Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-08-17
AUGUST CROP
REPORT OUT
SHOWS THE CONDITION OF
MICHIGAN GRAIN AND 9TH
Err LEADING CROPS.

1 ne average cOnulllOn OF nearly
Iall crops in the State according to
the August l report issued by John
\ A. Doelle, Commissioner of Agri-
culture and Verne H. Church, Agri-
cultural Statistican, u. S. Bureau of
Agricultural Economies, is slightly
lower than one month ago. This is
mainly due to a lack of rainfall dur
ing July in the southern four tiers Of
counties. The drought became quite
serious in st. Clair, Macomb, Wayne
and portions Of nearby counties to-
ward the end of the month. The
rainfall was ample in central and
northern Michigan and all crops
were in a generally thrifty condition.
Some hay was damaged while being
cured by the frequent rainfall in
those portions of the State. The
yields of wheat and rye proved to be
disappointing in many localities as
has been the case in surrounding
states. Fruit and truck crops pro-
mise well.
The condition Of corn fell from 80
TO $50 during the month Of July,
promising a crop on August / Of co.
534 600 bushels as compared with
66,417 900 produced last year. While
all except late-planted fields are in
healthy condition, the weather has
been too cool for rapid advancement.
Cut-worms did much damage in some
northern counties early in the season.
A large number Of reporters men
toned that theshing yields Of winter
wheat prove to be considerable I'M
der their estimates. While the
straw was generally ample the heads
were inclined to be short and poorly
filled. Hessian fly also caused
more damage than was expected. The
average yield per acre is placed at
10 bushels and the total production
at 13,575,000 buhels. The 1921 crop
was estimated at 13,712,000 bushels
and the average yield per acre was
10 bushels. Some Of the wheat is
considerably shrunken, and some of
it is very plump and testing as high
as 81 and 62 pounds per bushel.
The condition Of spring wheat is
50 per cent, or three points above
the ten-year everage. This should
make a crop Of approximately $751;
900 bushels. While the acreage is
smaller, the prospective yield is con-
siderably larger than that of last
year
The cat crop has steadily improved
during the latter portion of the
growing season and the present con-
dition CT 81 per cent is one per cent
better than the ten-year average.
The indicated production is $685.
900 bushels as compared with 2S,-
101 900 last year 1t is estimated
that 5.5 per cent Of last years crop
was still on the farms of the State
on August l.
Harvesting of barley is completed
in most sections. Condition reports
and threshing returns indicate a
crop of 1926, 900 bushels as compar-
with 4,112,000 last year.
Threshing returns on rye are prov
ing disappointing in many sections.
Correspondents report yield of 1875
bushels per acre as the State aver
age, making the total production 81
025,000 bushels as against 8,346,000
last year.
The result Of an acreage inquiry
on buckwheat shows an increase of
eight per cent over last year, or a
total Of $4,000 acres planted this
year. The growth to date has been
satisfactory, the condition being one
point above the ten-year average.
This condition represents a crop of
632, 900 bushels.
The present outlook is for a crop
Of 36,41S,000 bushels OF potatoes the
condition being generally favorable
in all except few sections where the
ground has been too wet or where
leaf hoppers and aphis have done
considerable injury. The present
condition is five per cent above the
ten-year average for August /. The
forecast for the United States on
August / was 100000 as compar-
ed with a production of 346,823,000
last year.
More than one-third Of Michigan's
crop land is devoted to hay, the
acreage being nearly double that Of
corn which is second IN area. The
estimated acreage of tame hay is
3,162,00 and of wild hay, $4,000.
The high condition of 90 per cent
represents a crop Of 4,515,000 tons,
or only a little less than the record
crop Of 1916. The yield of clover
averages Las tons per acre. Alfalfa
shows the high condition figure of 81
per cent although some Of the second
cuttings are not as good as usual.
The condition of pasture is 81 per
>eent having fallen off four per cent
since the previous month, due to dry
weather in southern districts. In the
central and northern sections they
are excellent.
While there has been much dam
age to beans in some parts Of the
main bean counties from excessive
moisture, the crop is looking very
well on well-drained soils and on up
lands. There are some reports Of
blight from a few sections. The pres
ent condition Of SO per cent indicates
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