The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-03-24
WHEAT TO BE
REDUCED,
CROPS TO GAIN
u. S. Department of Agricul-
ture Sees Pronounced Change
in North Dakota
OUTLOOK FAVORABLE
Large Part of Seeding in
Eastern Part to be on Land
PiOwed Last Fall
OUTLOOK FAVORABLE

March l intentions of farmers in
North Dakota if carried out will
mean curtailment of spring wheat
acreage in 1924 and increase in acre
age of the Complementary crops OF
Oats and Barley as we'll as strong in
creases in corn and flax acreages, ac-
cording to a survey just completed
by the u. S. Bureau of Agricultural
Economies. The intentions, however,
according to ]. G. Diamond, Agrloul-
tural Statistician for North Dakota,
are subject to modification on part
Of farmers as later conditions af-
fecting the crops may develop, and
must be regarded therefore, not as
estimates of acreage for 1924, but as
serving the purpose of informing
farmers in the various sections of the
country of what is contemplated, so
that final farm plans may be modi-
fled to avoid serious planting or
under planting of particular crops.
The statement Of the U. S. statisti-
clan continues:
For the United States, except in the
case of spring wheat and flax the in
tended shifts are not extreme, and in
the case of spring wheat and flax,
it should be remembered that the
large bulk of the producing area is
located in North Central United
States and large percentage in
North Dakota. For the North Cen
trail United States (west of the Mis-
sissippD which includes most of the
spring wheat and some Of the corn
belt states, intended decrease in
wheat acreage has in mind mode rate
ly larger aereages Of corn, oats, bar
ley and tame hay. For North Dakota
intentions are much more pronounced
as regards a shift from spring wheat
into other crops.
More Pronounced Here
For the United States as whole,
the U. S. Department of Agriculture
. in a report issued last Tuesday, inter-
preted the outlooks as indicating that
farmers were undertaking normal
production program, and that Asri-
culture this year will still be attend
ed by the difficulties arising from
higher wages and other costs, less
farm workers and the general dis
urban products. The wheat situation
was described as showing some i'm
provement with the market contlnu-
ing somewhat more favorable for
producers of spring wheat than WIN
ter wheat.
In the North Dakota survey $50
farms representing practically all
counties of the state were quite uni
form in showing an intended curtail-
ment of wheat acreage in favor of
corn, oats, barley and tame hay, with
a general indication Of an intended
strong increase in flax. 1t is a ques-
ton as to just how far farmers will
carry out expressed intentions with
respect to Spring wheat, an important
factor being the character of the
spring. season, whether favorable or
unfavorable for an early seeding. To
a somewhat less extent the character
Of the planting season will also af-
feet intentions with respect to the
other crops.
Progress Of Farm Work
A summary of the general factors |
entering into the outlook in North |
Dakota this spring follows:
Normally spring work in North Da-
kota should be in general progress
by the second week in April, although
present indications unless Offset by
unfavorable weather in the latter
part of March or in early April are /
favorable for somewhat earlier
start than usual. Present activities
are largely confined to those of re-
pairing farm machinery and equip
ment and cleaning of seed together
with some late hauling of last years
crops. For these operations weather
and road conditions have been quite
favorable. As affecting spring work
the amount of plowing accomplished
last fall will be favorable factor
over the eastern third of the state
where the bulk Of spring seeding
ges in on this Village practice IS
per cent of all farm. lands were csti-
mated to have been plowed last fall
compared with Al per cent in the fall
of 1922 and 60 per cent in the fall of
1921. /