New-York tribune., 1919-12-07
Secretary 3 of Agriculture
Places Aggregate Value
of American Crops for
Year at $15,873, 100000
Record Yield of Wheat
Organization of Credit
Unions for Tillers of the
Soil Are Recommended

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The Ameri-
can farmer leads the world in indi-
vidual production Of crops. Secretary
Houston of the Department of Agri-
culture, asserted to-day in his annual
report. While countries such as Bel
Rium, under intensive farming, get
higher acreage per yield, he said, tax
ing both acreage and yield per acre
into account, the American agricultur-
lat produces two and a half times as
much as his Belgian and German rivals,
2.3 times as much as the British
farmer, SO times as much as the
French, and more than six times as
much as the Italian.
The result of this and of the Ameri-
can farmers war work is shown in the
1919 American crop production, placed
at three times greater in value than the
average annual output during the five
year period preceding the European
war. The aggregate value of all crops
this year is placed at $15,873,0 100000,
~ compared to $14,222 900, 900 in 1918
and an average of $5,829, ,O00,0 during
the five-year period.
Livestock on farms this year was
figured at $3.50, 100000, as against
50 100000 in 1918.
The average yield for all crops for
the decade ending in 1918 is about 16
per cent greater than for the average
for the decade ending with 1890, the
report said. The average rate of in
crease for the last twenty-five years
10 about a of per cent
918,471 900 Bushels of Wheat
Estimates in the report put the 1919
wheat production at 8,471 900 bush
els and corn at 2,91O,250.0 900 bushels.
Cotton is expected to reach 10,696,000
bales, and tobacco 1,316,553, 900 pounds.
"The farmers of the nation in 1919
planted an acreage in leading cereals
greater by 33,OO0,000 than the pre-war
annual average. which, it is estimated,
will yield 35,000,000 more than the
war work on the farms. "They in
creased the number of milch cows over
1914 by 100000, of other cattle by
$500, 900 of swine by 16,700000, and of
| horses and mules by 100000, or a
i total of 28,900,00O. s<
1.-THE planting operations of the year
/ began before the fighting ceased and
the call was still for more wheat. The
department suggested a maximum full
acreage Of 47,2O6,000 acres, an increase
of IL per cent over 1918. There was ac-
acreage in the notions history, $780,
mn ~,aOro tho n ~, 1919
"The spring wheat acreage was 22,-
$4,000, while the winter and spring
paintings combined amounted to H.
$4,000 acres, or 100000 more than
the preceding record.
ut is estimated that the yield will
exceed that of 1918 by 100000 bushels
and will be the nations second rec
ord wheat crop. The estimated corn
crop of. 2,91O,0O0,00O bushels will be
100000, 900 greater than that of 1918
Urges Cooperative Agencies
The nation can further expand its
output of commodities by cultivatng
unused tillable. land, estimated at moro
than 60 per cent of the total, the re-
port states. Expansion is limited, how
ever, by the supply of capital and
labor.
No step to promote farmers CO.
operative dSSOCidtlOilS dlUu6 tHc IlSut
lines should be omitted, the Secretary
said. 1t is estimated that these or
carnations market annually approx
mately $1,500,000,0O0 worth of COM
modities.
Included in Mr.. Houston's recon-
mendations were the following:
The building up, primarily unde,
state law, of a system of personal
credit unions for farmers whose tinan.
ciak~ status and operations make it
difficult to secure accommodations
through the ordinary channels; ex-
pansion of facilities for aiding in
marketing, especially extension of the
market news and food products in
spection services; continuation of Fed
eral participation in road building
through an appropriation of $100,000,-
900 for each of the next four years
regulation and control Of stockyards
and packing houses; Federal legisla
tion to protect consumers against
adulterated feeds and fertilizers; in
creased state support for rural schools
and more definite instruction as to
rural problems and conditions; legis-
lation to improve rural sanitary con-
ditions and provide hospital and med
ical facilities.