The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-06-01
FOREIGN RYE DEMAND

Rye production in the United
States has been on the increase
since 1912 and last year was more
than double what 1t was 10 years be.
fore, due in great part to the enlarg.
ed foreign demand, according to the
1922 Yearbook Of the United States
Department of Agriculture, just pub.
lished. European importing countries
shut of from their usual sources OF
supply In central and eastern Eu.
rope, have furnished a market for
our increased surplus. In the discus
sion Of the situation and outlook for
It is stated however, that with the
resumption of normal agricultural
practices and the stabilizing of trade
IN Europe it is probable that much
OF our foreign market for rye will dis
appear. This will result in lower
prices in this country, thereby max.
Ing the crop less attractive to the
farmer With plentiful supplies oil
wheat the consumption OF rye pro.
diets Is not likely to be largely In.
creased in this country. Our own
present domestic use Of rye can sup.
port only a fraction of our present
production. Rye grain Is not specially
desirable as a feed for livestock al
though some Of 1t is fed. 1t is posi-.
BILE therefore that the acreage sowp
to rye will decrease within the next
few years. Some of It is now sup
ported largely by the sale Of straw,
which Is valued for special uses In
packing and manufacture. From an
agricultural standpoint 1t Is unforta :
nate that conditions are not more
favorable to the rye crop. There Is
,nuah ND ~ ,-hsoh nAh ha orrcCu r,
to advantage, In fact TO better ad-
vantage than wheat. A dependable
market for an enlarged prodac-
ton would assist in establishing a
system Of agriculture that would uti.
lie our natural resources to better
advantage and enlarge the quantity
Of foodstuffs that we can produce.
While rye is comparatively unim-
portant as a crop In the United
States, forming less than per cent
Of the total value of the 20 principal
crops In 1919 1t Is however becoming
important in certain areas, in the
subhumid lands Of the northern
Great Plains area. From an agricul-
tural point OF view there Is need for
a considerable permanent increase
in the production OF rye in this
country. In many localities rye will
produce better yields and more food
per acre than wheat. In other local
ties not now growing any bread
grain, rye will yield we'll where
wheat would not succeed. There Is
much sandy land in the southern
part of the Cotton Belt that will pro-
duce rye successfully, but where ell
matte and soil conditions make wheat
growing improbable. In other parts
Of the country, the rye crop will be
more successful than wheat on thin.
sandy, and sour soils. Rye also is
harder than wheat. The rye belt OF
the United States extends across the
country about 300 miles north Of the
winter wheat belt. In the present
spring wheat area of the northern
Mississippi Valley wheat generally
will not survive the winter unless
given protection. Rye is the only
winter grain hardy enough to with
stand these severe conditions. A fall
sown crop is desired as 1t distributes
labor In both the seeding and harry
esttng seasons. The rye is largely
"stubbled in"-that Is, sown In the
stubble Of other small grain without
plowing-in the fall and Is harvested
before the spring sown grains are
ready. In the winter wheat areas
generally rye can be sown later than