The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-26
WHEAT GROWER MAKES REMARK ABLE PROCRESSN
GETTING HIMSELF OUT OF DIFFICULTIES OF WAR
Increase in DiversificatiOn in
North Dakota Plainly
Shown by Graph of the
North Dakota Agricultural
College - Reduction in
Wheat Acreage Has AZ
fected the Price.

nOle during the war.
The wheat grower, with little help
from outsiders, has climbed OUT of
the hole since then. He has done
this by readjusting production ap-
proximately to domestic consumption
requirements.
This is the belief Of President John
Lee Coulter Of the North Dal ota
Agricultural college.
This adjustment has been nc re
important factor in bringing wheat
prices up from the low level Of last
winter than the Canadian drouth and
the world situation, he declares.
BY practicing the program advOcat-
ed by the Agricultural college for
accelerated diversification and reduc-
cd wheat acreage, farmers of North
Dakota and of the spring wheat area
have brought about large part
of the wheat acreage reduction, and
the consequent higher prices accord
ing to President Coulter.
1.-THE large increases in the prices
of wheat in the United States began
with the publication June 10 of Of
fetal reports showing the domestic
production for 1924 to be about equal
70 consumption requirements Doc
tor Coulter declares. This situation
resuscitated the tariff, hitherto not
fully effective because of the large
exportable SURPRISES in the United
States, and the price of wheat rapid
ly rose from 20 to 25 cents per bushel,
oh nj 90
$1.2O per bushel.
RECENT INCREASES
Increases Of the past few weeks
Of from 10 to Is cents per bushel
are largely attributed to the Cana
dian drouth and the indicated world
shortage of wheat. From now on the
price will depend upon the develop
ment of rust ond other damage fac
tors in the United States, and upon
the changes which may take place
in the status of the wheat crop in
Canada and other foreign countries.
consumption of wheat per capita
in the United States is about 81
bushels. Estimated population for
January l, 1926 is 100000, MAX
! ing the consumption requirements
for the 1924 wheat crop about $780,
100000 bushels. The latest and
largest official estimate of the wheat
crop for the United States is 74O,-
100000 bushels, leaving possible
balance of 5O,OOOOO0 bushels. This
balance may be accounted for by the
normal exports each year of GER
tain varietieso of soft and durum wheat
and by low quality wheat used fol
feed. The present nigh prices for
corn increase the possibility of prof
liable feeding Of low quality wheat
From the 1919 wheat crop in the
United States, 366,0OO,0O0 bushels
were exported, as compared with the
present estimated possibility of co.
100000 bushels this year.
1.-THE present favorable position of
the American wheat grower is the
product Of his own progress toward
adjustment of acreage to domestic
consumption. In 1919 the winter
wheat acreage was 5O,494 900, and in
1924 36,S9S,00O a reduction Of 1886
600 acres. For the same years the
spring wheat acreage was 25,2Q0,OOO
and 16,920,OOO respectively, or a re-
duction of $3.50, 900 acres, making a
total reduction Of 21,876,OOO acres
Part N. d. Has Played
what part has North Dakota play
ed in this readjustment? the presi-
dent was asked.
Farmers Of North Dakota have
done more than their share in bring
ing about this change" he replied
''In 1919 North Dakota farmers grew
9,O9s,QOQ acres of wheat. This year
the acreage is reduced to 7,436, 900
Rye, another bread grain which com.
petes to certain extent with wheat
occupied 2,O37, 900 acres in this state
in 1919 and only $4,000 acres this
year. This makes total reduc.
tion in acreage of bread grain crops
during the five years Of 2.733, OOC
acres, or approximately a cut of %
per cent"
The extra acreage which was de.
voted to bread grains is now being
used for the production of feed crops
to care, for North Dakota's growing
livestock industry, and to the pro-
duction of flax and potatoes, accord
ing to statistics compiled by Mr.
Coulter from. the United States de-
partment of agriculture yearbooks.
During the period We have been
discussing, the acreage of corn in
North. Dakota has increased $4,000;
oats, $4,000; barley, $4,000, and
tame hay, 215.00O," President Coulter
declared. "Tnis makes total in
crease: in acreage Of feed crops of
1882, 600, accounting for two-thirds
of the bread grain acreage reduction
"MeaAwhile flax production has
been made profitable in North Da-
kota thru the production of wilt
resistant varieties Of seed by the
Agricultural college and control OF
the weed problem thru crop rotation
. As result, the acreage devoted to
this profitable crop has increased L.
27s,O00 during the five-year period
ssey Increase In Flax
s'The increase in flax, potatoes and
feed crnps more than makes up the
& deficitEeAused by the reduction in
1 wheat. md rye, and the Averages Of
! Wild MY wild pasture, summer fal.
low, 4a1hsteads and other miscellan.
y eous Mems Of low productivity han
been xednced in the .fiye-ysar perioG
! to make room. Tor, psrt Of the in.
creas13n tie above mentioned erops.'
Norff Dskota has. by Tar The bss1
oppof ~ sof any. state in ~ m