The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-09-16
WILL SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS
STOP GROWING WHEAT?
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BY NJ. X. Benedict
Farm Management Specialist, Exten-
sion division, State College,
Bookings
Will South Dakota farmers eventu-
ally stop growing wheat?
The statement has frequently been
made, both editorially and by farm
ers, that this will be the case. State
ments Of large and heavy losses in
wheat growing are common. The
1919 crop was produced at a very high
cost throughout most of South Dako-
ia because of the low yield, and was
sold at a loss Much of the states
crop is unsatisfactory this year. If
there is no remedy for this condition,
il would seem that the only solution
for the wheat farmer would be to
abandon wheat growing. Fortunate
ly, however, this is not the only way
out.
It has been the history of most of
the new sections Of this country that
their first important cash crop was
wheat. Wheat was easily transport
able, yielded quick returns, involved
comparatively little capitalization,
and required little spec dlation. Con-
sequently, it was grown almost to the
exclusion OF other crops until low
production made it decidedly unprof-
table. Such was the history of Him
OILS, Wisconsin, and Iowa and ever Of
New York.
Lowered fertility together with scab
anthracnose, and other diseases prac-
tically drove out wheat growing from
these states. After a few years with
practically no wheat growing, most
of these states are beginning to grow
wheat again, butSinstead Of being the
main crop, it is a part of a rotation
which includes corn and clover or
other crops.
The surprising thing is that such
states as Ohio and Illinois with their
high priced land are growing wheat
az a lower cost per bushel than are
the newer lands of the Dakotas. The
reason for this lies in the fact that
good crop rotations, good farming
methods, and well-adapted varieties
have come into more general use in
these states than in the west. Since
higher yield is n of the biggest fac
tors in lowering cost per bushel, the
below that Of the western growers.
Wheat growing was driven out of
England by the cheap wheat produced
on the cheap lands OF the United
States, but it is rapidly coming back
because the high yields resulting from
good farm practices make it profit
able. The average yield per acre in
England and Germany before the war
was around 80 bushels. In the Unit
ed States it was a trifle over IA bus
hels 1t probably would not be de-
sirable to bring European methods of
farming into the United States, but
there Is much room for Improvement
in American methods.
1t is unquestionably true that the
price of wheat has often been low in
proportion to the cost of producing il.
This was partly because enormous
areas of land were being opened
up. and over-productron frequently
resulted.
There are now practically no large
areas of new land to be opened up for
wheat growing in North America.
The nation must have wheat to eat,
and therefore will necessarily pay in
the future high enough prices to draw
out the supply needed. This fact to-
gether with the plans now underway
for more efficient marketing of wheat
indicate a brighter outlook for the
wheat grower in the future.
II would seem, also, that instead Of
dropping the growing OF wheat, the
sensible thing would be to work it
into a good rotation. secure the best
adapted varieties, and undertake to
secure larger yields through better
farm practices. This will automatic
ally cut down cost OF production.