The Morgan City daily review., 1919-04-12
April Crop Report for
Louisiana Given Out
by Field Agent
Labor Shortage Restricted Acre.
age; Sugar Cane Plant
ing Delayed
Month

Month
John 5 Denne, field agent at New
Orleans for the Bureau of Crop Es-
Inmates, United States Department
of Agriculture issues the following
summary Of Louisiana crop condi-
tions as OF April /:
! The outstanding facts are: the con-
tinued wet weather and the serious
shortage of farm help.
I LABOR
! In localities the shortage is in
some measure due to the labor be-
ing enticed away by industrial
plants, railroads, and by public works
offering higher wages than farmers
can afford to jay. AS result many
farmers aare endeavoring to limit
their acreages this year to what they
can see their way clear to cultivate
themselves.
WEATHER
Apprehensions due to the belated
state of all agricultural affairs are
serious. After winter of heavy
rains dry weather would be boon
to the farmers. The scarcity of
feed stuffs. the depressed cotton
market and the high cost of labor
and fertilizers are all contributing
factors to the pessimism of the farm
erS.
SUGAR CANE
Planting is practically completed,
and the acreage is probably smaller
than last year. Seed cane rotted in
considerable quantities, but the aver
age of seed cane over the belt may
be said to be be very fair to good.
Sunnw weather has favored the
planters lately, enabling them to
catch up somewhat with their field
work But the, crop is fully month
late in getting oft.
! RICE -3e>a.. ~
The acreagec this year in south
western Louisiana will in all likeli-
hood be less than last year due to
the lateness of the season and to the
fact that some planters are still
threshing last seasons crop. 1t now
seems, according to dpendable re-
ports from the southwestern district,
that the losses from the prolonged
wet spell will not be as heavy as
contemplated Hand-shocked rice
is turning out much better than look
ed for. Along the river the planters
are preparin the land for big acre.
age of rice.
COTTON %-.s~
The interest shown in the CAM
paign for a reduction of the new
cotton crop is intensified by the nom
committad attitude Of farmers whose
position cannot be clearly defined at
this time 1t may be said however,
in a general way that many farmers
have indicated their intention to
stand by the resolutions adopted at
the New Orleans convention. Very
little cotton has been planted to
date The continued wetness of the
season is perhaps exerting a greater
pressure on acreage curtailment than
farmers and bankers meetings, ac-
cording to rports from farmers.
CORN ...
Corn is delayed in planting and
growth by the coll and wet weather.
OATS
The areage is short this year, but
the condition favorable.
IRISH POTATOES
This crop occupies less than half
the area of the 1918 crop and is three
weeks late.
STRAWBERRIES
Carload shipments are now moving
from Tangipahoa parish. The move
ment is about two-thirds behind that
of last year. A crop of about 1900
cars is expected. Prices are good
and growers are looking forward to
a very prosperous season.
FRUIT
The season seems we'll up to the
average. Much pruning and spray
ing of orchards has been done.
Oranges on the lower coast are in
full bud.
BROOD SOWS
There are less brood sows on the
farms this year. The scarcity Of
corn in Louisiana and the high price
of same is making hog-raising un-
aeo<.Aah1A accoed:an "a f....>..