Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-10
BIG REDUCTION !.
IN ACREACEO OF
SPRING WHEAT
Shown For North Dakota.b y
Report of Government 7
Field Agent.

NCPO4C O4 OOVCIlu1lcllI IL |
Field Agent. +.
A substantial cut in wheat acreage.
a slight increase in the acreaEes OF
oats and barley, and q fair crop out
look over most Of the state are the
most interesting features of the June
l crop report Of the U. s. Bureau Of
Crop Estimates for North Dakota.
Wheat Acreage Lower.
The wheat acreage in this state
that of last season. A numberso In
huences have combined to. cause. this
heavy reduction as the late spring
over the entire state, the unsatisfac-
tory farm labor situation and hopper
problem, the short plowed acreage
coupled with the unfavorable feed
and financial conditions in the west
ern half of the state. the desire Of
numerous farmers to clean up foul
fields either through summer fallow-
ing or change in cropping plans.
In the eastern third Of the state. rep
resent1ng slightly over half of thu
wheat acreage in the state. the fall
proved acreage, was above. average
and the wheat acreage changes are
very moderate, varying as a rule lrom
practically no change from asst sea
son to a 10 per cent decrease. The
acreage for this entire area will
average about 5 per cen less thar
that of last year Most of the unit
averages reported for the western
two-thirds Of the state range from 10
to rs per cent below the acreage of
last season. A few notable keep
lions OF this are the northwestern
counties .EhnHu{n0 - 4<{~~If. . a 49,
cent decrease due to the unusually
late spring conditions. The heavy
REIMBURSEMENT caused by the factors
mentioned above, while unfavorable- to
wheat acreage, favored an increased
acreage of feed crops. This increase
in acreage however is more marked
IN forage feed crops than for oats and
barley. as the high price and rather
scant seed supply prevented the acre
age OF these crops from showing an
increase that ordinarily would have
obtained following the existing spring
conditions. In a general way the
oats and barley acreages range from
a substantial increase in eastern
counties to a rather marked decrease
IN most Of the western counties. The
oats acreage for h state shows a 3
per cent increase over that of last
season and barley 1 per cent.
Condition of Crops.
The condition Of wheat. BATS and
barley ranges from fair in the west
ern section Of the state to favorable in
the eastern section, where as a rule
seeding was earlier and moisture con-
dition more favorable. Growth was
retarded very little by frost during
the month. Late May rains were quite
extensive and beneficial n%oticeably
improving the general condition Of
| rrnNa 6IJrir0 TIM r1Nciro rpranlx ~ thn
month. Crops are stooling favorably
and showing good root growth and
color. Generally speaking the top
growth shows nearly the usual ad-
vancement for June / with the posi-
BILE exception Of the northwestern
counties where seeding was unusually
late. The fact that grain crops nave
weeks later than usual coupled with
the uncertainty Of the hopper situa-
ton. makes a more conservative view
of the crop outlook advisable at this
time than indicated by the present
condition of growth. Thus the con
sentative condition. statement issued
in this report. Wheat seeding was
completed with q few exceptions by
May 20. About IS per cent of the
barley and practically all of the seed
ing Of oats was completed by June 1.
The North Dakota rye condition
continues disappointing due largely to
the extremely unfavorable weather in
April. Scattered fields show excellent
stands but h bulk Of the fields over
stands. Growth up to the latter part
of May was n~oticeably backward and
uneven, but showing improvement at
the close Of the month. Future
weather may improve the y crop
outlook. but the present prospect is
noticeably below average.
Hay and pasture growth continues
backward but showing marked i'm
provement during the last ten days
over the entire state.
Bushel Estimate.
The spring wheat acreage for North
Dakota is estimated to- be 6.915,00
acres with a condition Of IS per cent
indicating a state production of 49,.
$4,000 bushels compared to 53,613,.
600 bushels last ear and an average
of S6,s12,000 bushels. U. s. acreage
of spring wheat is 1~9,487,000 acres
with a condition Of 89.1 per cent in
bushels compared. to 20s,351.Oot
bushels last year and an average o
258,748,000. u. S. winter whea
production 5o3,ss6,ooo bushels com
pared to 1885, 900 bushels last yea
and the average of 5~63,49S,00
bushels. North Dakota oats acreag'
is 2,472,o0O acres with a condition o
SO per cent promising state pr0duc
ltion Of 5%s.52e,00O bushels compared
to 3S,400, 900 bushels a year n tn
average of 63,15S;00G bushels. Dat
production o~utlook.for the U. 8. IL l,
~315,476,O00 bushelss compared to l,
248. 10000 bushels last year and tn
average of 1.414,558.000 bushels
North Dakota barley acreage 1878.
600 acres with a condition of IS pc
cent indicating a production Of 81.
553,0oO bushels compared to 1880,
900 bushels last year and the averag
of 32,301.000 bushels. u. s. barle
production 1ss.1o8, 900 bushels com
pared to 1878. 900 bushels las
year and the average of 2~14.s19,00
bushels. Rye condition for Nortl
Dakota estimated to be 70 per cen
indicating a production OF; 9.807,00
bushels compared to- 15.5S0.00
bushels last year and the average Il
8,451,O 900 bushels. U. s. rye produc
ton is placed at 8~o,600,000 bushel
|compared to S~s,478.000 bushels las
year and an average of 59.s33.00
bushels. Next month in addition t
giving condition estimates for tn
leading crops in the state the prelim
mary estimates of the acreages 10
corn, fax and potatoes vii be shown