The Clio messenger., 1920-04-22
MICHIGAN CROPS


Michigan Cooperative Crop Report
ing Service, U. S. Department of
Agriculture:
The outlook for wheat and rye is
somewhat better than the average OF
the past ten years as shown by re-
cent reports furnished to the Mich
igan Cooperative Crop Reporting
Service. The joint report issued by
Coleman c. Vaughan, Secretary of
State and Verne H. Church, Field
Agent, U. S. Bureau of Crop Estim-
ates, for April 1, also shows that
these grains have wintered well un-
der the prevailing favorable weather
conditions, although the production
indicated is not as large as that of
last year. The supply of farm labor
is far short of farm needs and much
less than the normal supply. How
ever, the demand has not increased
over last year, and it is only slightly
greater than normal, for the reason
that wages are higher than most
farmers can afford to pay. The ma
iority of farmers will do what work
is possible without hiring, so that
many farms will not beworked at all
this year. This condition will un-
doubtedly cause a reduced crop pro-
duction in Michigan this year
Winter Wheat
The condition of winter wheat is
sc per cent, or 6 per cent less than of
December /, and 9 per cent below the
condition of last years crop on the
corresponding date. 1t is still three
per cent better than the ten-year
average for April 1. There was a
relatively heavy snow covering
throughout the winter, but on rolling
and hilly lands high winds ca 7sed the
snow to drift badly, leaving tie tops
of hills bare. There was consider
able damage done last fall by the
Hessian fly in many southern coun-
ties On the whole, the crop is in n
satisfactory condition except in oc-
casional localities. March was un-
usually favorable for the croo.
The estimated amount of wheat
marketed at mills'and elevators in the
State during March is $4,000 BUSH
els. or a total of 1O,362,000 bushels
since August /, 1919.
The outlook for the United States
is less fattering, as the condition is
only 1876 per cent as compared with
1913 year ago, and 84.1, the ten
year average. This low condition
combined with the marked decrease
in acreage indicates a total winter
wheat crop of only 483,617 900 BUSH
els, as compared with 731 ,636,000
bushels last year.
Rye
AS is usual, rye shows a better
condition than wheat in the State, be-
ing 90 per cent as compared with 95
per cent December |, SO per cent one
year ago, and a ten-year average of
SS per cent. Practically no COM
plant regarding the outlook for the
crop was received from any section.
Rye promises a total crop in the
United States of 1884, 900 bushels
as against 88,478,00 bushels, last
year the condition being 1913 per
cent. The average one year ago was
906 per cent and the ten-year aver
age, 80 per cent.
Breeding Sows
The usual inquiry relative to the
number of breeding sows on the
farms shows that there are three per
cent less than last year and five per
cent less than the usual number.
There was an increase Immediately
following the war, but the relatively
high price of feeds in comparison
with the price of pork has discour-
aged the increasing of herds and
caused 4he reduction mentioned. The
reduction for the United States as
whole is ten per cent.
Labor Supply and Demand
The supply of labor on Michigan
farms is only 80 percent of that of
one year ago and go per cent of nor
NAL. Notwithstanding this marked
shortage, the demand is only about
equal to that of last year. The
wages are too hikh to warrant the
hiring of the amount of labor needed
to fully operate the farms.
The supply for the United States
as whole is 87.3 per cent of last
year and 72.4 per cent of normal,
while the demand, like the situation
in Michigan, is about the same as
last year and only slightly more than
normal.