The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-08
SLUMP IN ALFALFA
If Decline in Acreage Increases
Crop VIII Be Extinct.
Mohler's Report Based on Re-
turns From Sixty Counties.
LOSS OF 128,OOO ACRES
Agricultural Records Show
Crop Is Thirty Years Old.
Governments Demand for More
Wheat Is Given as Cause.
Loss OF $4,000 ACRES

Kansas hit a big slump in her all
falfa acreage this year. according to
bulletin issued today by J. c. Moh-
agriculture Should the decline in
acreage continue for a considerable
period, Secretary Mohler asserts there
would not be an acre of the crop in
this state in 1880.
The MohIer statement is based on
assessors returns from so of the 1O5
counties of the state. These reports
show a net slump of 12S,o0O acres In
alfalfa for the year. Fifty of the sixty
counties from which reports were re-
ceived, show a loss.
The MohIer Report.
Continuing his report. Secretary
Mohler said:
SHOULD this. rate Of decrease continue et
Kansas in less than nine years Unless IaiI
seedlings are extensive, further falling OH
may be expected IN next years returns az as
tacks of the pea aphis haye caused large
losses this year in some portions, amount.
ing probably to as much as 10 per cent
Alfalfa Just 80 Years Old.
ain the official records of the Kansas
state board of agriculture, alfa4fa Is 9ust
so years old in this state. While 1t was
grown in a small way in scattered local
flies in the state at an earlier date, the
first official record OF this crop was MACS
in 1891 when the state was credlteo VIII
s:This record, together with other facts
published then and since that time. nave
SO increased the popularity or thls crop
that by the end of the tenth year the acre,
age had grown to 276,0 ,0OS and at the end OF
25 years had attained to total OF l,Soo,
498 acres, an area which has never Deen
euualIed in any other state. But now, al
the beginning Of the thirty first year, there
is recorded a heavy decrease in this most
important crop % and s e smaller 1esr acreage lhai
"Alfalfa has undoubtedly been the mos
profitable field crop in Kansas and tnli
state has ranked first in Its productlon 10
very considerable decrease In acreage arr
therefore important butt so happens ina
! they are not far to seek
| Farmers Raised More Wheat.
"The government demand for greate
wheat production during the war periot
served to concentrate the attention OF tn
farmers upon that crop to the negleet @ Q
| Another reason is to be found in the for
merly accepted belief that alfalfa woult
continue to produce indefinitely without at
! tention on the part of the farmer wherea
| it is now known that it is rarely prof1tabl
for more than 10 years, even on the best o
soil, and that it generally begins to de De
i causes have resulted in the plowtng up o
many weedy and Improbable fields whicl
have become so under the peculiar condl
| tions of the past years.
| Another important cause for the de
crease in alfalfa farming in this state ha
been the very unsatisfactory condition
livestock market for number OF year
/ past. This has been felt all over the coun
! try and has resulted in the defamation o
According TO the United States censu
this country had 50.5S5,777 beet cattle to
population of T6 million people in 1900. Il
1 have only 80, ,424, ,45S beef cattle. This |
a direct loss of 80 per cent in the numbe
of beef cattle and gain of Is per cent Il
! the population in only 20 years.
Number of Animals Decreases.
"In Kansas the situation is no less con
| spicuous. There was material decreas
| in the number of all farm animals excep
sheep in the past year, which amounted t1 ol !
! of other cattle. This is a decrease OF 1S6
S93 head of cattle in one year and direc
loss in power to consume our alfalfa croI
LAS every decrease in the number of mil
! producing animals means direct 1ncreas
in the cost of living to every citizen o
| this country, this situation becomes a mat
ter of grave importance to all
while alfalfa is the richest fodde
known to man and while 1t has been tn
has no value without market other tina
as its growing benefits the land The dl
rect maUket has been rendered unprof1taD Dl
by the slump in price for the hay; by IN
cost of labor in putting 1t up and by tn
excessive freight rates.
"The indirect market thru feeding it t
cattle is scarcely better at present be
cause of the shortage of cattle, the rela
lively low price for livestock and its Pre-
ducts, and increased freight rates.
This is the present situation but. tn
| very causes which have brought 1t abou
will have a tendency to mend it. The lo'
census of cattle and other farm animal
seemingly offers an inducement to go int
livestock such as has not existed for man
years. The type of farming is always dc
termined by the profits to be made at 1
Alfalfa Will Come Back
Livestock and alfalfa will come bacl
Kansas needs more of both. The thought
full consideration of farmers and stockme
is invited to the present conditions as sue
gestive Of probable future demands fo
these products.
Alfalfa has probably done more tina
anyother one crop to enrich the state
agriculture Appreciation for 1t not onl
as a heavy yielder of most valuable ha
but as soil renovator is great that q
time passes its culture seems destined
extend rather than TO diminish Undoub
edly one of the best things that could hal
pen TO Kansas would be TO replace the ol
stands of alfalfa plowed up with new seet
ings of equal if not larger areas. and no
I sa fha ffraa 70 fpr sowing unyt fall