Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-01-06
Wisconsin Crops i'm 1920


The total value of Wisconsin crops
in 1920 was s323,427. 900, according
to the annual review of crop produc-
ton issued by Joseph A. Becker of
the Wisconsin Cooperative Crop Re-
porting Service (U. S. Bureau of
Crop Estimates and Wisconsin State
Department of Agricultural. This is
10 percent less than the value Of the
same crops in 1919 and Is percent
less than in 1918, but lat percent
higher than their value at the time
of the last Census 5000. The
value of these crops (27 in number)
in 1919 was s399,606, 900; in 1918,
$3.50, 100000; in 1909, $130,891,0 900
Total area in cultivated crops in
Wisconsin increased $1,000 acres
over the previous year. This repre-
sents an increase Of only percent,
whereas the normal rate of increase
is about 13 percent. Total area in
cultivated crops in 1920 was 9,109,-
900, acres, compared to 9,052,000 in
1919, 8,892,000 in 1918 and $780,
600 acres in 1909. There has been
a general decrease in the area in cul-
tiyated crops in the southern part of
the State, which has been more than
overcome by increased acreage in the
northern counties. The decreased
acreage in southern Wisconsin is due
to the reverting to pasture of land
which was in crops because of war
time stimulus.
The crop year 1920 was featured
by an above average production Of all
important Wisconsin crops and by an
unusually large acreage planted to
all leash" crops. Weather condl-
lions early in the season were favor
able to the growing and harvesting
of large crop of hay, while the I'M
usually mild fall was favorable to the
maturing of potatoes and corn. The
only crop seriously effected by the
dry weather of midsummer was
spring wheat, the yield of which was
much below normal.
CORN:-The area in corn is the
largest in the history of this crop in
Wisconsin. 1t totals, 100000
acres, an increase of $4,000 acres
over a year ago. The tremendous
increase is attributable to the great
increase in silos and to the fact that
the good corn crop Of 1919 insured
plenty of homegrown seed for plan
ting in 1920. The area in corn in
1919 was 1,845,000 acres; in 1909,
l ,458,OO0 acres. Production Of corn
nearly equaled the bumper crop
of 1919. The yield per acre was
43.9 bushels.
The farm value of the crop is es
timated at $66,228,000: compared to
last year and $50, 1885,
900 in 1918. Price of corn on Dec
ember 1 was estimated at IT cents
per bushel, compared to $1.25 in
1919 and $3.50 in 1918.
OATS:-The production of oats is
the second largest in the history of
this crop in the State. Total produc
ton was LOT, 100000 bushels, COM
pared to 78,423,000 in 1919 and
in 1918. The area in
this crop, 2,4O8,O0O acres, is the lar
gest since 1906. The 1919 area was
2, 348,OO0 acres and the 1918, 2,378,-
900 acres.
Farm value of the crop, $52,875
600, because of the large production,
was nearly equal to the farm value
of $54,896,000 in 1919. Farm value
of the bumper" crop in 1918 was
Yield per acre was
44.S bushels, compared to 1874 last
year, 46.6 in 1918 and ten year
average of 36.8 bushels. Price per
bushel was 40 cents, compared to
70 cents in 1919 and 81 cents in
1918. /
BARLEY: The area planted to
barley in Wisconsin continues to de-
crease.
CLOVER and TIMOTHY:-Clo
and timothy resumed it's position this
year as the most valuable of Wiscon-
sin farm crops. 4,494,000 tons were
produced on 2,693,0OO acres, the
greatest area in any one crop in Wis
consin. At $20.34 per ton, this crop
was valued at sol, 40s, 1000, compared
to $93,472,OO0 in 1919 and s77,4e2-
900 in 1918. The 1919 crop of
4 ,573,0O0 tons was grown on 2,613,
900 acres valued at $20.44 per ton.
ALFALFA:- Acreage in alfalfa
increased over so percent as COM
pared with 1919. A total area of