The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-02-18

~ &&SG VII
trOlled as dOminantly by annual rain
fall as is commonly believed.
Limitation of crop yields in this
area is most frequently due, says the
United States department of agricuI-
ture, to the operation of one OF sew
eral inhibiting factors other than
lack of rain. When a real economic
demand for increased agricultural
production develops, the Great Plains
area will become one of the worlds
greatest food producing regions. the
department declares.....It bases this
conclusion largely on the results of
an investigation it has just cOmplet-
ed into the relation between crop
yields and rainfall.
In this investigation data were OBJ
tanned on % field stations scattered
through North Dakota, Montana,
South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska,
Kansas and Oklahoma. Observations
taken W the equivalent of 3O3
years of practical farming. Twenty
years were required for the study,
which dealt with crops grown under
natural field conditions and cover
ing a broad range of soils, climatic
seasons, tillage and methods, and
crop sequences.
Striking Evidence
In raising the question whether
"othe4 inhibiting factors" may not
"other inhibHing factors" may rot
fall in determining crop yields in
the Great Plains area, the depart
ment gives striking evidence. It in
vestigated yields of wheat at Is sta
tons on the northern Great Plains
over the equivalent of 218 crop
years. In rs of these crop years
yields equivalent to 10 bushels or
less per acre were harvested. In
only % Of these rs years was the
annual rainfall less than II inches.
In the remaining So of the Is crop
years the low yields were due to 9TH
er causes than lack Of rain. Com
posite crop yields throughout the
entire 218 crop years averaged the
equivalent of 1871 bushels of wheat
per acre.
The department says that the
mean annual rainfall of the Great
Plains, as represented by the dats
obtained from these % dry-lanC
field stations, is sufficient to pro.
duce crops equivalent to those OBJ
tanned at the 16 stations when othe7
~inhibiting factors are not more DO.
tent.
Hazards Not Extreme
Moreover, the department oh
serves that the hazards to which
crops in the semi-arid region are sub
ject are probably no worse thar
those to which crops in humid re
gions are subject. Among them ar
%inopportune distribution of rain, plan
diseases, insect pests, weeds, hail
soil blowing, wind storms, and fros
damage. Practically all soils in tn
region r sufficiently fertile to pro
duce abundant crops if other condi
tons r favorable. In the perio
covered by the Investigation, yer,
low yields were sometimes obtaine
when rainfall seemed to have bee.
adequate. Occasionally, on the othe
hand, there were high yields in year
when rainfall was but little above tn
average, owing to lessened potency i
other limiting factors.
1t is not, of course, the depart
ment's view that scanty rainfall is Q
minor significance as a limitation o
dry-land agriculture. It's investigs
tons simply show that other factors
many Of which are more or less cor
trOllable, may exercise a create
combined influence on crop yield.
There are certain advantages as we
as hazards in agriculture on til
Great Plains. Land there is relative
iy cheap and easily titled, and til
climate Of the Great Plains region
healthful and i~nvigorating. Thes
advantages when combined with Gu.
trvatiOn methods adapted to the r,
glon may largely offset the draw
back Of scanty rainfall.
Development Slow
Agricultural development in I'll
Great Plains region, says the depar'
ment, should be slow for the pre-
ent, because there is neither economt
justification nor adequate knowlede
70 bring the region up to its full DO:
slbilities in the near future. It say
that no artificial stimulation Of lar
settlement there is justified at pre-.
ent Chances Of success for hon
seekers with small capital and lacI
ing experience are considered poo
Notwithstanding the considerable D,
J~entlalItieS nf 4ha yau2nn Thn rwns