The Mankato free press., 1923-10-05
FLAX RAISERS ARE
REAPING REWARD.
Good Yields and Fair
Prices This Season
REPORTFOR MONTH
Crop and Business Survey For
Ninth Reserve District
Public Today
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatchl

. ASSOCIATED ITeSS blSpblCll
Minneapolis, September 2S.-
Farmers who diversified their crop
this year especially those who grew
TAX, are reaping tnerited reward
with good yields and fair prices, the
monthly crop and business report Of
the Ninth District. Federal Reserve
bank, issued today byNJohn II. Rich,
federal reserve agent, states.
Terminal prices for wheat, corn
and fax are greater than a year ago.
the report adds. ana the latest in
formation confirms early reports OF
an increase in the corn crop with
out material damage from early
spring wheat.
There was little change during
August over the preceding month IN
business activity, and the outlook
for new business, Judged according
TO building projects and merchan-
disc stocks on hand, is favorable
The valuation OF building permits
during August reached the highest
total in years. while stocks in the
bands of lumber dealers and mer-l
ehandise retailers are greater than
year ago.
Increase Loans
Financial conditions indicate the
customary seasonali Developments
with increased loans recorded by
banks OF the district. Banks located
outside the larger cities indicate in
recent called reports a less strained
condition than a year ago, although
somewhat more extended than dur
ing the spring. as is 70 be expected
the report explains,
On. the subject of crop conditions
OF the district, the report declares
that late field crops Gn the four com
pleted states in the district have been
aided by favorable weather up TO
September Is. Temperatures were
below normal during the last half
of August and the rrost OF August
22 damaged the corn in northeast
ern South Dakota. but killing frosts
were not reported from the other
states until the second week OF
September
'corn Harvest General
The harvest OF corn for grain was
general in North Dakota September.
10. Corn was a little late in Mon
tana on September l, but the con-
dition was generally considered as
satisfactory. The frost damage In
Minnesota was Insignificant.
Growers apparently are planning
10 hold their grain crop to greater
extent than last year, the federal
reserve report declares. Flax is be-
ing marketed extensively, but Min
nesota and North Dakota farmers,
particularly, are holding the rest -.
Mining output for both iron and
copper were above year ago.
Marketing OF corn and rye was be-
low a year ago but this was partly
offset by abnormally high receipts
OF fax, oats and barley, The fact
that the receipts OF calves have
gests the possibility that beef herds
are being built up because OF plen-
tiful forage and confidence in. the
stability OF beef prices.
Yields Only Fair
-Threshing returns on small
grains throughout the district indi-
cate that with the exception or a
few areas and with the exception
OF the tex crop, yields are only fair, "
the report states
Wheat in North Dakota, the
greater part OF South Dakota and in
q large part, in eastern Montana, Is
.yerely injured by both heat and
black rust The rtst damage this
year spread to many areas In Mon
taPa that have formerly, been free
from this disease.
The period OF abnormal heat late
in the growing season has caused
much shrunken grain and has re-
duced the general average of weight.
but the gluten content probably will
be greater than last year"
Small grains, particularly wheat,
the report adds. showed very spot
ted condition, due in part to the
causes referred to above and in part
to poor methods OF cultivation
which are to a considerable extent
the product OF the efforts of many
individuals to farm too much land"
A better yield Of durum than Mar
quis wheat, both as TO quality and
quantity, Is reported throughout the
district, on account OF its rust re-
sistance.
Flax Good Crop
Satisfactory reports come regard
ing the oats crop, bulk Of reports
saying the kernels are we'll filled
out, giving good weight and excel
, as good, much Of this grain in South
Dakota being light and peggy, al
though the most, important barley
producing sections Of Montana re-
ported well filled grain and sati-fac
tory yields. Flax is a good crop In
all four states. Late fields suffered
damage, from the heat and drouth,
particularly in eastern Montana.
The early paintings in North Dakota
have been harvested and for the
+. most part, yields are. good, The
quality in South Dakota is. excellent
with fine yields, although some late
fields were damaged by frost. Flax
was a little weedy in some sections
in Minnesota, but losses from the
weeds in the early fields were prob
ably Offset by the crops escaping
frost.
Commercial digging OF potatoes
is underway in North Dakota, and
reports indicate 1t will soon begin
in other sections. The quality OF
the crop is good In Montana and only
fair In the other three states.
n