The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-12-26
MISSOURI CROPS, DEC, 1919

jefferson City, Mo, Dec. 22.-Mis-
souri, farmers reduced their wartime
wheat acreage / 100000 or 40 per cent
from that of 1918, according to E. A.
Logan of the u. S. Bureau of Crop
Estimates and Jewell Mayes of the
State Board of Agriculture. In 1918
Missouri seeded 100000 acres Of
wheat and but 2,5S0,000 this fall,
which is but 90 per cent of last year
In St. Francois county condition Of
wheat is II per cent, per cent Of acre
age treated with fertilizer rs, and
treated for smut 20 per cent. Wages
of farm hands hired by the month
with board $35, without board $50,
and the number of months hired IL.
Daily rate Of harvest hands with board
$4, without board SIS, and days hired
j25. Per cent of corn crop gathered 50.
Missouri farmers faced a severe
drouth late in the summer which pre-
vented the preparation of wheat land,
also the immense acreage of the year
taxed threshing equipment, so much
SO that wheat is still in the shock in
Sullivan county and is just being
finished in various other counties.
When the drouth broke late in Sep
TENDER excessive rains were so con-
tinuous as to prevent even the seed
ing of a good deal of the wheat that
farmers had expected to sow. The re-
duction of acreage runs from 20 to
so per cent, varying with the sec
tions. Many farmers had sown wheat
during the war that were not in the
habit and are now anxious to return
to their former cropping systems and
intend to increase their acreage Of
hay and corn for the coming year.
Labor difficulties and some little dis
satisfaction with prices also had their
influence. Even with all this Missouri
has around normal pre-war acreage.
The December condition of 81 COM
pares favorably with that of 1915,
1916 and 1917. Wheat is best in the
northern half and poorest in the SOU
thern section. 1t is late generally and
some has only appeared above ground.
Much of it has poor root growth.
Hessian fly is more in evidence than
for several years and are reported in
about one-third Of the counties. Seed
ing continued fully as late if not later
than last year.
Rye condition is S8 per cent upon an
acreage of 46,800 which is above the
area formerly planted. This crop was
increased this year in various sec.
tions because of the necessity for pas:
turage, although during the war il
gave very good returns and is much
favored in those sections of the State
where it stands the winter better thar
wheat. ,rbmr,.
Corn husking has progressed slowlJ
and only IS per cent of the crop was
cribbed December LIST. Yield better
than expected in the north. Worl
has been still further delayed in thu
northern section of the State by heavy
sleet and rainy weather in the souti
Farmers attempted to gather as mucl
of their corn as they possibly couit
without hired labor. Day wages hav'
been high and up to 10 cents per bush
ell paid. Quality of corn is good II
most of the State except the soutl
third where there has been some rot
ting in the field and shock corn. wa
badly damaged by rain earlier in tn
season. .rsos 40 II
The commercial apple crop 1ha
practically all been moved from tn
point Of production and only about 9
tper cent of the farm crop was shippe'
Iout of the county where produced. IN
commercial crop was practically 81
lshipped out of the producing section
while but little of the farm crop ha
gone from the home point
q Pastures are generally good an
Unusually fine in much of the centra
lsection and with open weather live
lstock will have grazing much of tn
winter.
~ General conditions are very prom
Using at this time for next year. Sol
Thoroughly soaked. 1oLfve stock are i
lgood condition, healthy, plenty Of wa
ter and no severe shortage of forag
has yet developed. Farmers are plan
lining fof big corn and hay crops TO
lnext year End Encouragement 9
Itheir cropping system to make tn
heat use OF tho labor supply. j