Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-12-17
OUR FARMERS
LEAD The WORLD
4. 0<x. 'ican Agriculturist Produces
Tm>" Half Times as Much
as 4. Ar lest Rivals and
Six T., 'Ore Than
LIVE STOCK ON FARMS
WORTH $S, $50 900, COO
During Past Five Years They Have
Increased Cattle, Swine and
Horses to a Total of
2S,9OO,OOO.

Washington, ID. C.-The American
farmer leads the world in indivi-
dual production of crops, Secretary
Houston, of the department of agri-
culture, asserted today in his annual
report. While countries such as Bel
gium, under intensive farming, get
a higher acreage yield, he said, TAX
ing both acreage and yield per acre
into account, the American agricul-
turist produces two and a half times
as much as his Belgian and German
rivals, 2.3 times as much as the Brit
ish farmer, 80 times as much as the
French, and more than six times as
much as the Italian.
The result of this and of the Amer.
lean farmers war work is shown in
the 1919 American crop production,
placed at three times greater in val
ue than the average annual output
during the five year period proceeding
the European war The aggregate
value of all crops this year is placed
at $15,S73, 900, 900 as compared to
$14.222, 100000 in 1918 and an ave-
rage of $500, 100000 during the
five year period.
Live stock on farms this year was
figured at $500, 900. 200, as against
$S,2S4, 100000 in 1918.
The average yield of all crops for
the decade ending in 1918 is about
16 per cent greater than for the ave-
rage for the decade ending with 1890
the report said. The average rate
of increase for the past twenty-five
years is about one-half of one per
Icent a year.
Estimates in the report put the
1919 wheat production at 91S, An
900 bushels and corn at 2,910,250.-
600 bushels. Cotton. is expected to
reach 10,696,0OO bales and tobacco
,316, 5000 pounds.
The farmers of the nation in 1919
planted an acreage in leading cereals
greater by 100000 than the pro-
war annual average which it is esti-
mated will yield 6S5,OO0,000 more
than the pre-war average, Mr.. Hous-
| ton said of war work on the farms.
They increased the number of mich
cows over 1914 by 100000, of other
cattle by S,500,000, OF swine by 16,-
100000 and of horses and mules by
1000, 200, or total of 2S,900,000
The planting operations of the year
began before the fighting ceased and
the call was still for more wheat. The
department suggested a maximum
fall acreage of IL per cent over 1918
There was actually planted 49,261,-
600, the largest acreage in the nat
ions history, 6,960,O0O acres more
than in 1918.
The spring wheat acreage was 22.-
$4,000 while the winter and spring
paintings combined amounted to IT,
,S54 900 acres or 1900, 900 more than
the preceding record.
1t is estimated that the yield will
exceed that Of 1918 by 100000 bus
hels and will be the nations second
record wheat crop. The estimated
corn crop of 2,910,OOO.O0O bushels
will be 3OO,O00,OOO greater than
that of 1918.
The nation can further expend its
output of commodities by cultivating
unsued tillable land, estimated as
more than 60 per cent of the total,
the report states. Expansion is lin
tied, however, by the supply of capi-
tai and labor.
No step to promote farmers cooper
ative associations along the right
lines, should be omitted, the secre-
tary said. 1t is estimated that these
organizations market annually ZAP
proximately $1,000, 10000 worth of
commodities.
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