Gilpin observer., 1920-12-16
VALUE OF CROPS
SLUMPS in 1920
eHRlNkAeE RESULTS, DESPITE
ONE OF MOST ABUNDANT
HARVEsTs IN HISTORY.
CORN BREAKS RECORD
PRODUCTION OF SIX OF coUN-
TRYS FARM CROPS LARGER
THAN ANY YEAR.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Washington, Dec. 1o-Shrinkage of
values of the country's farm crops has
placed their total worth this year at
almost $5.000,0OO,0OO less than last
year, although the 1920 harvest was
one of the most abundant in the ma
tons history with half dozen crops
breaking records.
The important farm crops, which
comprise about 80 per cent of the
value of all farm crops, are valued this
year at S9,14S, $4,000 by the Depart
ment of Agriculture in its final esti-
mates.
Last year these crops were valued
at $14,OS7, ,995,000.
Acreage devoted to the important
crops also decreased, the total being
351 ,062, 400 this year, as compared with
35G, 162, 112 last year.
1.-The extraordinary character of the
harvests, which have proven to be
among the most abundant in the coun-
try's history, Notwithstanding begin
nings about as unpromising as ever
known, is emphasized by the December
revisions of estimates" the depart
ment said in Il statement commenting
on the report.
THE final outcome of the 1920
wheat harvest, winter and spring COM
bined, is now estimated ut 7S9,S1S,00O
bushels, compared with 934 ,265, 900
bushels In 1919, this being an increase
over the earlier estimates for 1920 Of
80, 100000 bushels.
Nh,
winter killing was less than expected
and indicated by the very bad and un-
promising conditions on May /, and
the increasingly favorable character
Of the later season permitted much
wheat then considered hopeless to de-
velOp and come to harvest
"The reports of increase over ear
lier expectations of winter wheat pro-
duced came from almost every import
ant winter wheat state.
I'm that state the increase was
helped by an area of more than 1,0OO,-
600 acres of volunteer wheat sprOuted
from shattered grain in the autumn of
1919, which, despite its unpromsing
beginning and doubtful prospects in
the spring of 1920, came finally to har-
vest.
"In general 1t appears that the re-
ductiOn in crop acreage in 1920 below
1919 is less than was thought and re-
ported at the beginning of the crop
season.
Notwithstanding the early unfav-
Orable conditions for farm work, the
efforts of the farmers to fully seed
their fields, assisted by favOring days
that came late in the planting season.
resulted in paintings greater than an
ticipated."
Increases In almost every crop were
reported il the revised production fig
ures, us compared with the prelimin-
ary estimates announced in November.
Corn, with Il record crop, shows an
increase Of about 33,OO0,000 bushels,
winter wheat, an Increase of almost
4S,00OOO0 bushels, spring wheat de-
crease of 100000 bushels, oats an in
crease Of almost 7O,OOO,OOO bushels,
barley increased almost 100000
bushels, potatoes increased 100000
bushels and tobacco increased $1,000
600 pounds.
The yield Of corn per acre set rec
ord with an average production of 800
bushels.
Only once before has the average
yield per acre been exceeded thirty
bushels and that was In 1906 when
30.3 bushels was made.
While the corn crop Is record one,
Its value this year is 81 ,G62, 100000 less
than last years crop, which was small
er by 374,000,0OO bushels. The price
being paid to farmers for corn on Dec.
! was announced by the department at
67.7 cents n bushel as compared with
81 .319 Il yeur ago