The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-08-17
REPORT CROP STATISTICIAN IN MINNESOTA

The forecasted production OF
, Minnesota's corn crop Is about
100000 bushels less than the July
l forecast. oats about 6,00U,0OD
more, barley nearly 100000 bu-
{ shells more and spring wheat q
100000 bushels less according 10
the report OF Paul II. Kirk, Federal
statisticiau Tor the Minnesota
Co. operative Crop Reporting ser
vice. The dry, hot weather, par
tculariy in the southern part Of the
state, lowered the corn prospects
while rust and scab were the
/ principal factors in the reduction
| OF spring wheat.
! Corn condition August l was 90
! per cent OF normal, torecasting d
! production OF loo, 5S7 900 bushels.
compared with 131, 800 900 the hnal
1922 estimate. Corn suffered and
prospects were lowered, principally
in the southern counties or the
state.
| Oats condition August l was ga
per cent OF normal, torecastlng
crop of 139, 1861, 900 bushels, conf
pared with 142,746,0OO the 1922
final estimate. Stocks of oats on
arms August l are estimated at
$4,000 bushels. Oats apparently
came through the hot season very
good.
! Spring wheat condition was
per cent July l TO 66 per cent OF
normal August l, forecasting
production OF 1S,4S1,000 bushels,
| compared with 25,345,U bushels
the 1922 final.
! Winter wheat yield is placed at
Is bushels, or total prod>Glon OF
1,376,000 bushels, compared with
1851 900 bushels the 1922 final. In
some sections the crop has fair
yields, but was affected by hot
weather and thin stands.
Barley condition August l is
placed at 50 per cent OF normal,
compared with SO per cent last
month, forecasting a production OF
24,062 900 the final for 1922. Barley
did not suffer as much as wheat and
escaped some of the hot weather.
Threshing returns so far show up
very good and indicate no very
bad districts and some good yields.
Stocks OF barley on farms August
/ are estimated at $4,000 bushels,
or 81 per cent.
Rye acreage harvested this year
especially in the northwestern part
OF the state, was cut down due to
thin, poor stands and the yields
were low. The average yield Is
duction OF only 13,S65,O00 bushels
from an acreage OF 1927 900 acres,
compared with 21,926,000 bushels
harvested from 1,154,000 acres in
1922. The quality is estimated at
IS per cent, indicating a fairly good
quality even with a low yield.
Buchwheat acreage in 1922 was
quite large, therefore a reduction
or 10 per cent still gives Minnesota
$500 acres. A condition of SO per
cent Of normal forecasts a produc
ton OF $4,000 bushels, compared
with 100000 the 1922 final es-
innate.
! Potato condition declined from
the July l figure to SO per cent OF
normal to 79 per cent August /.
Thus loss OF condition is due to
heavy rains in the Red River Val
ley which cut the stand. The ex-
tremely dry weather in the south
ern part OF the state also reduced
prospects. However, the set
especially in the late commercial
districts, is good, and with favor
able weather prospects may show
some Improvement in these dis
trfcts. The forecasted production
August l is 37,510,000 bushels,
compared with the July forecast OF
39,772,9 900 and the 1922 final of
43,740,000 bushels.
Flax condition August l was "a
per cent OF normal, forecasting a
crop OF 5,164,000 bushels, compared
with 100000 bushels the 1922
final. This increase in the indicated
production Is due largely to the
increased acreage compared with a
year ago. Flax is generally in good
condition. Some early fields are
harvested. There was some com
plant of wilt in few sections in
the southern part Of the state.
The total apple crop still promises
well. A condition of 80 per cent
forecasts a production of 1851 900
than the 1922 final estimate.
Tame hay condition is low, due to
dry weather in the early part Of the
season. A condition of 81 per cent
OF normal forecasts a production of
z, 473,G00 tons. Wild hay Is a little
, better due to more favorable condi-
, tons in the northwestern part Of
the state. The condition August 1
was II per cent of normal, forecast
ing a production of 2,143,00 tons.
4 Pastures in some sections have
, proved over the July figure, other
, districts being very poor The con-
, dition August / was 68 per cent com
pared with IT per cent July /.
, Conditions Of minor crops are as
follows: Grain Sorghum, SO; Cow
Peas, 81; Soy Beans, 81: Timothy,
81; clover, Sc; Alfalfa, So; Millet,
SO; Tomatoes, 81; Cabbages, II;
Onions, rs; Grapes, "a; Pears, 10;
, Blackberries and Raspberries, 10:
Watermelons and Catalogues, TT;
Sorghum for strip, SO; Sugar beets
Off sugar. IS: Field peas, rs; and
Field Beans, "a per cent of normal