The Belding banner-news., 1921-07-13
CROP REPORT
FOR JULY REVEALS
MIXED CONDITIONS
WHEAT AND CORN SHOW GOOD.
OATS AND ALL FRUITS
BELOW NORMAL


Michigan's crops is below the ten
to the first report issued by Verne
II. Church, Agricultural Statistician,
u. S. Bureau of Markets and Crop
Estimates in cooperation with Her
man II. Halliday, Commissioner of
the newly created State Department
of Agriculture. Deficient moisture
and extreme heat are largely respon-
sible for this condition. Local show
ers have greatly benefited most sec
tions of southern and eastern Mich
igan, but were generally insufficient
in amount. An extreme drought pre-
walls over the northwest quarter of
the Lower Peninsula and in some
sections of the Upper Peninsula,
which has seriously affected all crops
and pastures. Grasshoppers are do
ing much damage in some northern
localities, chiefly at points in the
Upper Peninsula. Notwithstanding
these discouragements, wheat prom
ises fairly good crop, and corn is
making exceptionally good growth.
Wheat: Harvest is nearly COM
pleted and threshing commenced in
the western and southern counties,
and harvesting is we'll under way in
the eastern districts. There is some
Hessian fly and rust, but the outlook
is for a yield slightly above the aver
age. nhe total production is estimat.
ed at 14,949 900 bushels as compared
with 13,895,000 produced last year,
the acreage being $4,000 against
100000 last year. The amount of old
wheat remaining on farms is esti-
mated at 1,242,000 bushels, or nine
per cent of last years crop.
Corn: Much corn was from three
to five feet in height on July 1, and
it is growing very rapidly. Tasseling
in the northwest counties injured the
stand and greatly retarded growth
there. The condition is SO per cent,
as compared with SO last year and 81
the ten-year average. The creage is
one per cent larger than last year,
or a total of 1,641 900 acres. The
present condition forecasts produc-
tion of 60,282,000 bushels.
Oats: Dry weather during May
and the fore part of June materially
injured oats. Showers have helped
them in some sections, but the pres
ent prospect is for only 70 per cent
of a crop, compared with a ten-year
average of sc. This condition rep
resents crop of 39,014,O00 in COM
parison with a production of So, ,43O,-
600 bushels in 1920.
Rye: The condition is three points
lower than on June l., and now rep
resents a total production of $780,
600 bushels. Last year 9,720,O00 bu-
shells were grown in the state.
Barley: Barley suffered somewhat
similarly to oats. The present con-
dition of "a per cent is eight per
cent lower than that of last month,
and 13 per cent below the ten-yeEr
average. The prospective production
is 4,S24,000 bushels.
Hay: Frost, followed by drought,
greatly injured the hay prospects.
While some good yields were ATTAIN
ed in various localities in southern
and eastern counties, the average is
only 62 per cent of a crop for the
state, or 2,778,000 tons. Last years
production was 3,213,000 tons.
Beans: An inquiry relative to the
acreage of beans discloses a some
what lower acreage than last year.
In the main producing counties of
the Saginaw valley and the Thumb"
district, there is a good acreage, but
] in all other sections a marked re-
/ ties that formerly produced a consid
erable quantity have practically dis
continued growing them. The esti-
mated acreage is $4,000 and the
present condition Of sc per cent rep
resents production of 2,496,000 bu-
shells.
Potatoes: The acreage of potatoes
is as large as that of last year, 340,-
600. 1t hs been increased in some of
the main potato producing sections,
and decreased in other portions of
the state. Dry weather in the north
western counties has. interfered with
planting and growth. Many fields
were still implanted on July /, and
many that were planted had not come
up yet. This situation is unfavorable
for good stand and the outlook for
the state is 83 per cent, ten per cent
lower than last year and six per cent
below the ten-year average. This con-
dition, if maintained throughout the
season, would produce a crop of 49,
500, 900 bushels.
1 Sugar Beets: Sugar beets have a
! fairly good stand in most sections
and the growth is generally satisfac-
tory. Considerable damage has re-
suited in certain localities from leaf
hoppers and from black rot. The
present condition is 83 per cent. One
year ago it was sc per cent, the same
as the ten-year average.
Fruits: Apples dropped badly dur
ing June as predicted, and the pros
pect one month ago of 81 per cent of
crop has declined to 40 per cent.
Peaches declined only two per cent
during the month, the condition now
being 25 per cent.
The condition of other fruits is as
follows: cherries "a per cent, pears
AZ, grapes as, blackberries and rasp-
berries, 80, plums %.
All fruits continue to show a much
better prospect in the northern than
in the southern half of the fruit belt.
Verne III. Church,
Agricultural Statistician.
i