The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-09-17
Farmers Beat Floods,
Cold and Drought to
Reap Record Crops

Americas farmers have done
it again!
Last year the skeptics said
they d never meet their goals. So
the farmers upped food produc-
ton Is per cent over 1941, for
record total of % per cent more
than the average for the five
years before the war!
Came Farm Mobilization day
in 1913 and the skeptics were
sure it couldn't possibly be done
that time. So the farmers de-
cided which of the most-needed
crops they could grow the best
and planted the greatest acre
age in II years! They brought
together the largest numbers of
livestock and poultry in history,
and pushed egg, meat and poul-
try production to a new peak.
Today they are exhibiting ma
tional food basket containing 4 per
cent more than the 1912 record pro-
duction, and 81 per cent more than
the yearly average for 1859!
Now those farmers face another
growing year-and doubtless anoth-
er crop. of skeptics who haven't
learned after, seven consecutive
years of record food production, that
American farmers know what they
are doing. They attack the problem
Of raising food for war with the
same spirit the American fighting
man displays on the field of battle.
And, like that fighting man, they get
results!
Estimated production figures for
1913 are significant. Despite late
and rather unfavorable spring, de-
structive floods in the corn belt and
other hindrances such as labor and
machinery shortages, nearly 352
million acres are being harvested.
Total crop production is slightly less
than 1925 record harvest, but Is
per cent greater than the five-year
average Of 1859.
Food crop acreage under cultiva-
ton in 1913 exceeds the 1912 acreage
by about 3 per cent. The decrease
in crop production is largely attrib-
utable to smaller yields per acre on
certain crops, although some plant
ings were lost through the floods,
and others came to maturity but
could not be harvested for lack Of
Glands" or machines, or both.
Livestock for food shows an esti-
mated 8 per cent increase over the
1912 record, and 20 per cent over
the previous record set in 1871. An
increase Of more than one-third, or
SO per cent, is estimated over the
average for 1859.
Lowered food crop figures are
more than Offset by the livestock In
crease, to push total food production
in 1913 about 4 per cent above the
1912 record, and 81 per cent over
the five-year period average Of
1859.
Meat Output Tops Record.
Production Of all meats for the
year is estimated at an all-time
high Of more than 23 billion pounds,
an per cent increase over 1912
and A per cent more than the aver
age for the earlier five-year period.
Pork production will exceed that Of
1912 by about Is per cent, but it is
expected that beef and veal, and
lamb and mutton will show totals
slightly below last year.
Both poultry and eggs will mark
a record production, if an antici-
pated four billion pounds of chicken
is reached and the hens lay their
expected five billion dozen eggs.
These results would push poultry fig
ures "a per cent above 1912 and ~
per cent above the 1859 average,
with eggs going 10 per cent over
last years record and about 4S per
cent over the previous five-year
period.
Milk and milk products are ex-
pected to show considerable fiuctua-
ton. Maintaining Of milk for hui
man consumption at an expected
level only about ] per cent less than
in 1942-a record consumption-will
lower production Of cheese and
evaporated milk about Is per cent
from last year. Government restric-
tons on the use of milk solids will
reduce ice cream production about
20 per cent, although butter produc-
ton is expected to be upped about
per cent over 1912.
Housewives will be encouraged by
estimates on production Of edible fat
and oils, exclusive Of butter, at
about 10 per cent higher than 1912.
The increase for lard is set at is
per cent, for compounds and vege-
table cooking fats at IL per cent
and margarine at about As per cent.
Among the field. crops many rec
ords are anticipated this season. The
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