The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-03-18
MISSOURI CROPS, MARCH, 1921


per cent Of the 1920 corn crop on
farms; 20 per cent Of the wheat and
go per cent Of the oats. They esti-
mate the average price Of our poor
pillow lands at sos; good pillow lands at
$115, and average of all pillow lands at
$3.50. Wheat condition 8S per cent,
soil condition, ITO per cent compared
to the usual year, and condition Of
fruit buds 90 per cent.
Missouri farmers have now on hand
at the beginning of the 1921 crop sea-
son more than double the corn, three
quarters of a million bushels more
wheat, and over 100000 bushels
more oats than they had on March 1,
1920, according to E. A. Logan and
Jewell Mayes, of the U. S. Bureau Of
Crop Estimates and State Board of
Agriculture. The total grain on Mis-
souri, farms now is 125,14S,000 BUSH
els against 65, 100000 last year.
Missouri farmers still hold AZ per
cent Of the 1920 corn crop, which is
considerably above so per cent, the
7-year average and even above the
years following large corn crops. The
amount on hands in farm cribs is
93,474,000 bushels against 44,240, 900
bushels March, 1920. Amount ship
ped out of the county was IA per cent
against the usual 10 per cent. The
foldover comes from less feeding of
the live stock, lower prices and diff
Guilty in securing cars early the sea-
son.
The amount of wheat on farms is
7,853,000 bushels against 7,180,0O0
last year. The proportion ga per
cent? still on farms is much above the
Is per cent average of the last Z
years, while the portion shipped out of
the county, 81 per cent is the z year
average. Rapid reduction in wheat
prices and lack of cars early in the
season is given as the cause. Missou-
ri farmers now have 23,821 900 BUSH
els of oats in bins against 14,020, 900
last year. Proportion remaining is
IA per cent of the 1920 yield and 10
points above the usual. Barley has
been practically all consumed on the
farms and very little remains.
Cash rents still rule high. with 6
per acre for the farm as whole and
So for grain fields rented separately.
The average size Of rented farms is
11S acres, with average value per
acre $104. Reports show renters
moving to town, as rents are high
and some few are reported as having
stripped themselves to pay 1920 rent.
Lands are usually rented in Missouri
upon crop rent basis.
Land values remain about as last
year, tendency lower, little land chang
ing hands. The average value of poor
pillow lands is $50, good pillow lands
$110, average all pillow lands S87,
while land with improvements is
priced at sos, and that without at
1872. The average price of "raw and
wholly undeveloped land" is 500, !
which is slightly above the price for
1920, there being very widespread
in the range of values, from SIS to
s75.
Condition of growing wheat is 90
per cent and generally in good shape,
nct so rank as in 1919, and with good
root system. Rain was needed, but
now relieved. Hessian fly is reported
in Grundy, jackson, Usage, Moniteau,
Boone and Franklin, while chinch bugs
have been seen in Macon, Vernon,
Henry, Bates, Polk, Pettis, Usage,
Montgomery, Lincoln, Jefferson and
Gasconade, and grasshoppers in JEFF
ferson. An extensive campaign for
burning field trash against chinch
bugs is being carried on by the Ex-
tension service.
Farmers now intend to reduce their |
1920 corn acreage per cent. A re-
duction is apparent throughout the
state and especially where grown
largely for market. Farmers are pre-
pairing to increase their hay acreage
4 per cent, and an increase of 2 per
cent appears in the oats acreage be-
cause of the corn prices, and in the
southwest because wet weather last
fall prevented the desired wheat seed
ing.
Fruit prospects are good with
practically no winter killing, but buds
are being pressed forward so rapidly
by the mild weather that great appre-
hension is felt from freezes during
March and April. Peach and plum
buds are especially advanced in the
southern section. Condition of fruit
buds 80 per cent.
Soil conditions are generally excel
lent and farmers have been busy pre-
Darinp fields for the 1921 crons Com |