The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-03-21
Big Increase in
Rye Production
Caused by Development of
New Varieties and Heavy
Foreign Demand.

prepared by the United States Department
OF Agricultural
The production OF rye in the United
States has increased rapidly within
the last few years due chiefly 10 "A
heavy foreign demand, high-priced la
Dor, low yields of wheat, and the de-
velopment OF improved varieties of
rye, including ROsen, Dakold, and sew
eral others. The hardness, vigor, ear
winter rye have permitted ii to
compete successfully with spring
wheat. Recent low prices of rye, how
ever, have made the crop less profit
able than formerly. If rye is to main
tain its Importance in the future it
must be fitted into its proper place in
the farming system. Suitable cultural
methods and good varieties are equally
essential. A continued foreign mar
ket for our surplus also is necessary.
These problems are discussed in new
bulletin just issued by the United
States Department of Agriculture, as
Farmers Bulletin 1853, Growing Rye
in the Western Half Of the United
States"
Rye Is Cash Crop.
Rye is grown largely as Il cash grain
in the western half of the U-ited
States, but is also used for pasture, as
q green manure or nurse crop, and to
smother weeds The growing of Win
list h1t in,n
of labor because it can be sown in
grain Stubble in the fall and il har-
vested before other grains are ripe.
Winter rye can be SoWn on grain stub
bic, corn-ground, fell-plowed land, or
summer fallow. Sowing on grain stub
bic often is the most profitable because
of the cheaper cost of production.
Rye can be grown in practically all
parts of the United States. although
ii is more productive in some sections
than in others. Its culture is limited
in most regions because other crops
are more profitable. 1t is most profit
able in the northern and eastern states.
North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota,
and Wisconsin now lead in the produc-
tiOn of rye. In the western half of the
United States rye in general is best
suited TO the climate and agricultural
conditions of North Dakota, South
Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and
northeastern Colorado. Hardy winter
rye is successfully grow in all parts of
the DakotaS and Minnesota, while win
ter wheat usually will not survive the
winters in North Dakota, not always in
Minnesota, and usually only in the
southeastern and Black Hills sections
Of South Dakota. Rye is the best
northeastern Colorado and adjacent
states.
Less Valuable Than Wheat.
In the important rye producing west
ern states the average acre value of
the rye crop is somewhat less than that
of wheat The net returns from rye
usually are higher than those Of wheat
because Of the lower cost Of produc-
tiOn. The price Of rye is determined
largely by the foreign demand, and
with the resumption of normal produc
tiOn in Europe the demand for the
American crop probably will be les
sened. At low prices rye cannot be
grown for grain at profit except un-
der good management and in favored
localities, but this crop will continue
TO have d wide use on sandy lands and
for pasturage, hay, green manure, and
as nurse crop for legumes.
A copy of the bulletin just issued
may be secured, while the supply lasts,
from the United States Department of
Agriculture. washington, u. {.