 90 per cent. Beetles are report
ed tc be more than usual in many sec
tions. While it is too early to make
an accurate estimate Of final produc-
tion the present condition, if main
tanned throughout the season, indi-
Gates a crop of 3,125,000 bushels.
A large acreage of sugar beets was
planted, but a shortage of labor for
field work, dry weather during the
terminating period, diseases and in
sect pests have caused the loss of scme
fields in many localities. The condi-
tion is 85 per cent.
There has been a marked decline
in fruit prospects during the past
month. Cold weather during the
blooming period caused poor pollen
ization and reduced the set in many
orchards; this was followed by not
and dry weather which favorable for
the elimination of scab and other
fungus diseases, caused heavy drop
Of the fruit that did set. Apples,
peaches and pears show the greatest
decline. Blackberr|ies and raspber-
ries have been injured by the dry
weather, and the crop will be much
less than the abundant crop promised