The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-27
PLENTY OF WHEAT
Acreage Indicates Kansas
Farmers Are Not on Strike.
Third Largest Planting This
Year-COnditions at SIS.

Kansas farmers have sown 9,S92,44
acres to winter wheat. 1t is the third
largest acreage the state has known.
It smashes the statement that the
wheat growers have gone on a strike,
according to J. C. Mohler, secretary of
the state board of agriculture. Crow
ing conditions are S7.S per cent per-
feet.
Wheat conditions in the state are
generally good, Mohler states with the
exception of in Ellsworth, Ellis and
Russell counties where big slumps
have been reported. That the farmers
will meet their full responsibilities in
production of grain is Secretary
Mothers earnest belief. He hangs to
this belief in spite of the fact that
farmers have faced most discouraging
conditions in the marketing of prod
ucts, they will continue to meet full
responsibility and that there will be
no idle soil in this state. {
Mothers Report.
In his report Mohler said:
While the growers are holding more or
less wheat in hopes of realizing q profit
able price, a canvass just completed by
the board of agriculture showing area
bly, ranking with the third largest in the
history of the state, effectually refutes the
charge that there is a farmers strike -
Discouraging as is the agricultural situa-
ton generally because of unremunerative
prices for farm products, the boards cor
respondents estimate that the acreage sown
$780,, AL acres. This is greater by 2,T0S, 742
acres than the average annual acreage for
the crops of the five.year pre-war period,
cent less than the sowing a year ago, 14.S
per cent less than the record acreage for
the 1919 crops of 11,610.445 acres, and is
Oatf aalt yr ann nc N 100 n
the fall of 1918.
In response to the governments appeal,
the farmers greatly increased wheat pro.
urge has passed the effects Of wise farm
management are shown in the increasing
tendency to restore the agricultural balance
of diversified farming, which in eastern
Kansas particularly implies more attention
to rotation of crops. Not few farmers
acreage sown this fall, and. in fact this dis
position to return to n better balanced crop
system was clearly indicated a year ago,
when the acreage sown to wheat for the
less than in the year preceding, while the
acreages in corn and oats were largely IN
creased. It would be erroneous to assume
however, that the rapid decline in the price
of wheat this fall was not factor In the
reduced acreage. for the majority of cor
respondents frankly state that the condi-
ton of the markets commenced conserva-
tism. and particularly in view Of the posi-
bility of high priced labor for low-priced
also wheat sowing was affected by too
much moisture in a number of southeast
ern counties, and by lack Of moisture in
a few central and northwestern counties.
Elsewhere soil conditions have been excel
lent for sowing and termination, and much
of the wheat has attained such growth as
to afford good pasturage. In the majority
of the counties seeding has been finished,
altho in numerous localities, especially In
the southwest. sowing was still In progress
at the date OF this canvass November 20
About a dozen counties in the southern
half of the western third of the state have
probably sown more wheat than a year
ago. Outside of this area. only two or
three counties indicate more wheat sown
than last fall.
The general average condition Of the fall
sown wheat is rated as SIS per cent, based
on 100 as representing satisfactory stand
and development This is ST points higher
than reported on the growing wheat Of 9
year ago; So lower than in 1918; III
points higher than in 1917. and is SO higher
than the average fail condition for the
five-year period OF 1915-19 The lowest
conditions are in the adjoining north-cen-
trail counties, of Ellsworth, Ellis and RuS-
sell, averaging 20. % and "A respectively.
The highest condition, 9S, is reported for
the two northeastern corner counties OF
Brown and Doniphan.