The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-16


14.3 per cent Of all wheat including
winter and spring varieties, grown
in the United States, 39.4 per cent
Of all rye, and 1873 per cent Of all
flax. In each Of these cash crops,
outranked all other states. The
1928 outlook for these cash crops,
as re-issucd through the office Of
the federal agricultural statistician,
should be of particular interest to
North Dakota farmers.
Wheat
Present indications point to an
other large world wheat crop in
1928 if average yields are obtained.
The United States winter wheat
acreage was increased ~ per cent,
and increases are shown for all
foreign countries reporting to date.
A larger acreage Of spring wheat
is in prospect in Canada ii spring
seeding conditions are favorable.
Any increase in acreage Of hard
spring wheat in the United states
with average yields would probably
result in reduced net returns per
unit to growers as compared with
1926 or 1927. This situation may
be changed materially if there
should be an excessive abandon
ment Of winter wheat acreage.
While winter wheat for the coun-
try as whole went into the win
ter with a condition considerably
above average, the condition of
wheat in the hard winter wheat
states from Nebraska south on
December LIST was below average,
and conditions since then have not
been favorable because of drought
Spring wheat growers should watch
weather bureau reports, as we'll AS
tho April LIST condition repor. of the
crop reporting board. If yields and
abandonment in acreage throughout
the United States equals the 20.
year average, the area seeded would
produce 63O,OOO,OOO bushels of win
ter wheat. About 356,O0O,O0O BUSH
els of this would be hard red win
ter wheat which comes into direct
competition with hard spring wheat.
Should this production result, it
would represent an increase of S.
100000 bushels Of hard red winter
wheat over the 1927 production.
However, since weather conditions
in the hard red winter wheat states
have not been favorable, this in
crease may not materialize.
Hard led spring wheat produc-
tion in 1927 for the United States
(this excludes all Durum) was near
~ 20O,0O0,000 bushels Of which
North Dakota produced nearly 1885,
100000 bushels. The United States
harvested acreage was about 1,0OO,-
600 acres larger than in 1926. If
this rate of increase is maintained
in 1928 with even average yields, a
production Of close to 10000, 900
may be expected. This is sufficient
to keep the United States on an cx-
port basis, and if hard red winter
wheat comes through the winter in
good condition, spring wheat farm
crs should hesitate to increase their
acreage, and would probably find it
to their advantage to substitute
flax where FAX yields we'll. Since
wheat is being sold more and more
on a quality basis, farmers should
strive to grow wheat with a higher
protein content by planting after
legumes. Dockages and smut losses
too, should be reduced as far as
possible.
The durum wheat outlook is quite
uncertain. Good crops were grown
in 1927 in the United States, North
Africa, and Canada, and relatively
low prie IS have resulted. Present
prospect Indicate another large
crop in Africa. The area Of wheat
seeded in Sicily is also reported to
be larger than last year. Canada
has been expanding the acreage of
Durum for the past few years. |
Therefore, all indications point to
even stronger competition during
1928 among Durum wheat produc-
crs. II Italian producers secure
average yields, there would be no
increase in demand to offset in
creases in production.
Rye
Much Of the domestic rye produc- |
ton is exported, but since the total
production is small, it has little eff
feet on prices, and returns to grow
ers depend upon the world situa-
tion. Some increase in acreage in
foreign countries is expected, but
the present situation may not be
materially changed unless high
yields are obtained in Europe. The
high average yield Of 1927 in the
United States is not likely to be
reported. The 1927 world crop,
while larger than 1926, is consider
ably below the 1925 crop which
amounted close to q billion bushels. |
The relatively high prices now pre-
vailng for rye as compared with