Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-11
NORTH DAKOTA CROP CONDITIONS
BETTER THAN LAST YEAR, SAYS
CHAIRMAN OF NINTH DISTRICT

ture. The damage that has occurred,
as previously noted. is largely due to
grasshoppers.
South Dakota shows an excellent
wheat prospect. except for a limited
amount of injury due to high water
in the James River valley.
Conditions in Minnesota are very
good. n with a good acreage and
satisfactory moisture, the outlook is
excellent.
Wisconsin's grain crops are prog
,ressing favorably. and the outlook is
very good.
1t is noticeable that the majority of
the recent reports speak of very active
flax planting, indicating the probable
ity of an acreage increase for the dis
trict as a whole of perhaps as much as
1870. This is due. to a considerable
extent. to the late season, which cut
down the amount of wheat that the
farmers put in. Flax planting is still
in progress and will continue until
approximately the. 18th of the month.
, Western North Dakota reports a good
flax increase. and also that oats and
barley will show an increase of p
proXimately 10 per cent in acreage
Reports from the central portion of
North Dakota show fine soaking rains
and indicate Il very promising flax
acreage.
government estimates VI WlIllel
wheat in Montana at the beginning of
May indicate a prospective yield Of
nearly $4,000, 600 bushels as compared
with S,7O5, 900 bushels last year. 1t is
apparent from these figures that
Montana a stand a considerable
loss OF winter wheat and still show
comparatively good returns At har-
vest. The increase in spring wheat in
the Yellowstone valley and central
sections must also be considered.
There is. however, the offsetting con-
dltion in some acres where last years
crops were very good, that there has
been a lack of moisture which with
continued dry weather m result in
further injury. .
Better Prospects. I
Upon the other hand. North Dako-
ia at his date shows a much more
favorable condition han last year, and
the condition in Minnesota. South Da-
kota and Wisconsin is fully as good
as a year ago. These are the sections
that are accountable for the principal
wheat production.
Corn promises to be a big crop. Due
to cool weather., it a not so far made
great progress, but is beginning to
come up in South Dakota, Minnesota
and Wisconsin in good shape, and the
cool weather that has held it back has
been a considerable boon to the grain
crops. ihsuring them good root.
The hay and forage prospect is
good in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North
and South Dakota. and fair in Mont
ana.
In the discussion of readjustments
after the war, a considerable and
boom in South Dakota has almost es-
capped notice. Land is moving actively.
and while sales to outsiders have not
been large, much improved and raw
I land has hnan o1,o n eip ~ hands ~ 60
ures which a year or two ago would
have seemed surprisingly high. Sales
OF central South Dakota lands at 500
or better no longer cause any sur
prise. There is a healthy movement of
land in Minnesota, and it is very prob
able that harvest returns will show
an unusual amount of raw acreage
that has been brought under cultiva.-
ton. There are substantial indications
that the period of stagnation in the
farm land business is over, and that
throughout the northwestern states,
where there is still a very large
amount of excellent farm land to be
]had at reasonable figures the next
year will witness a period of consider
able activity. Repeated evidences of
advances in farm land values consti-
tite an assurance of a healthy de-
mand For productive acreage. "s1sNfs s
In the copper district of northern
Mlchlgan. there has been improved
activity. and some advance in the
price Of copper during the month.
The iron range of northern Minnesota
reports increasing activity with nor
NAL labor conditions except for a
shortage Of skilled underground labor.
Duluth reports a shortage of COM
mon labor. with considerable wage
establishments in prospect: =
Mining Affected.
In the Black Hills district of South
Dakota the increased cost of labor
and material, and incidental items en-
tering into production, has seriously
depressed the gold mining industry,
and improvement is very slow. When
gold will purchase only about half as
much as in pre-war times, many of
those who are prominent in the min
ing business are inclined to look for