Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-15
1920 CROP BREAKS
RECORD, BUT VALUE
|SHR|NKS ) BILLIONS
Agriculture Department
Gives Details of Amaz-
ing Falling Off.
CORN PRODUCTION
LARGEST IN HISTORY
Kansas, With 100000 Bush
els, Leads in Winter Wheat
Production.
EARLY ESTIMATES EXCEEDED
Winter killing Proved Slight and
Early Forecasts Proved
inadequate.
CARLY ESTIMATES EXCEEDED
Winter killing Proved Slight and
Early Forecasts Proved
Inadequate.
tBy Associated press.I

WASHINGTON. Dec. I4-Shrink-
age Of values Of the country's farm
crops has placed their total worth
this year at almost $4,000. 600. 900 less
than last year. although tho 1920 har-
vest was ono Of the most abundant
IN the nations history. with half a
dozen crops breaking records.
Tn" importan, farm crops. which
comprise about 80 per cent OF the
total value were estimated this year
at s3,lis.5le.000 by the Department
Of Agricultural today In it's fnal cs-
innate. Last year these crops were
valued a, sIi.Os7.3s7. 900. Acreage do
voted 10 the important crops also de-
crcased. the total being 35I,o62.4o9
this year az compared with 356.l6a, :
l22 last year.
The extraordinary character of the
harSests, which have proven TO be
among the most abundant I'm the
country's history Notwithstanding
beginnings about rs unpromising az
ever known. is emphasized By the
December rev!sions OF estimates the
department said In n statement. com
inenting on todays report"
The final outcome of the 1920
wh"a, harvest. winter and spring
combined. Is now estimated at 7ss.-
s's.o0o bushels. compared with s34,-
2ss.oo busheia in 1919. this heinY an
incrcasc over the earlier estimates
for 1920 OF Se.2s0,oo0 bushels.
Tho 1920 acreage abandoned from
winter killing was less than was cS-
pectcd and indicated by the very had
ana nnpromising conditions on May 1.
and tho increasingly favorable char
actcr or the later season permitted
mhch wheat. then considered hope
less. 10 develop and come TO harvest.
Tho reports OF increase over earlier
expectations OF winter wheat pro-
duced come from almost every I'm
portant winter wheat State.
knnnnn Leads in Wheat.
The greatest gain. $4,000. 900. is In
Kansas. the leading producer OF win
ter wheat. In that State tho in
crease was helped by an area of over
100000 acres OF volunteer wheat
sproutcd from shattered grain II. the
autumn of 1919. which, despite its
unrromis!nE beginning and doubtful
prospects In the spring of la20, came
finally to harvest
In general. IL appears that the re-
duction in crop acreage In 1872 below
1919 is less than was thought and re-
ported at the beginning OF the crop
season. notwithstanding the early
unfavorablc conditions for farm
work, the efforts of the farmers to
fully seed their fields. assisted by
fovoring days that came late in tho
planting period, resulted ~ paintings
greater than anticipated"
Increases IN almost every crop
were reported in the revised produc-
tion f,Smr.s. as compared with the
preliminary estimates announced in
November. Corn, with : record crop.
shows an Increase OF aboI, 33.Ov0.-
600 bushels winter whea. an increase
OF almost 100000 bushc's; spring
wheat a decrease of 100000 bds,-
els; oats an increase OF al'no,- o.
100000 au.tcls; barley inc case .t
almost IL 100000 bushels; potatoes.
increases 9. 100000 bushels. ond
...,cco increased $4,000 onu roInds.
The Well OF corn per acre. set a
record with an average production Of
800 bushels. Only once before has
the average yield pcr acre exceed 30
bushels and that was In 1905 when
800 bushels was made.
Corn Breaks Record.
While the corn crop ia i record ono.
It's value this year is s1,6G2, GOO, ,0o0
less than last years crop which was
smaller by 374.000.000 bushels. The
If,ontinucd on Eighth paoel