Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-08-25
FARM AND MARKET
BY R. A. TROVATTEN.
minnesota Agriculture, Dairy and
Food Commissioner

The pea canning season in Mime
sofa has ended and the various fac
tories in the central and southern
districts of the state have turned
their machinery over to the canning
of corn. The 16 factories in the state
packing corn will swing into capacity
production this week.
The commercial pea crop in Mime
sofa this year was of an exception
ally high quality, according to G. A.
Vacha, state bacteriologist in charge
of the canning laboratory conducted
by this department. Exact figures
are not yet available, but the states
total pack is estimated to run almost
a million cases, in contrast 100000
cases turned out in the drought year
of 1881. The increased yield came
despite a decided cut in pea-for-can-
ming acreage.
Spots in Minnesota were infested
with aphids (plant lice) and held to
a small yield. However, that para
site was not widespread in the state
and did but small damage, as the total
yield shows. On the other hand the
pea crop of Wisconsin, and other
states, was seriously cut by the aphid
The Badger states normal pea yield
is about 100000 cases, but this year
it will be about 100000 cases, it is
predicted. Drought contributed to the
low yield. Illinois and Minnesota en-
joyed the best pea crop of the ma
tion this year, according to reports.
At present indications are for
bumper commercial corn crop. Sam
piles from the various factories re-
ceived by our laboratory are of ex-
cellent quality. There are $4,000
acres less of corn-for-canning in Min
nesota this year but at present it is
estimated that the states yield will
exceed that of 1881.
This department hopes that the
corn and pea growers will be able to
derive profit out of their crop.
1t is tragic that with fair to good
crops throughout the state that the
farmer is forced to dispose of his
harvest for outrageously unjust
prices. There is something rotten in
any economic plan wherein tillers of
the soil slave all year to feed the
hungry mouths of the nation only to
find themselves deeper in debt when
accounting time comes. No business
can exist, to say nothing of prosper,
when prices are below the cost of pro-
duction. 1t is safe to predict that the
day is not far distant when the farm
ers will refuse to produce under such
conditions and will take united ac-
ton to obtain their rightful dues.
Essay Subject.
Grade and high school teachers in
the rural districts at present are
doubtlessly busy laying plans for the
coming school year. Here's a sug-
gestion these instructors could use.
In most grammar and English
classes students are given a list of
topics occasionally on which to write
compositions. To these lists teachers
with pupils off the farms should add
the subject. 1.-The Eradication of
Noxious Weeds
This department will be glad to
furnish free all the material neces-
sary for study on that subject. To
write an intelligent essay, the stu
dents would have to study eradication
methods. This information would be
highly practical as it would certainly
be used by those who later choose
farming as a career.
We welcome requests from school
instructors for weed literature.
Potato Grades.
In Minnesota last year the innova-
tion of the federal-state potato grad
ing program was successful to graft
flying degree. This department urges
potato growers to again take advan-
tage of the grading service this fall.
II unquestionably increases the de-
mand for your potatoes and brings
a better price for those sold under
that system.
The new grading system last year
cut the imports of a certain western
state from an annual average of 400
cars of potatoes to about 10 cars.
Contrary to the belief of some farm
ers. the state potato grading regula-
tions are not mandatory. Instead the
service is there for the potato grower
to use if he sees fit. We are con-
WINGED, however, that to have potatoes
grade works a direct benefit to the
farmer, for whom the program was
passed.
HOppers Conquered.
With the exception of work in the
infested areas to keep grasshoppers
from doing damage to late crops, the
hopper menace has been conquered
and destruction held to a minimum.
In the danger area farmers have
not been reluctant to admit to this
writer that without state aid their
entire crop would have been lost.
Look at the damage done in certain
districts in adjoining states and you
will get an idea of what might have
happened in the northwestern corner
of the state if help had not been
available.