The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-07-30
SOUTH DAKOTA CROPS
FIELD AGENT HERBRANOSON
REPORTS SOUTH DAKOTA
CONDITIONS GOOD.

The monthly report of H. O. Her.
Grandson, field agent in South Dakota
of the bureau OF crop estimates,
United States department OF agricul-
ture, Is as follows: Weather condi-
lions. no doubt, were a contributing
factor in causing a substantial in
crease OF acreage to be planted to this
crop. However, there were other i'm
portant reasons why the corn acreage
increased to the detriment OF other
cereal acreage; chief amOl-s these
were the Improbable returns from the
wheat in 1919. and the frequency of
damage occurring to wheat in recent
years. The farm labor situation had
considerable to do with the increase
toward corn as did also the price OF
rorn on the market. Many farmers
are also growing cultivated crops with
the object of cleaning their fields of
foul weeds. In the southern-most
counties, corn has been better cared
for than throughout the central and
northern portion. where rain and
standing water have prevented cul-
tivation. West of the Missouri river,
moisture has been abundant but not
detrimental and as a result the pros
pect for corn and other crops also is
excellent. This is the greatest acre
age devoted to corn South Dakota has
ever planted. With an acreage mater
tally below that Of a rear ago, the pros
pect now is. for production OF spring
wheat above that of 1919, although
the July estimate of 1919 was 12,0OO,-
600 bushels greater than the present
prospect. Very great changes fire.
quently take place to this crop In
South Dakota during July. sometimes
materially improving the crop but in
the more recent years July has fire.
quently greatly reduced the harvest.
This year the situation Is not yet
known. The fields are now generally
headed out, the stand on the ground
very thick while the plants art rank
in growth and more than usually ten
der and susceptible to injury by dis
ease by storm. The situation as to
oats is quite similar to that OF spring
wheat except that more Of the crop
is grown in the southern section where
the best conditions obtain. The bar
ley crop was planted later and is, as
a consequence cleaner than other
crops. The promise is very good.
The condition Of rye is only fair: the
crops are thin on the ground and fields
are foul. The unfavorable condition
at time Of sowing was the chief cause
of a reduced prospect. The abundant
moisture which favored breaking OF
sod but which discouraged planting
of wheat increased the acreage to be
devoted to flax. The prospect at this
time is excellent.
Northern South Dakota will be the
prairie chicken hunters paradise this
fall from present indications. Not in
many years have prairie chickens
been been so plentiful as this sum-
mer. Large numbers of them are
seen daily in the hills Of Day and
Marshall counties. where they mi.
grated from lower regions owing to
wet weather.
Grandma Case, Of Boyes, who once
stood off seven Indians when they
started a raid on her corn ranch. a
few days ago celebrated her S9th birth
anniversary. At the time of the early
incident she was the main defender of
the home of her four little children.
The Indians failed in their mission and
left without harming the little group.
Assurance of a p~ontoon bridge cross
ing of the Missouri river at Yankton
by September l, without any lapse
after the ferry stops running, has been
! given with the appointment of a com
mittee from the Yankton Chamber of
| Commerce to take charge of the bridge
proposition.
Grasshoppers have made their ap-
pearance in parts Of Edmunds county
in great numbers and farmers are or
gaming to wage a hard fight on them.
Six hundred freshmen is the predic-
! ton made for the opening of the Uni
| versity of South Dakota this fall.
A new federal statute which went
lulO GuCCt July i HldhCo Gil AK
| adult Indians competent SO far as re-
| ceiving lease money from the whites
is concerned where such sum does not
| exceed $500 per year.
At a joint meeting Of the county
| commissioners of Jackson and Mel
lette counties held at Kadoka it was
| unanimously voted to build a bridge
| across White river just south of Bel
videre.
There is a noticeable increase in
| the number Of students enrolled in the
summer session Of State college this
year as compared with last summer.
The Jordan State bank has been
moved bodily from Jordan to Winner.
The name has been changed to the
| Winner State bank.
The census returns of Turner coun
ty show the county has gained 1881 in
population during the past ten years.
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