Evening star., 1936-08-11
RELIEF IS GUIDED
BY CROP REPORT
Smallest Corn Harvest in 55
Years Predicted-NeW
Program Mapped.
Nv the Associa ted Press.


A Government estimate that the
1896 corn crop will be the smallest in
SIS years served as guide today to
Federal relief moves in the drought
area.
The yield of 1,439,135 900 bushels,
estimated by the Crop Reporting
Board late yesterday. is the lowest
since 1881, when the population Of
the Nation was only 5O,155,000, as
compared with more than $4,000, 900
at present.
Secretary Wallace and other ad-
ministration officials who had anxi-
ously awaited the forecast immedi-
ately proceeded anew with relief
plans.
Drought relief officials added 30
more counties in seven States to the
emergency list, which now includes
920 counties in % States. Relief
efforts are concentrated in these
counties.
There was some speculation as to
whether President Roosevelt might
use his powers under the tariff act to
reduce the 25-cent-per-bush tariff
on corn imports or eliminate it on
specific purchases for drought needs.
Another move included the forth
coming tour of nine States by the
Great Plains Drough Committee.
Morris L. Cooke, chairman of the
Long Range Planning Group named
by the President, said the committee
would leave the capital this week end
and would start a motor tour from
Texas next Tuesday.
The corn crop forecast, based or
August conditions, was more than
S00,000,000 bushels under the esti-
mate of one month earlier and more
than billion bushels less than aver.
age production between 1928 and 1882
Wheat-Production Drop.
A smaller decline in the production
OF all wheat was also forecast in the
broad report. Production this year
was placed at 632,745,OO bushels,
compared to the July estimate OF
638,399, 900 and the f1ve-year average
of 1863 ,564, 900.
Coupled with the corn shrinkage
were declines In forecasted yields of
cats, barley and grain sorghum and
other feed grains, so the total for the
FOUR classifications rated AZ per cent
below the l0-year average feed produc-
: ton from 1923 to 1882.
However, because of the reduced
numbers Of live stock that must be
fed this Fall and Winter, the Govern
ment experts said the live stock feed
situation was somewhat less serious
than it was this time in 1884"
They conditioned this, however,
upon widespread rains later, which
would improve pasture conditions. An
increase in hay supplies this year,
compared to 1884, also figured in the
outlook
"Readjustments in numbers of live
stock" were termed necessary. Heavy
marketing of hogs was predicted, be-
cause they need corn.
Hog Purchases Possible.
Some saw the possibility that the
present emergency purchases Of cattle
by the Government might be expanded
to include hogs.
1t is known that several million dol
lars could be obtained for emergency
purchases from the 80 per cent OF
customs receipts Congress set aside to
aid agriculture.
Comparing estimated production Of
important" crops this year with per-
centage of the flve-year average pro-
duction from 1928 to 1882, the Crop
Board rated only sweet potatoes, beet
and sugar cane, rice pears and wal
nuts equal or above.
The percentages we're: Corn, 56;
Winter wheat, 80; durum wheat II;
other Spring wheat, Sc: cotton lint,
85; oats, "a; barley. So; rye, II; buck
wheat, So; fax. 40; rice, 1902; grain
sorghum, SO; tame hay, 80; wild hay,
65 dry beans, Sc: Irish potatoes, 70;
sweet potatoes, 100; tobacco, 70; sugar
cane, 1853; sugar beets, 109; broom
corn, Sc; hops, 70; total apples, 81;
peaches, 76; pears, 102; total grapes,
49, apricots, 98; dry prunes, "a; plums
and fresh prunes, SO; almonds, 68;
walnuts. 122.
The Governments estimates caused
some surprises in the grain trade be-
cause corn and oats were far below
earlier private forecasts In general,
however, private authorities said the
broad report was representative pic
ture.
The Agriculture Departments state
inent that this years corn crop Of
1,439,135, 900 bushels was the smallest
in SIS years at first caused some con-
fusion in view of the fact that the
1884 crop had been reported as L.
377,126000 bushels.
Officials explained, however. that
the 1885 agricultural census, figures
for which became available in June
this year, had resulted in 10000, ,o00-
bushel upward revision of the 1884
corn estimate, bringing the total to
1,439, 900 bushels.
Revisions of the departments esti-
mates Of crop acreage and production
are made every five years on the
basis of the Census Bureaus figures
Of actual acreage and production.