The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-06-03
FARM METHODS CHANGE
GREAT IMPROVEMENT SEEN
IN AGRICULTURE
Decade Is Indicated As One of
Most Momentous That Has .
Passed Over America
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatchl

Chicago, May 26.-The face of agric-
ulture in the middle and south west
the chief farming section Of the coun-
try, has undergone some remarkable
changes in the past ten years it is
shown by reports from state agricul-
tural authorities gathered here. The
decade is indicated as one OF the most
momentous that have passed over
American agriculture. Improved meth
DDS Of farming are given credit for
much of the transformation.
In some states production of their
OLD time crops has fallen off az atten
,tion focused elsewhere. Meantime
production per acre has increased
while other states, by advancing their
own acreage have helped to wipe out
out slack that might otherwise have
resulted. New crops have sprung to
the force here and there In several
states the character of farming has
almost been made over.
Texas mas forged to the front until
its agricultural chiefs claim more
wheat grown there than in some other
states where wheat is we'll nigh the
principle crop. They declare their
grape fruit and oranges, grown in the
Rio Grande valley, equal TO the best.
Increase In Kansas.
In wheat, Kansas, which holds the
lead, has increased its acreage nearly
100 per cent in the last ten years. The
increase is 4,196,000 acres. Oklahoma,
which last year stood fourth in wheat
planting by 1,334,000 acres. Iowa, the
banner corn state, enlarged its wheat
crop 80 per cent
IN OIL ,l,; H.,
stood second in spring wheat last
year cut it's wheat production 26 per
cent in the years, while North Dakota,
which stood first in Spring wheat in
1920, also recorded a reduction to
-ia7e way for other crops.
While Kansas was nearly doubling
its wheat acreage, it dropped 1858 900
acres from it's corn planting. Okla
homa, which likewise saw greater ad-
vantages ford itself in wheat, cut its
corn acreage by 2,5S2,000 Nebraska,
which stood third in corn production
last year, slightly reduced its acreage
in the decade, and Missouri, which
stood fourth, cut off 1885, 900 acres.
Meantime Iowa was enlarging it's
corn production IL per cent. Mime
sofa jumped its corn yield 80 per
cent. South Dakota made one of it's
chief advances in corn production.
Wisconsin is reported changing in the
decade from a grain growing state
OF leading dairy state.
Notable Strides In Livestock.
Michigan made notable strides in
the livestock industry as did Iowa,
South Dakota, Indiana and other
states.
Many farmers have been enabled
to go on basis of II months pro-
ductjon instead of only through the
growing season, it is reported for
instance from South Dakota, where
diversified farming as in Arkansas
and elsewhere, has made great pro-
gress in ten years.
Among other developments of the
decade might be named these: Ken
lucky has almost quit raising hemp.
South Dakota farmers are paying less
attention to fax. Sugar beet acreage
increased 700 per cent and alfalfa 76
per cent in Nebraska. Rye made great
gains in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio,
Nebraska and elsewhere. Kentucky
raised three times as much tobacco,
while Ohio cut it's tobacco yield so
per cent. Oklahoma's area in crops
increased nearly 100000 acres.