The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-12
OUTLOOK STILL GOOD
FOR FARM PRODUCTS
BY John II. Hutchcson, Director OF
Extension Work.

Especial TO The Richmond Nrginlah.)
Black sburg, Va, Sept l0.-Discus-
sion of The High Cost of Living
and the drive fer reduced prices,
coupled with general feeling or
restiessness throughout the country,
are causing many farmers u hesitate
in planning for thu seeding OF small
grains and grasses this fall. one OF
the principal questions asked at Inc
Farmers Institute this year was
whether normal crop of wheat
should be planted. Recent estimates
as 10 this years crop Of wheat should
throw some light on this question.
The present estimate for wheat PRO-
duction is nine hundred million
bushels, while the earlier estimate
ss one billion, two hundred million
bushels, showing a decrease OF more
than three hundred million bushels
Six hundred and fifty million bushels
of wheat will be required to furnish
bread and seed In the United States
for the coming year. This leaves but
two hundred and fifty million bushels
for export. There is every evidence
that more than this will be required OF
the United States to help feed the
hungry people OF Europe.
We must not lose sight of the fact
that the war which has just closed
called nifty six million men to arms
million dollars in treasure and twenty
six million men in casualties, eleven
million men being killed. This ire
mendous loss far beyond the compre-
hension of the human mind cannot
be sustained without inducing abnor-
NAL conditions and bringing us close
sss a. world .farFflneg Condiuosas. IL
Europe, while improved somewhat
over that OF war times, are still very
+ unsettled. Farming opera tons do not
seem to have reached a normal state
-and IL is almost sure that the demand
/ from these countries for food sfuffs
will be stronc another year
2 In respon5e to a telegram recently
! sent by the Indiana committee on food
production. 10 the United States secre-
tary of agriculture in regard to de-
srahle plan of procedure for farmers,
the secretary replies as follows:
while the exact world food sup
ply conditions for 1920 cannot be tore
cast with accuracy at this time all
information available here indicates
a continued ssrcng demand for cereals
and live stock products. Maintenance
Of IA normal acreage OF fall wheat and
rye in the Middle West on lands
adapted to these crops is considered
sound policy
II is important TO restore meadows
and pastures broken up during the
war emergency and to re-establish
crop rotations to prevent depletion OF
sell fertility and to afford sound
basis for maintaining well balanced
live stock production. l suggest to
formers the advisability of maintain
Ing their production Of cereals, for
age crops, and livestock, on a basis of
their accumulated experience with
these. avoiding speculative plungins
in unhala need production which in
wolves en- undue climatic and price
hazard The need ir for well-bal-
aneed. sane and efficient production
OF staples, tho demand for which Is
reasonably certain, judging from ex-
is.irg domestic and foreign condi-
tions."
| For the above reasons II is believed
that the farmers OF Virginia are as
. sured OF fair prices for the 1920 wheat
crop This does not mean that thou.
sands OF acres OF land in Virginia
which were planted to wheat during
the emergency brought on by the wal
should be replanted to this crop. CroT
statistics show that there are several
counties In Virginia where the aver
age yield OF wheat runs from six t.
ten bushels per acre. II liz doubtful
whether such land should ever be
planted TO wheat. except for the pur-
pose OF rounding out y rotation.
With the present unsettled market
conditions and the scarcity OF labos
It seems to be the Concensus Of orin-
ion OF the best farmers OF the state
that the safest procedure for Virginia
farmers is to plant normal acreage u
staple crops, putting these crops on
the best land and giving them the
best Of, fertilization and cultivation
The Increased use ct farm machinery
is recommended to help meet the
scarcity OF labor. The employment
OF more and better livestock to utilize
waste lands, and to help harvest
crops, Is also recommended as labor
saving device.
However, the greatest safety for the
time will be brought about by or
gani4ing themselves into strong COM
lnunity organizations for tho purpose