The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-08-14
NORTH DAKOTA WILL HAIR.
VEST ABOUT HALF CROP

A. ]. Surratt, State Field Agent,
Makes Careful and Comprehensive
I Estimate RepOrt-COrn and
Hay Favorable.
According to the government report
issued today by the U. s. Bureau of
Crop Estimates, thru the office Of
A. j. Surratt, the North Dakota crop
| erage last month to about half crop
on August 1. Corn stands out dis
tinctly favorable. Flax and potoa-
toes are below average. Hay produc-
| ton will be about average for the
| state as whole.
Excessive and prolonged heat and
drought during July with deficient
moisture, combined with black rust
| which started in late in June and de-
veloped rapidly thru July, together
| with continually increasing grasshop-
per damage, has caused heavy dam
age to grain crops, the loss being one
Of the heaviest on record for single
month. The development of grain
crops has been abnormally rapid this
season and had not the usual vitality
to withstand rust nor the excessive
heat and drought. The result has been
blight, rust, scab and premature rip
ening and with few exceptions poor
ly filled heads. Grain crops have rip
ened about ten days earlier than usual
notwithstanding that these crops were
sown ten days later than usual. Early
fields show more or less shrunken
grain.
CROPS are especially poor in the vi
cinity of Bottineau, northeastern Nc
Henry and northwestern Pierce coun-
ties and in all counties to the South
Dakota line. The remainder Of the
western half of the state is spotted
with condition ranging mostly from 35
to 60 per cent. In general the north
ern part of this area is noticeably bet
ter than the southern part. The east
ern part Of the state which showed
up favorably last month has suffered
from all the damage factors mentioned
above, especially rust. Crop condi-
tions in this area range from 40 to
70 per cent, with the more favorable
reports coming from the northern
part of the state. Grasshopper dam
age, which was more or less spotted
over the entire state, has been espec-
tally severe in Bottineau, McHenry,
Pierce, Mclean and in the vicinity of
Dunn. Stark, Hettinger and Slope
counties. The above comments will
apply in a general way to all small
grains and flax, especially wheat, oats,
in the eastern half but light in the
western half of the state, where an un-
usually large acreage of oats was cut
for hay to save it from the hoppers.
At the close of July rye harvest was
completed and about 1-3 of the state
acreage of other small grain was cut.
The corn crop stands out as distinct
ly favorable and is the best crop in
the state. Condition is especially IA
vorable and is the best crop in the
state. Condition is especially favorable
in the eastern two-thirds of the state,
where the crop promises an immense
yield of forage, and should frost hold
| off until the usual time the state will
have favorable crop of mature corn.
Excepting in few scattered coun-
ties rye yields are below average and
vary sharply according to hopper
damage and moisture conditions Ex-
| IRENE heat and drought fastened ma
! .turity and kernels are small and quail
| ity is inclined to be below average.
Grasshopper damage to rye kernels
has been heavy and hoppers are still
damaging rye in the shock. Farmers
are threshing or stacking rye as early
as possible to avoid further damage.
Flax, with large acreage in the
drier part Of the state, was heavily
damaged in July by the drought and
hoppers, and to some extent by wilt.
Condition tapers from either spotted
or failure in extreme western coun-
ties to favorable crop in eastern
counties. Grasshoppers have been
damage factor continually in flax and
have been especially active since the
crop has boiled in clipping off the
bolls. Some Improvement is expected
! in flax condition from recent rains.
The advancement of the crop ranges
| from the boiled to the mature stage.
The condition of potatoes owing to
both drought and bugs shows a mark
ed decline for the month. Crop is
spotted with few counties showing
crop outlook above average. Condi-
ton is extremely poor in southwest.
The early crop over the state did not
set we'll and while the late crop will
no doubt show some improvement fol-
lowing recent rain the state. potato
prospect is below average.
The acreage Of wild hay for the
state is nearly as large as last year.
Practically every available acre of hay
land will be cut. Tame hay acreage
is substantially increased over year
ago owing to the unusually large mil
let acreage sown this season, as we'll
as an increased acreage of oats for
hay. The condition Of all hay while
| poor in the western counties ranges
from fair to very favorable in the re-
mainder of the state and for the state
as a whole is up to the average. Re-
cent rains will improve hay prospects
to some extent and much late haying
will be done. The state as a whole
has noticeably the best hay crop of
the past three years. Pastures. while
| short are showing rapid improvement