Grand Forks herald., 1919-12-17
A. j. Sl]RRATT
COMPLETED !.
CROP REPORTS !;
Fall sowa Rye Acreage
Less Than Half That of
Year Ago.

OF State Field Agent A. J. Surratt for
tho United States bureau of crop es-
inmates. the fall sown rye acreage in
North Dakota is less than half the
acreage sown a year ago. The fall
condition is below average.
Wages paid, to farm labor sub
stantially increased over 1918. judg-
ing from the report and the supply Of |
labor showed Improvement over the
war period. The acreage of fall |
blowing in the state is estimated to |
be above average.
The report in detail follows:
Rye Acreage.
The acreage sown to rye this fall
$4,000 acres compared to 2.06S,-
600 acres sown n year ago. and five !
rear average I913-1917) Of $4,000 |
Acres. This represents decrease of
So per cent from the acreage sown in
the fall OF 1918, and q decrease Of SO
per cent from 1,945,000 acres har-
vested this season. 1t is doubtful il
which has shown the tremendous
changes in acreage as has rye in this
state In recent years. The 1915 faIl
sown acreage was $4,000 acres. 1876, \
l.0G6,000 acres; 1917. 100000 acres;
i, 1918. 2,O6s,ooo acres and 1919 972,-
.stantial and well known reasons for
sowing the heavy rye acreage of'a
year ago would have held good this
fall had. not the control of hoppers
which have caused such widespread
devastation to crops this season
loomed up as much more important.
This pest which destroyed millions
cenral and western sections. or. the
heESier rye acreage area. presented
u problem Of UNEXPECTED and grow
ing size which Had to be met by
farmers in theirplans for 1920.
Foremost among yhe 'combative meas
ures advocated by the state agricul-
tural college, was the plowing Of as
this fall or early next spring to aid
~ in destroying hopper eggs. Farm
ers being we'll aware of the probable
ity of worse damage next season
from hoppers, If the usual practice
of stubblfng in rye was continued.
throughout the state. Tho decrease
is extremely heavy in most OF the
central and western counties. but of
lesser size in eastern counties where
the practice Of sowing rye on fall
plowed seed. bed, has always been fol-
lowed more generally. Owing to the
hopper menace the acreage OF rye
.EoS
over the state.
Condition-Thc condition Of rye IN
North Dakota runs very uneven and
spotted due to the dry fall. State
condition slightly below average.
About u third Of the fall sown rye
had not come up at the time of the
early freeze up. This is not unusual
in North Dakota and, this part Of
the crop is usually subjected to the
necessary frosts after 1t sprouts in
thE early spring with. the result that
a fair stand of grain is produced as
q rule In a general way the condi-
tion is about--average in the north
off to belQv. averake III most of the
southern, and Western counties State
condition :estimatsIto be 81 per
cent compared tots per cent last
year and a ten year average Of 87.9
per cent. Rye acreage for the Unit
Ned States is estimated to be 5,630,-
900 acres compared to 1922 900 acres
last year. Condition is 1913 per cent
compared to 80 per! cent last year and
F, average of 91.6 per cent.
y Winter! Wheat (U. s.)-Winter
wheat acreage sown in the United
States tli1s fall is estimated to be 49,
10000 acSeS compared to 5o,4S9.-
ooo acres IS, soT>n last year Fail con- % :
dition 85.2& per cent compared to 9S.5
per cent last year and average of
ss.5 per gent.
= Fall Flowing.
Fall plowed acreage for North Da-
NSkota is estimated to be So per cent
of the total acreage intended to be
cropped IN 1920 or slightly above, the
average. The plowed acreage in the
eastern third of the state represent
ing about ,one-half of the cultivated
acreage is well above the average.
Eastern counties show an execution
ally large plowed acreage. Owing
to the dry fall, shortage of horse feed4
and early freeze up the plowed acre
age in the central and western sec-
tions with few executions is below
average, being especially small III the
southwest. ~
" Far1n Labor Wages.
The supply Of farm labor showed
some Improvement over the war pc
riod Of 1918. Owing to the heavy in
flux of Montana farmers at harvest
time who had lost their crops, the
standard J Of harvest labor was the
best for. several years. Necessary
competition. however. with the in