The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-29
Dry Weather Has Cost Farm
ers of Kansas Millions.
Yield Estimated at Only 56,445,-
600 Bushels.
OTHER CROPS ALSO WERE HIT
Rains of Last Week Came Too
Late To Aid.
No Change in the July Wheat
Estimates.

Kansas corn which one month ago
looked like 1871 per cent of a full
yield has dropped to 43.s per cent.
Hot, dry weather Of July and August
has burned millions of dollars out of
the pockets of corn growers OF the
state. J. C. Mohler, secretary of the
state board OF agriculture, today esti-
mated the states corn crop at 81, 6,445,-
900 bushels-the fifth shortest crop
Kansas has known in forty-five years.
Rains which came to many sections
of the state this week were the par
don papers which arrived after the
and refreshing. But the corn crop
will get little If any benefit from the
early fall moisture. The supplications
for rains several weeks ago did not
produce the showers in time to call
for the building of new corn sheds.
Corn conditions at this time indi-
cate. a yield of but twelve million
bushels greater than last year. A
steady decline in growing conditions
has been reported from all sections
of the state during the past twelve
months. Acreage is 100000.
Other Crops Suffer.
While the corn crop has carried the
heavy shock which came to Kansas as
a result of the midsummer heat, also
August rains have taken their share
of the sorrow. Pastures. tho, held up
reasonably well during the summer
owing to heavy winter and spring
rains. The prairie hay crop is about
half million tons greater than a
year ago.
Wheat yields are unchanged from
the July report-late returns indicat-
ing the crop will stand at the former
estimate of 15S,999,2OO bushels. In
his investigation this month, Secretary
Mohler inquired as to the popularity
of the federal grain grading regula-
tions and discount schedules. OF 55S
replies 32s were sure the system was
unfair and unjust. while 235 were
favorable to the federal grades.
In his report Mohler said:
MohIer's Report.
The Kansas corn crop of 1919 may
amount to 56.445,00O bushels, accord
ing to the estimates of correspondents.
This is an average yield of 1871
bushels per acre, on the 4.190, 900
acres planted. This years acreage in
corn is the smallest since 1881. and
the prospective yield indicated is the
fifth smallest produced in Kansas in
forty-five years. altho it is more than
last years crop by about 10000
bushels. In most localities prospects
for corn declined steadily during the
past month owing to a continuation
of high Temperatures and dry weather,
from a condition of 1917 per cent July
19 to 43.8 per cent now, and so far
as grain production is concerned,
much of the crop is a total failure.
The poorer conditions prevail in the
counties of the central third of the
state. In a few counties favored by
timely local rains creditable acre
yields are promised, as in the five
northeastern counties of Doniphan,
with 81 bushels (the highest), Brown
25 bushels, Atchison % bushels, Leav-
! enworth % bushels and Wyandotte 2a
bushels. Norton, a western county in
the northern tier. reports prospect
i've aggregate yield of 2,491,0 900, the
| largest, or rs bushels per acre. Only
four other counties report acre yields
| of 20 bushels or better, Allen, Bour-
bon and Wilson, in the southeast, with
| 20, 21 and 21 bushels, respectively
and Johnson, to the north. with &c
| bushels Rather better than avera gt
yields are promised in a number of the
western counties. where, however. the
acreage planted is comparatively
small always.
| While rains during the present weel
and since this canvass of conditions
was made. have been heavy in por-
tions Of the state. the precipitation
came too late to materially benefit any
considerable proportion of the state.
corn crop as a whole.
The present season subjects the sor-
ghums to another test of their dry
weather-resisting powers. and with
what success they have withstood tht
| adverse conditions is well suggested by
| their average percentages of condition
ranging "a to 33.1 points higher thar
| the percentage condition of corn
| which is reported at 43.8, all based or
100 as representing a SATISFACTORY
growth and development While tht
progress of the scrghums was checked
| by the unfavorable weather of tn,
past month, these crops are in gooC
| condition and where recent rains hav'
| fallen, may be expected to respond
with rapid growth.
There is a very marked decrease II
| the acreage planted to the sorghum
! this year. The total acreage is 1881.
| 600 acres. or less than last year b,
about 40 per cent.
The Kafir Acreage.
The acreage planted to Kafir thi