The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-03-18
DEMAND FOR seed
SHOWS INCREASE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FORECASTS LARGER MARMET
FOR GRAINS AND GRASSES

Inc aggregate demand for field
seeds this season is expected TO be
equal to or slightly greater than last
year, although the demand for a few
important kinds will be less, accord
ing to reports received by the United
States department of agriculture
Some of the more important factors
affecting the demand are: Increased
acreage of clovers and grasses, short
age of homegrown seed in various
sections, substitution of kinds bec&slse
of relatively lower price, the low price
of grain during the past year, and de-
pressed financial conditions.
The percentage of increase or de-
crease in demand by states for the
various kinds of seed is shown in the
table accompanying this article. A
few states unavoidably are omitted be-
cause of the small number of reports
received and the consequent lack of
data at hand.
ClOyers and Alfalfa
The prospective demand for red
clover in the states of Michigan, Il1i-
nois and Indiana is 10 per cent greater
than last year, in Maryland, Wiscon-
sin, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri
per cent greater; and in Ohio, North.
Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota
the states reporting a smaller demand
for red clover, a greater demand for
other clovers, notably alsike and
sweet, is shown, largely because of the
relatively lower price of the latter. On
the whole, however, the demand for
each of red, .alsike and sweet clover
is expected to show about the same
small percentage of increase
The average increase in the demand
for alfalfa seed is greater than that cf
any of the clovers and grasses, only
three states-Colorado Washington,
and Idaho-indicatin that the de-
mand would be less than last year
Grasses
The prospective demand for tim
sothy seed Is unchanged to slightly
larger than year ago. In the states
reporting an increased demand deal
ers attribute such increase to the low
price of the seed, the desire to in
crease the acreage sown to grass, and
the smaller supply of homegrown
seed in many sections. Kentucky
bluegrass is in poor demand for pas
lures because of the abnormally high
price, but the indications are that the
demand for lawns will not be reduced.
The demand for redtop also is expect
ed to be less because of the high price
while that for orchid grass will be
practically unchanged
Mil1ets and SOrghums
A few states and districts report a
prospective increased demand for
millets because of a greater interest
in dairying and livestock and a con
sequent demand for more hay Re-
ports indicate a slight increase in the
demand for forage sorghum and an
unchanged demand for grain sorghum
seed compared with last year.
Peas and Beans
A 5 per cent increase in the demand
for Canada field peas is reported for
New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan |
and Idaho All other states indicated
that the demand would be the same
as or less than a year ago. More cow
peas and soy beans will be sold in the
corn belt because of the lower price T
of these seeds and the increasing pop I
ularity of soy beans as a grain, for
age and soil-improving crop. a 10 +
to 30 per cent increase in the demand /
for seed of these crops also is re-
ported in Louisiana, Maryland and T
Virginia
Seed Corn
In all of the more important corn
producing states the prospective de-
mand for seed corn is about ) per.
cent less than last year because the
1921 crop generally was of good quail
ity and farmers were able either to
save seed of their own production or
to obtain their supply from other To-
cal farms. Reports indicate that CT
forts to reduce the corn acreage are
having little or no effect on the de-
mand for seed.
Seed Grains
A falling off in the demand for
seed wheat is noted in the New Eng
land states, New York, Pennsvlvania
Oklahoma and Texas and an increase
of to 10 per cent IN Michigan, ILL
nois, the Dakotas and The Pacific
coast states. The prospective demand
For seed oats is ) to 20 per cent great
er in most of the heavy producing
states because much of the 1921 cropj
was light and chaffy and undesirable
Tor seeding purposes In many sec
lions, however. there are sufficient
stocks of 1920 crop seed oats to supply
The demand. The demand for seed bar
ey is affected by much the same con-