The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-05-13
May LIST Government Crop Report

planting unsatisfactory, and heavier
than usual live stock losses during the
past year are disclosed by the May
LIST report of the U. s. Bureau of Crop
Estimates for North Dakota.
Rye came through the winter in
nearly an average condition but it is
doubtful if this crop during it's ear
lier stage of plant development has
ever before been subjected TO such
prolonged unfavorable climatic condi-
tons as have existed during the past
month. Rye has been frozen back re-
peatedly either by freezing day tenn
peratures or severe night frosts. Nu-
merous fields that looked promising q
month ago were unfavorable spotted
during the closing week of April.
This condition coupled with the back
ward growth is responsible for the
unfavorable rye report this month.
The concensus Of opinion among far
mers is that most of the rye fields
including those that did not get
start last fall will show marked i'm
provement with the advent of warm
weather. The condition of rye on
May LIST is estimated to be 20 per cent
compared with 80 per cent last year,
| and the ten year average of S4.5 per
cent. The loss from the fall planted
acreage due to winter killing or rath-
err spring killing and flooding low
parts of fields is estimated to be a
per cent.
The North Dakota rye acreage re-
naming for harvest is estimated to
be $4,000 acres compared to 1,945,-
900 acres last year and five year
average of (19141918) of 100000
v1o %al loo foil
was $4,000 acres. Rye has rather
ing to the tremendous changes in
age in 1915 was 100000 acres, 1917
1,04O, 900 acres, 1919 1,945, 900 acres
and in 1920 $4,000 acres. Many of
the we'll known and substantial reas-
0ns for continuing heavy acreage of
rye would have held good again this
season had not the control of hoppers
necessitated radical changes to meet
a problem of unexpected and grow
ing size. Foremost among the COM
bative measures advocated by the Ag-
ricultural College authorities was the
blowing of large acreage either last
fall or this spring to aid in destroy
ing hopper eggs. Farmers being well
aware of the fact that the usual prac-
tice of stumbling in rye provided an
ideal breeding ground for hoppers,
reduced their acreage 81 per cent from
last season. The decrease was ex-
tremely heavy in central and western
counties where hoppers caused such
wide spread damage last season, but
of much lesser size in eastern coun-
ties where the practice Of sowing rye
on fall plowed seed bed has been
more generally followed.
| United States rye production esti-
mated to be 70, $4,000 bu., compar-
ed with 88,478,OO0 bus. last year and
average of 59,933, 900 bus. Winter
wheat production in the United States
is estimated to be 484,647,O00 bus
compared with 731 ,636,OOO bus, last
year and the average Of 563, 498, 900
bus.
Hay and pasture condition on May
LIST is below average generally. Lack
Of growing weather in April, and Sc
we're night frosts caused all spring
growth to be unusually backward.
Surface moisture is sufficient quite
generally to give grass a good start
with the advent of warm weather.
Reports indicate a substantial increase
in hay acreage especially that Of tame
hay this season.
Flowing and planting is from ten
days to two weeks later than the av-
erage for the state as whole. Farm
work in general, while late IS much
further advanced in the southern than
in the northern half of the state.
The cold backward spring, severe
night freezes, and heavy condition Of
fields in this area, especially in the
northwestern counties greatly retard-
ed the progress of field work until
the last few days of April.
Owing to the extremely severe and
prolonged winter live stock losses have
been above average for nearly all
classes Of live stock. Hogs and sheep
show nearer an average loss than
other classes. The bulk of the state
sheep numbers are located in the east
ern half of the state where feed was
ample. More attention than usual
has been given to the care of sheep
in all counties. The comparatively
moderate loss in hogs is due largely
to the fact that hog cholera has been
kept well under control as rule and
has no affected extensive areas. The
loss of cattle and horses was very Sc
we're in the short feed counties of the
western, and especially the southwest
ern, part of the state. The big
March blizzard was the cause of the
heaviest losses Of the winter. The I'M
usual length and severity of this storm
caught numerous cattle unprotected
or in weakened condition and took
heavy toll. Live stock not only in
the western counties but over the en-
tire state shows the effects of the past
hard winter, and the general condi-
ton of stock is inclined to be below
average.