The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-15
CROPS HEAVY, BUT
SHRINK IN VALUE
Worth of 1920 Yield Is Nearly
S5,OO0,OOO,OOO Under That
Of Last Year.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 14-Shrinkag OF
values Of the country's farm crops has
placed their total worth this year at al
most s5,000.000,0O0 less than it was last
year. although the 1920 harvest was one
of the most abundant in the nations
history, with half dozen crops break
ing records
The important farm crops OF this
year. which comprise about 90 per cent
OF the value OF all farm crops. were
valued to-day at s9.14S.419, 900 by the
Department of Agriculture in it's final
estimates. Last year those crops were
valued at s14.0S7. $4,000. Acreage de-
voted to the important crops also de-
creased. the total being 35f032.409
this year, against 356,162,122 last year.
THE extraordinary character of the
harvests which have proven to be
among the most abundant in the coun-
trys history. notwithstanding begin
nings about as unpromsing as ever
known. is emphasized by the December
revisions of estimates. the department
said in a statement commenting on to-
days report.
"The final outcome of the 1920 wheat
harvest. winter and spring combined. Is
now estimated at 7S9,S7S,00O bushels.
compared with 49,. 265, 900 bushels in 1919,
this being an increase over the earlier
estimates for 1920 of 80. 10000 bushels.
The 1920 acreage abandoned from winter
killing was less than expected. and in
dicated by very bad and unpromising
conditions on May l. and the increas-
ingly favorable character of the later
season permitted much wheat then con-
sidered hopeless to develop and come TO
harvest. The reports OF increase over
earlier eXpectat ions of winter wheat
produced come from almost every inn
portant whea. State. The greatest gain.
100000 Is In Kansas. the leading pro-
Queer Of winter wheat. In that State
the increase was helped by an area OF
over 100000 acres of volunteer wheat
sprouted from shattered grain in tie
autumn of 1919. which. despite its I'M
promising beginning and doubtful pros
poets in the spring OF 1920. came finally
to harvest.
'In general II appears that the reduc-
tion in crop acreage in 1920 below 1919
is less than was thought and reported
at the beginning of the crop season.
Notwithstanding the early unfavorable
conditions for farm work. the efforts
of the farmers to fully seed their fields.
assisted by favoring days that came
late in the planting period. resulted in
paintings greater than anticipa ted"
Increases I'm almost every crop were
reported In the revised production figures
in contrast to the preliminary estimates
announced in November. Corn. with n
record crop shows an increase or about
33. 900 bushels; winter wheat an in
crease OF almost 100000 bushels :;
spring wheat o decrease of 5000. 900
bushels oats an increase of almost
100000 bushels: barley increased al
most 11.000,o00 bushels; potatoes in
creased 100000 bushels. and tobacco
increased $4,000. 900 pounds.
The yield of corn an acre set a record
with an average production OF 500
bushels. Only once before has the aver
age yield an acre exceeded 30 bushels.
and that was in 1906. when 1913 bushels
was made.
Although the corn crop IL a record
one. its value this year Is sl,662, 900. 900
less than last years crop, which was
$4,000, 900 bushels smaller. The price
being paid to farmers for corn on De-
cember l was announced by the Depart
ment OF Agriculture as 61.7 cents a
bushel in contrast TO s1.334s a year ago
Production OF the various crops IL
estimated in the following terms :
Bushels" corn. winter wheat spring
wheat, oats. barley rye. buckwheat.
fiaxseed. rice. potatoes, sweet potatoes.
peanuts, beans and peaches tons" hay
and cottonseed pounds" tobacco, beet
sugar and cane sugar: gallons" sor-
ghum syrup; bales cotton: boxes"
oranges, and barrels" apples.