The Coconino sun., 1924-11-21
ARIZONA CROP AND
RANGE CONDITIONS

Arizona will produce approximately
! 980,000 bushels of grain sorghums
from the paintings of 1924, according
| to a report released by the United
States Crop Reporting board, on No
vember 8, 1924. This estimate and
those to follow, relates to the date of
November 1, 1924 The average acre
yield of grain sorghums is estimated
at % bushels which compares with "a
bushels last year, and 30 in 1922.
Most of the grain sorghum acreage
was planted late this year; this will
result in DELAYED harvest and par
TALLY accounts for the lower yield es-
timated. Some of the fields have been
harvested but many good crops re-
main untouched.
The acre yield of Arizona's corn
crop, for the season of 1924 is esti-
mated at % bushels, from which
total production of 868,000 bushels is
| forecast; this is on a grain-yield
basis. Some late corn was damaged
by frost but this will not materially
affect the total production.
Unfavorable natural conditions dur
| ing the past growing season in north
ern Arizona resulted in a very low
acre yield of white potatoes. Only 65
bushels per acre will be the average
harvested this year. Last year 100
bushels per acre was recorded. In
| 1922 the average yield was reported
at 85 bushels and in 1921 a higher
yield of 115 bushels was recorded.
For the United States as whole
the production of white potatoes is
| forecast at 454,119,000 for the season
of 1924; this compares with 412,392,
900 bushels in 1928 and 453 1896, 600
in 1922.
The regular seasonal inquiry on
weight per measured bushel of Ari-
zona grains indicates so pounds for
wheat, 33 pounds for oats and 4S for
barley. These weights are about the
same as usually reported.
! Preliminary estimates for 1924 of
acreage, yield per acre, total produc-
ton and total value will be made on
all Arizona's principal crops in De-
cember. The report will be issued on
December 81.
/ Livestock
! According to reports received from
over so Arizona cattle growers, the
condition of ranges on November J.,
was about the same as the first of
the proceeding month. The average
condition of pasture was 30 per cent
of normal on November /, and of cat
tie rs per cent of normal.
Cattle have remained in remarkably
good condition in spite of the drought
condition of the past summer. This
comparatively good condition is due to
the excellent growth of spring feed in
most sections of 6he state.
On the lower prairie and desert
ranges good growth of six-weeks'
grass took an excellent cure and cattle
are eating it "to the ground" In such
sections cattle have not yet taken to
the browse.
On the foothill ranges less grass
was made during the spring and al
ready cattle are "on browse" In some
of the foothill sections water short
age is causing some concern.
| Some cattle have been moved from
southern Arizona into Old Mexico to
range on old grass pasture. From the
northern part of the state few ship
ments have been made to the state of
| New Mexico.
| Even with an open moist winter it
| does not seem possible for some sec
tions to go into spring without exper-
fencing heavy loss.
Most of the sheep remain in the
north and will probably not be moved
until there is more feed on the desert
lambing grounds and adjacent foot
hills. A few of the early bands have
reached the desert foothills having
made it over the driveways in very
good shape, however there is little left
for moving bands at this time.
! Even sheep that are moved by train
in early November will have to be fed
at least once on hay. This will be
necessary to keep them from eating
greasewood along the way to the ir-
rigated sections.
| Unless rain comes very soon heav-
ier than usual rail movement of sheep
to lambing grounds can be expected
/ this winter.