Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-10-20
THREE SPLENDID
CROPS REPORTED
RECORD BREAKING CORN CROPS
ARE PRODUCED IN THREE
YEARS SAYS REPORT.

breaking crops in the last three years,
each of which has been larger than
that of any year prior to 1919. On
the other hand, the yield of oats is
the smallest on record, and that Of
barley the least with one exception.
There is a marked increase over last
month in the estimated production Of
potatoes and some increase in that Of
beans. These are the outstanding
features of the joint Federal and
State crop report for October /, is
sued by Verne II. Church, Agricul-
tural Statistician, u. S., Bureau of
Markets and Crop Estimates, and
Herman II. Halliday, State Commits
sioner of Agriculture. Fall seeding
is practically completed, and the har-
vesting of late crops is making good
progress under favorable weather
conditions.
The corn crop matured unusually
we'll no frost having occurred before
it ripened. The present forecast, con-
sidering the entire acreage as grain,
is 64,097 900 bushels. This is about
the same production as recorded in
1919 and again in 1920, making three
good crops in succession each Of
which was larger than ever produced
prior to 1919. The corn ear worm
which has been more or less prevalent
in the west for many years, is gener-
al throughout the state and is doing
considerable damage to corn in the
shock The report comes from the
Michigan Agricultural College that
the dreaded European corn borer,
which has been gradually moving
westward, has invaded the state hav-
ing recently been found in Monroe
county.
The wheat crop, like that Of last
year, was poor in yield and quality.
The total production is estimated at
348,000 bushels, or an average yield
of 1910 bushels per acre. Last years
average was ITO bushels per acre.
The quality is 70 per cent.
The average yield of oats is 1872
bushels per acre and is the smallest
yield on record for the state, and the
total production Of 25,6S0,0O0 bushels
is the smallest crop the state has
produced since 1897, when the acreage
was only about 60 per cent Of the
present. The quality is rated at 60
per cent as compared with ten-year
average of SO. The grain is very
light in weight and Of low feeding
value. Only a small percentage is fit
for seed.
With favorable growing conditions,
the potato crop has made further de-
cided improvement in Michigan and
the other leading potato states. The
present prospect in Michigan is 81
per cent, representing a production Of
27,193,000 bushels. This is an in
crease Of nearly five millions over
one month ago. The total for the
United States is now placed at $780,
100000 in round numbers, an increase
of 100000 during the last month.
The results of the inquiry on yield
per acre of barley indicate an average
Of 3,S6S,0O0 bushels. Last year, the
State produced 6,240,000 bushels, the
average yield per acre being 200.
During the past 80 years for which
records are available for the State,
only once did the per acre yield fall
lower than that Of this year. That
was in 1898 when yield of 1914 bush
els was recorded.
A crop of 100000 bushels Of buck
wheat is expected. This is a slightly
smaller acreage than in 1919 or 1920.
The condition is 50 per cent as COM
pared with SO per cent one year ago,
and 70 per cent, the ten-year average.
While but little threshing Of the
late bean crop has been done, reports
indicate a fair yield from all sections
and considerably better than the re-
turns from the early-planted crop.
The crop averages "a per cent nor
NAL, or 1913 bushels per acre. The
average last year was 10 bushels per
acre. The total crop is placed at
2,549,000 bushels, or about l,0000 900
bushels less than last year, there hav-
ing been a considerable falling off in
acreage in parts Of the State as well
as yield. Owing to a second setting
of blooms in many sections, there are
green beans mixed with the mature
crop which are causing a rather heavy
pick. There has also been some local
weather damage while harvesting.
Late reports indicate better clover
seed yields than earlier ones, and the
forecast based on October l figures is
for crop of 10000 bushels. Most
Of the acreage has been harvested but
much remains to be threshed.
There is only a slight change since
the estimates Of one month ago, the
outlook being for total apple croT
of 6,46S, 900 bushels, and a commercial
production of 100000 barrels. TIL,
United States figures remain practi
cally the same as last month. A lat,
infestation Of codling moth has re
suited in a much larger percentage o.
wormy apples in Michigan than ex
pected, as the brood Matched afte
many growers had stopped spraying