The Holly chieftain., 1924-05-29
WHEAT CROP WILL
DOUBLE THAT OF %
Yield of 27,142,ooo Bushels Forecast
In Wheat Crop Report Issued
By Department of Agriculture

A winter wheat crop for Colorado
at 27,112,GG0 bushels, or more than
twice that of 1923, looms as a pos
sibility this year, according to the
crop report issued Friday by the
division of crop and livestock -esti.
mates of the department of agri-
culture, in cooperation with the
Colorado state board of immigra-
tion.
This estimate is based on the
condition of winter wheat on May
l, which was listed at "a per cent
of normal, representing an equiva.
lent average of 1877 bushels per
acre for the l,375,O0O acres for har-
vest. On account of the favorable
moisture conditions since last fall
the winter wheat came to May 1st,
with the light abandonment of only
As per cent of the acreage soWn
last fall. The average abandonment
during the last last five years has
been 9.9 per cent. The crop last
year was 12,720,0OO bushels, or an
average of 10.5 bushels per acre.
Moisture Conditions Favorable
As approximately SO per cent of
the winter wheat in Colorado is
grown on nonirrigated land, favor
able moisture conditions account
for the unusually good showing.
Unless conditions more favorable
than usual from now on, the re
port states, the average yield per
acre may not exceed sixteen or
seventeen bushels. However, moih.
ture conditions and the present out
look for the state as a whlOe are
more favorable than for more than
ten years, the report continues
Improving Is points during the
month of April the winter whea,
crop of the United States is now
rated at S4.4 per cent, as compared
to the average rating of 1868 per
cent for the last ten years. The
percentage of Abandonment is con
siderable less than the average for
average for the last ten years, and
on May 1 basis the crop is estimated
at possible 53.0l3,0O0 buhhels.
Due to the same favorable mois-
ture conditions the GS,OOO acres of
fall rye in the state is rated at 95
per cent of normal. This, accoding
to the repot, justifies an estimated
production of Thirteen bushels an
acre or total of 100000, as com
pared $4,000 for 1923. In addition
to this there pobably will be 1900
acres of spring rye cut for grain,
making a total rye Production of
1,110,000 bushels.
Hay Crop Is IS Per Cent
Based on the acreage of last year,
the hay crop is estimated for the
year at 3,O39,000 tonswith the crop
IS per cent of normal. The produc.
tion last year was 1,79S,00 tons. The
production last year was 2,79S,00O
tons The tame hay ecreage Iaast
year ives 100000 acres, and the wild
hay was $4,000 acres. On May
about IA per cent of last years
crop remained on the farms of the
state. AlthO the winter demand
ed long periods of feeding, on ac-
count of frosty injury to the grass,
there has been practically no short,
age of hay last reported.
All classes of livestock thruout
the state are reported to be about
equal to the ten-year average.
With the exception of swine, which
are the same as last year, livestock
is generally in better condition
than in 1928. Very little loss from
disease or exposure is reported, be-
ing considerably lower than for the
ten-year average.
Pastures of the state are rated
at 50 per cent of normal, which is
fourteen points above last year
Based on the announced plans of
state ranchers, the report declares
that the average of dry beans this
year will run 60 per cent greater
than for 1923, or 272000 acres In
quireies made among the ranchers
indicate they intend to plant on 92
per cent of the DOtatOe acreage
this year. or 100000 acres. About