The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-05-21
MISSOURI CROPS, MAY, 1920

Jefferson City, Mo-, May 12.-That
Missouri crops are from three to -four
weeks late, wheat showing but little
improvement during the past month,
acreage of abandoned wheat 232 200
acres, increase in meadows 225,000
acres, oats condition 80 per cent of
normal, spring blowing but as per
cent completed, pastures 70 per cent of
normal, and the forecast ofsthe yield,
of Missouri winter wheat ef 29,937 Il
900 bushels. on 2.348, 900 acressagainst;
81, 699, 900 bushels on 4,272,000 acres
last year, are the significant and inn
portant features Of the joint crop re-
port issued today by E. A. Logan and
Jewell Mayes of the Bureau of Crop
Estimates of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture and Missouri
State Board of Agriculture.
The following are very important
crop facts concerning St. Francois
county: the acreage of winter wheat
now standing for harvest in this coun-
ty is II ,490 acres, now indicating a to-
tai yield of 1900 bushels, averaging
10 bushels per acre, the condition now
being 70 per cent of normal in this
county; hay in this county, SO per
cent; portion of blowing done on May
lst, so per cent; pasture condition, 10
per cent; oats, 81 per cent.
Missouri wheat made little progress
during April because of cool weather
and little sunshine. Condition, rs
per cent against 70 per cent April LIST,
and 26 points below last May. May
conditiono f75 per cent indicates yield
of IL ga bushels against final yield
of 10 IL bushels in 1919. Overfows,
severe winds, Hessian fly and chinch
bugs have all taken their toll in GER
tain areas.
Fertilized wheat land shows the
better promise. The abandoned acre
age of 3 per cent or 232 200, is puch
larger than for several years, princi-
pally in west, southwest and few
north central counties. Spring wheat
is sown on small acreage. Rye condi-
ton of IS per cent indicates 13 bush
els per acre on about four-fifths of
last years acreage.
Hay condition 80 per cent, 81 per
cent last May. Acreage of hay has
increased 8 per cent or 1000 acres
over 1919, but does not yet reach pre-
war area. Prairie hay shows an in
crease of 3 per cent III acreage, with
favorable conditions. Meadows are
well soaked, promising a good hay
crop. The old hay is 10 per cent of
last year or 379, 400 tons.
Missouri oats acreage increased z
per cent over last year but not up to
Expectations, due to conditions during
March and April, resulting in reduced
acreage in northern section, while in
south seeding has been more fully up
to expectations. Much seeded as nurse
crop for grass. Condition, so per cent.
Spring blowing was on May LIST, 45
per cent completed. Spring seeding
was 43 per cent finished, compared to
62 last May. In the west and south
west rs to 95 per cent of the corn has
been planted; in east and southeast
rs to so per cent, in northern and CEN
trail from nothing up to 40 per cent
+ plowed.
Pastures, 7s per cent of normal,
with grass coming rapidly, due to the
warm weather and sunshine of the last
few days.
Deaths among live stock in past
year resulted among horses and cattle
principally from shortage of feed and
by exposure. and among sheep from
unusual diseases and lack Of care, with
losses in lambs and pigs in many in
stances from eastern storm. Condi-
ton of horses and mules, SO per cent
cattle, 81 per cent; sheep, 80 per cent
. hogs, 90 per cent. Reports are made
| Of blackleg and bloat among cattle
, where feed was shortest during win
. ter, and favorable mention is made Of
the absence of hog cholera in many
sections where farmers now believe it
is thing Of the past due to general
vaccination.
J Fruit prospects are spotted through
out Missouri. Apples and peaches in
many of the southern sections were
nearly all killed. while in the northern
! half not SO serious. Farm peaches
are set fairly well in central and
( southern sections. Cherries. pears
e and "cane" fruits are generally il
: good condition, not seriously damaged
= by frosts.
t Farm work from three to four week;
t late. Corn planting is in full swing
\ with prospects for planting heavily
a during next ten to fifteen days. Gar,
6 dens are late, and potato stands. un,
n even. Strikes prevented shipping Of
: eggs. chickens and calves, and seri
4 ously reduced prices. Labor shortage
. still exists. Good use is being made Of
: tractors, help being utilized to the
+ fullest possible advantage.