The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-05-31
GREAT CHANGE
IN CROP GROWING
States of South and Middle
West Shift Their
Production
OLD STAPLE CROPS
NEARLY ABANDONED
Texas Now Great Wheat Producer -
Kansas the Leader - Wisconsin
Changes from Grain Growing to Dairy
ing-Iowa Increases Corn.


CHICAGO, May 81 ASSOCIATED
Press The face of agriculture in the
middle and south west, the chief farm
ing section of the country, has undergone
some remarkable changes in the past 10
wears. it is shown by reports from state
agricultural authorities gathered here.
The decade is indicated as one of the
most momentous that have passed over
American agriculture. Improved methods
of farming are given credit for much of
the Transformation.
In some states production of their
old-time crops has fallen off as attention
focusspd elsewhere Meantime produc-
ton per acre has increased while other
states by advancing their own acreage,
have helped to wipe out slack that
might otherwise have resulted. New
crops have sprung to the fore here and
there. In several states the character OIL
farming has almost been made over.
Texas has 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 principal
crop. They declare their grapefruit and
oranges, grown in the Rio Grande valley,
equal to the best.
Changes in Wheat.
In wheat. Kansas. which holds the
lead. has increased its acreage nearly lou
per cent in the last 10 years. The in
crease is 4.19G,000 acres. Oklahoma.
which last year stood fourth in wheat
production meantime increased its plant
ing bv 334 900 acres. Iowa, the banner
corn state enlarged its wheat crop % per
cent.
On the other hand Minnesota which
cut its wheat production 20 per cent in
the 10 years. while North Dakota. which
stood second i'm spring wheat last year
stood first in spring wheat in 1920. also
recorded a reduction to make way fol-
other crops.
Cut Corn Production.
While Kansas was nearly doubling its
wheat acreage it dropped $685. 900 acres
from its corn planting. Oklahoma, which
likewise saw greater advantages for 1t
self in wheat, cut its corn acreage by
25S2, 900. Nebraska. which stood third
in corn production last year, slightly re
duccd its acreage in the decade, and Mis-
souri,. which stood fourth, cut off 1,2S5,0OC
acres.
Meantime Iowa was enlarging it's corr
production u per cent. Minnesota
Jumped its corn yield 80 per cent. Soutl
Dakota made one of its chief advances il
corn production.
Other Crop Changes.
Wisconsin is reported changing in TIN
decade from a grain growing state to {
leading dairy state.
Michigan made notable strides in TIN
live took industry as did Iowa. South Da
kota. Indiana and other states.
Many farmers have been enabled to g
on a basis of - months production in
stead of only through the growing season
1t il reported for instance from South Da
kota, where diversified farming as in Ar
kan as and elsewhere has made grea
pros reSs in 10 years.
Among other developments of tn
decade might be named these:
Kentucky has almost quit raising hemT
South Dakota farmers are paying less al
tention to fax. Sugar beet acreage in
creased eco per cent and alfalfa &c pc
cent in Nebraska. Rye made great gain
in Indiana. Minnesota. Ohio. Nebrask
and elsewhere. Kentucky raised thrC
times as much tobacco. while Ohio Gu
its tobacco yield 30 per cent. Oklahoma
area in crops increased nearly 100000
acres.