The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-01-04
Number of Per Cap

Figures for beef, pork and mutton
are in terms Of dressed meat.
When it is considered that this
vast number of people are fed from
the 1870 farms in the state, it is
realized that North Dakota is maxi
ing it's share of contribution to the
general welfare Of the United
States.
Another Angle
Considered in another way, North
Dakota farms produce the raw ma
terial for bread for all the people
in the United States for 80 days Of
the year; potatoes for 10 days; beef,
veal, lamb and mutton for 8 days;
butterfat and honey for days; pork
and lard for days and sugar for a
half a day.
In pioneering days families were
forced to be self-sufficing. Some
measure Of the change is indicated
by the fact that each North Dakota
farm family now provides wheat for
itself and for 65 families in other
parts of the state and nation. and
meat and buttcrfat for five or six
other families.
The wheat acreage for the past
year was the highest in the history
of the state. Increases in recent
years have not been large and the
likelihood is that the acreage is near
the maximum for the future, so it is
probable that North Dakota will
co.4t.nue to produce wheat for about
the same or a slightly smaller pro-
p.-..~n ct the population OF the
country for some time to come.
With favorable economic conditions,
potato production could be enlarged
almost indefinitely. If the level Of
prices were somewhat higher from
year to year, enough potatoes would
be grown in this state to feed the
bulk of the nation.
Great increases have been made
in the past decade ir the production
of livestock in this state, with prac-
tically every item doubling or treb-
ling in volume in that time, and
every indication is that North Da-
koua will continue to increase its
production of pork. lamb. beef and
butterfat, and that these i4Ap.. .s4.l.
food articles will be raised in guam
tity to care for a much larger por-
portion Of the people Of the United
States in years to come.
New Industries
Almost insignificant as income
producers at the present time are
sugar beets and honey, yet their
production can and may be expanded
q hundred-fo in this state. The
sugar beet industry has been estab-
lished for some time in q small area
in the irrigated section Of Mckenzie
county, but it is only within the
past few years that sugar beets
have been tried out in the Red River
valley, where there are . million
acres of potential sugar beet land
In 1925 tn acreage Of sugar beets
in the state was so small that it was
not reported in the census. The fol.
lowing year, 5000 acres were re.
ported, and the past year 5000
acres, with an average yield OF .
tons per acre. A sugar beet fac
cory has been constructed at East
Grand Forks, another is contem-
plated in the Fargo area, and the
probabilities are that this crop will
increase in volume to 4 very great
extent within the next few years.
Six years ago DR.. r. L. Webster
Of the North Dakota Agricultural
college began calling attention tx
the fact that the long hours Of sun.
shine and big acreage Of sweet
clover made North Dakota an ideal
place in which to produce honey
Almost every year since then pro.
duction has doubled, and the past
year it was nearly thirty times a
great as in 1921. Yet today only
very small percentage Of farmers
have stands Of bees.
Aside from food, North Dakots
farms produce one-fourth Of the flas
that is used in the United States
about 36,000,0 900 bushels being
crushed annually, Of which this STATE
during the past year raised 9,168y O0(
bushels. The principal product from
flax is linseed oil which has . di.
versity of uses In addition to beina
the most important constituent 81
paints, varnishes and enamels. Many