The Mankato free press., 1922-07-14
GRAIN
SLASH BY EXPERTS
PAUL KIRK SAYS REDUC-
TON IN PRODUCTION
REPORT IS PUBLISHED
Discusses Situation and Condi.
tions In Minnesota; the
Crop, Prospects


eratiye Crop Reporting Service, u.
S. department of agriculture and
Minnesota state department of agri-
Lculture shows a small reduction in
the forecasted production of spring
and winter wheat, barley and rye
and a rather sharp define in oats
and all hay, while the forecasted
production of corn, fax and pota-
toes, made for the first time this
month, indicates with favorable
weather a production above the ay-
erage.
The detailed report of conditions
in Minnesota as of July is as fol-
lows:
Corn acreage shows an increase
J of two percent over last year. The
past two years have resulted in
good Yields and farmers this year
saw another chance to convert corn
into a profit through the feeding of
live stock. These, with the rather
Ilate seeding season for small grain
Iseeding, were the determining fac
tors causing the increase. The con-
dition of corn throughout the state
is fairly good. The stand in some
local areas was hurt by worms. The
fields as a rule are clean and well
cultivated and the growth Is about
up to normal. The condition July
1st being placed at 80 percent of
normal or an interpreted yield Of
1856 bushels.
There has been but little change in
the condition of winter wheat since
June / as weather was fairly favor
able for filling the heads. Condition
July 1, "a percent of normal or an
interpreted yield of 17.6 bushel and
a forecated production of 1,566,000
bushels. The final 1921 production
was 1,2Ss,000 bushels.
While there has been no pro-
inounced rust damage the dry
weather did damage the spring
!. wheat somewhat the past month.
To Offset this the weather was
nearly ideal for filing, SO that the
reduction or loss has not been
heavy. Condition July l. "a percent
of normal.
Oats Prospects Fall Off
The condition of oats declined
eleven percent from the June re
port because of dry weather. The
J part of the state is large and in this
lsection it was rather dry up to the
last few days in June. However,
There has been fine weather for fill
ling, and while the crop in many
sections will be short and rather
ltbin it probably will be well filed
land give a yield much betttr than
anticipated by many. Condition
July was SO percent of normal
which gives an interpreted acre
! Weld of 29.4 bushels.
The condition of barley was also
lowered from the June report on
, account of dry weather. Condition
July /, IS percent of normal or an
interpreted yield of 24.3 bushels and
a forecasted total production of 21,-
I0S6, 900 bushels compared with the
1921 final of 17,720,000 bushels.
Notwithstanding the dry weather
in June the forecasted production
of rye on July l still show a crop far
above any other raised in past years
Harvesting is now general and the
heads generally are well filled. Con-
dition July was 81 percent of nor
NAL or an Interpreted yield of 19.1
bushels. ii -
The acreage of fax is estimated
the same as last year or 2S7, 900
acres. The growing of fax is no
longer one large tract put in as a
sort Of speculation, but in small
fields and used as one of the rota-
ton crops, especially on old land.
The natural increase of potatoes,
due to the satisfactory crop last
, year, is. confined largely to the
Red River Valley district, although
there is no district showing a de-
crease. The acreage this year shows
an increase of ten percent over one
year ago of 404,0 acres The sea-
|, son was favorable for planting.
!. stand generally is good, and wealth
er conditions being cool, have been
very fine for the crop. Condition.
80 percent of normal which indi
Gates a total forecasted production
of 43,632,0o0 bushels.
! The condition of all hay declined
since June 1 due to dry weather.
The crop is spotted. In some sec
tions the crop is very fine. Condi-
ton July SO percent of normal or
indicated production of 5,252,oo0
tons.
| Pastures, except in the south
western part of the state, are in
good condition, The rains the lat
ter part of June revived pasturage
! in the dry districts. The condition
Is 30 percent.
! The average weight per fleece Of
wool this year is 7.2 pounds, the
same as last year. ..+
The acreage of timothy is one
percent less than last year with a
condition of 96 percent Of normal.
Glover for hay, 80 percent; alfalfa,
1873 percent; millet, IS percent; grain
sorghum, 80 percent; field beans, 81
: percent; tomatoes, 8S percent; cab
Ibages, 88 percent; onions, 92r per-
cent; grapes, 81 percent; blackber-
ries and raspberTies, SS percent;
watermelon, 96 percent; muskmelon
1872 percent. The condition of sugar
beets for sugar is Sc percent while
the acreage of sorghum for sirup
IS six percent less than last year
with condition of "a percent.
4 South Central Figures
Reports for the south central por-
ton of the state show that in corn
Blue Earth county maintains about
an average of her nearby counties
with 81 percent. Brown and Wa
SEGA counties lead with SO and the
lowest figure goes to Watonwan, "a.
Blue Earth has the same figure as in
corn on the spring wheat crop but
in this instance the county leads all
Ineighbors with Rice low at II.
Steele county has the lead in winter
wheat with a mark of 95 and is fol-
lowed by Blue Earth at 90. Martin
4 and Watonwan counties are low al
l~