The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-31
FIRST DAMAGE
TO 1923 CROP
IS REPORTED
Some CutwOrms and Wire
worms are Reported Doing
Damage on Missouri Slope
GENERALLY FAVORABLE
w eekly Statements from
County Agents Reveal
Trend of Years Crop

Fargo, May 31.-Reports of some
cutworm and wireworm damage in q
few Missouri Slope counties and dam
age from grasshoppers in the north
central part of the state. with the ex-
ception of the late season, consti-
tute the first unfavorable factors af-
fecting the 1923 grain crop ip North
Dakota, according to reports for the
period ending last Saturday received
by the North Dakota Extension di-
vision from 27 county extension
agents.
In general, the crop prospects ap-
pear to be first class at the present
time. however. and unfavorable grow
ing weather is hurrying the crop
along to make up for the late start.
Probabilities are that weeds will
again take a heavy toll Of the crop
this year, according to the county
agents, particularly since many far
mers disced or stubbled in grain due
to the lateness of the season and the
small amount of fall blowing.
Agents are especially pessimistic
over the prospects for fax planted on
old. weedy land without proper prep
aration of the seed bed.
While the reports for last week
from nearly every part of the state
indicated that rain was needed, the
downfall of Monday and Tuesday Of
this week was quite general, ranging
from .O4 at Williston to more than
an inch in the northeastern part of
the state up to 8 a. m. Tuesday.
Much of the acreage left from the
reduction Of wheat will be devoted to
summer-fallow, corn, alfalfa and
sweet clover, while many of the en-
thusiasts who planned largeacreages
of potatoes last year have aban-
doned this crop and considerably
more fax will be grown.
Individual reports from 27 county
extension agents for the period end
ing last Saturday follow:
Mclean.
"Three days of windy weather dur
ing the week dried out the ground
and a good inch of rain w3uld benc-
fit the crops. Seeding during the
week included a small amount of
wheat but mostly oats, barley. corn
and fax. Small grain is doing fine
and some corn is three inches high,
but all would be helped by rain. Win
ter rye is beginning to head out. AL
falfa will be cut in about Is days.
Bronze grass pastures are in excel
lent condition" A. L. Norling, Wash
burn.
EDDY.
"A reduction Of nearly 30 per cent
in the wheat acreage is now apparent.
The crop is from two to three inches
high and shows a good stand and is
we'll stooled. The excess acreage has
been devoted mostly to summer-fal-
low, alfalfa and corn. Wild oats are
showing up already in some of the
grain fields. Most of the oats is up
and about 80 per cent of the barley
is in the ground. Some early fax
was frozen back by night frosts and
a small amount has killed out. AS
much of the fax has been sown on
old, weedy land, the outcome of this
crop is speculative. Alfalfa and sweet
clover are in excellent condition, and
a very large acreage is being devoted
to these crops this year." A. c.
Petersen, New Rockford.
RARNES-
Seeding of wheat is practically
finished, corn planting is general. but
considerable acreage of fax and
barley remains to be sown. The corn
acreage will be increased over last
year. and there will be decrease of
from 25 to 40 per cent in the potato
acreage. As a rule, alfalfa and sweet
clover are in good condition" T. x.
Calnan, Valley City.
CASS.
practically all Of the small grain
and most of the corn is in. and po-
tato planting is now general. Stands
are fair with some fields spotted due
to lack of rain at the time of seed
ing. Pastures are coming ynicely.
Fair weather prevailed during the
week." VIM. Guy, Fargo.
GOLDEN VALLEY.
"Corn is a little later than last
year and is just coming through the
ground. Grain is stooling out we'll
and at present all crop indications
are favorable. Weather during the
week was warm with no rain. Cut
worms and wireworms are again at
work but the late season has some
what hampered their development" :"
j. C. Russell, Beach.
GRANT.
"Planting of corn and breaking OF
ground for fax has occupied the far
mers for the past week. Warm wealth
ef caused a rapid growth Of crops
and meadows. Several farmers re-
port cutworm damage in wheat, but
this condition is not general" X. G.
Newcomer, Carson.
ADAMS.
farmers are busy breaking land
and seeding hax at present. but un-