The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-19
ESTIMATES OF CROPS
IN STATE INCREASED
BY DECEMBER DATA
Only Rye Falls Below Prior
Expectations; Turkey Is
Christmas Provider

In the case Of only one principal
North Dakota crop, rye. has the gov
eminent preliminary estimate OF pro-
duction been reduced in December
on the basis Of post-harvest returns
from the annual December rural car
rier acreage survey. In thecaseof every
other crop except ouckwheat, the pre-
liminary estimates Of Paul G. New
man, agricultural statistician for
North Dakota. have been increased in
December, furnishing conclusive proof
Of the conservatism of the govern
ment crop reporting service. All pre-
liminary estimates Of yield remain
unchanged.
The gross value of the ten principal
North Dakota crops Is $22S. All, 900.
compared with the revised valuation
of $3.50, SOC, 900 for the same crops last
year, or a decrease Of Is per cent, due
mostly to lower prices. The 1928 pro-
duction Of corn. oats. barley. potatoes
and all tame hay is larger than in
1927, while the rye. buckwheat. flax
and wild hay exhibit decreases.
August Figures Shift
The August preliminary estimate
Of 13,sl0.0o0 bushels for rye was re-
duced to l2,7l0,O00 bushels. The fol-
lowing increases In the October pre-
liminary estimated production have
been made in December: All spring
wheat production from 140,873,O00
bushels to Ia, o23, 900 bushels. the in
crease of durum to 72,950 900 bushels
more than offsetting the decrease in
spring wheat other than durum to
$685. 900 bushels. Oats is UNI
changed. Barley production from
81, TAG, 900 bushels to 55,564.000 BUSH
els. and all tame hay production from
1.755, 900 tons to 1891 900 tons. The
December estimates are subject to
revision In December, 1929.
The November preliminary estimate
Of corn of 24,200.0 900 bushels is raised
to 24,426. 900 bushels. Buckwheat pro-
duction was lowered in December to
las, 5000 bushels from 10000 bushels.
The last preliminary estimate Of flax
production in November Of 7,038.00O
bushels, Is raised now to 8,115.OOO
bushels. Potato production is esti-
mated now to be l4.805 900 bushels
compared with the November esti-
mate Of II 1865 900 bushels. The De-
cember estimate Of wild hay produc-
ton Is 1885, 900 tons from l,210,0OC
acres.
End-of- Year Conditions
The 1928 crop season In North Da-
kota was notable chiefly for the re-
versals and upsets. Starting with a
rush, seeding operations were slowed
up, and retarded by freezing night
temperatures. Drought through May
held up termination and all but
ruined earlier seeded crops. The
General outlook was gloomy.
Then came the rain in mid-June
md continuing through July wrought
! complete change. Where gloom
Prevailed. an overnight metamor-
,hosis to optimism took place. The
rolden stream actually began to flow
rom threshcrs and combines
throughout the realm where wheat is
ting. Then came the cloud of a
gradually receding price level to
ihadow the golden CLEAN.
So the 1923 season has been another
average season with its full quota of
optimism and disappointment. OF
farmers who can, many are holding
their crops for better prices. With
cattle prices better than for several
seasons past. stockyards have opened
their gates to receive more cattle
from the North Dakota prairie than
for many seasons. The present hope
is that cooler temperatures will come
that the turkey crop may be disposed
of before the Yuletide season as the
final contribution Of the North Da-
kota farmer to the health. happiness
and good cheer Of q nation.