Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-31
FARMER To
BE LEADER
Of WORLD
PROSPECTS BRIGHT
South viii Share in Rich
Prosperity Sure to Gomez
According to Government
Experts

LApCI 10
There is no cause for alarm as 10
the future ability Of the Cnite1
States to hold its due place IN the
trade of the world and especially as
TO the ability of American agrlcul-
ture to maintain its position in the
world reimbursement that must fol-
low the ending of the war This IS
the judgment of the United States
department Of agriculture, expressed
in statement issued today from the
office of the secretary.
A detailed survey .of the agricul-
tural situation shows the imposSlbll-
ity of forecasting the conditions that
will obtain when the 1919 crops are
matured, but it is pointed out that
the markets of the world are opening
I'D for American products and that
considerable demand from European
countries for foodstuffs is almost as
sured for a year CT more.
The signing of the armistice, the
department of agriculture points out,
found the United States with fair
smaller than usual stocks OF feeds.
In response to increased needs Tor
food, many farmers -ploWed up per
manent pastures and other grass
lands needed for live stock and plant
ed them to grain crops while others
broke their rotation systems ana
planted the same land to grain sew
eral wears in succession, thus reduc-
ing the fertility.
Increase Live Stock
Now that farming is to be restor-
ed to a peace time basis, the depart
ment of agriculture thinks that
many of the lands suitable for
meadow or pasture should be re-
seeded to grass, that regular and sat
isfactory rotations of crops should
tooT
should find place on larger NUM-
Der of farms. These readjustments
appear to be necessary in order 10
meet the still urgent demand for
meats and fats, as well as to re-
store sound farm practice.
A wise live stock program, the de-
partment concludes after reviewing
ali conditions, will involve maintain
ing the number of horses and mules
without material increase, a normal
cows and dairy products. normal
increase in the number of beef cat
tie, a conservative policy with re
spect to increasing the number OF
swine until the relative shortage ana
high price of feeds IS overcome, an
increase in sheen consistent with Ia
cilities for feeding and pasturage
and the farmers skill in handling
them, and an increase in farm Hooks
of poultry where a minimum OF pur-
chased feed is required.
Factors Affect Wheat
The indicated plant program is not
quite so definite. The proper pollcy
as to wheat depends upon a compll-
Gated set of conditions, but it seems
certain that the farmers of the Unit
ed States will be JUSTIFIED IN NAM
tanning their acreage of corn, oats
and barley, large productions of
which are necessary to maintain nor
nal live stock production.
1t appears desirable to increase the
production Of hay by about 25 per
cent. The cotton situation depends
largely upon the ability of the Euro
pean countries to buy in average pre-
war quantities, but the practice rec
commended is for the individual farm
to have sufficient land available to
produce enough food and feed for
his family and live stock. An aver
age acreage of potatoes is justified.
Peanut production, abnormally St1mu-
lated by the demand for oil during
the war, should be readjusted as a
part of the crop economy in the ter
ritory to which it is adapted. The
department urges those who intend
to maintain home gardens to plan to
meet the needs of the family rather
than to produce crops for market.
The general food situation will be
affected by new factors introduced
by the signing Of the armistice. At
tention is called to the fact that,
while many millions of people have
been added to those that must be
aided by the allies, the demobiliza-
ton of armies will permit men to re-
turn to the farms and that an at
tempt 20 increase food production in
all the affected European countries
may be expected this year. While
normal pre-War production may not
be expected in many areas, it is evil
dent that under favorable conditions
material increase over the past year
will be secured in Europe as a whole.
In the light of these conditions, the
cereal requirements for 1919 are re-
viewed.
What Europe Needs
Total import wheat requirements
for Europe, Including Germany and
Austria, appear likely to exceed 1885,
100000 bushels. The estimated sur
plus stocks from Canada, Argentina,
and Australia total 100000 bush
els. From the 1918 crop, the United
States will probably have a surplus
of 277,00O,000 bushels for export and
carry-oYer. If the total SURPRISES
of other countries are exhausted-and
Russia, which before the war pro
duced an exportable surplus Of 1872
100000 bushels, is not relied upon
for anything this year-the United
States would be called upon to export
233, 100000 bushels and would have
eo arG into nSxt year OF 4
however. is likely to be reduced by
increased consumption in the United
States and Europe following several
years of short rations. The 1919
wheat crop i'll the United States is
expected to give an exportable sur
plus of from 250,000,000 to 100000
900 bushels. IN both 1919 and 1920,
the question of price and the ability
of European countries to finance pur-
chases are pointed out as the deci-
Sive limiting factors.
European countries will need to
import, both this year and next, about
65000,000 bushels of rye, 100000 900
bushels of barley, 118,O00,000 bushels
Of oats and 255, 100000 bushels of
corn. The United States can supply
from it's 1918 crop all the oats re-
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