Evening star., 1943-08-11
Crop Outlook Brighter
But Yield Is Expected
To Drop 6% Under AZ

Crop prospects have improved gem
orally throughout the country, and
it now appears that farmers will
have the second largest corn yield
in 10 years-an estimated 2,874.7ll,-
900 bushels-sccording to the Agri-
culture Department.
In national survey OF conditions
on August l. the department.yester-
day estimated that crop prospects
had improved about 3 per cent dur
ing July. but it predicted that ag-
gregate production of all crops, in
cluding feed and fiber yields. would
be about s per cent below last years
records.
Further improvement in prospects
appear to have occurred, the depart
ment said. during the first week OF
August. but this months conditions
were not taken into account in max
ing Yesterdays estimates.
Cotton Crop Gets Good Start.
The July improvement was due
chiefly. the department said. to an
exceptionally favorable start given
the cotton crop. the rapid growth OF
late planted corn in Northern
States and continuation of favor
able conditions in the wheat belt
T. l. y, p&
Though prospects point to a
smaller output of crops. the total
production of all food-including
livestock products-is expected to
exceed last years record supply,
officials said. The indicated de-
cline in crops will be more than of
set, they said. by an increase in
livestock products.
July brought a 168, 900 O00- bushel
improvement in the important corn
yield. The estimated 2.874.71l 900
bushels compared with 2.706 ,o52. 600
forecast a month ago. A crop OF
this size would be short. however. of
last years record of 3,175.154 900
bushels and below livestock and in
dustrial requirements for the year
ahead.
Wheat Forecast Is Up.
The forecast for wheat was 834,-
894 900 bushels. compared with 790,-
1913 900 bushels predicted a month
ago and with 9sl 1927 900 harvested
last year.
The department said prospects for
faXseed, peas, potatoes. dry beans.
sugar beets. pears, grapes and to-
bacco improved during July. but the
prospects for oats. barley, rye, hay.
sweet potatoes. sugar cane and
peaches declined from l to S per
cent.
Many sharp local changes in
prospects took place during July.
The outlook declined seriously in an
area which covered most of Ar
kansas and Oklahoma and extended
into adjoining States. Another dry
area centered in Maryland. The de-
partment said there were other ex-
tensive areas beginning to need
rain.
With only light abandonment in
prospect, the acreage of crops har-
vested probably will be larger. the
department said. than in any year
since 1892 The volume of pro-
duction, on the basis of yields now
lndlnotnH tn
greater than the l923-32 predroueht
average, compared with rs per cent
last year.
Yield Appears Above Average.
While few important crops. ex-
cept cotton. are expected to show
yields an acre equal to the very
high yield obtained last year, also
few crops seem likely, the depart
ment said, to show yields as low as
the average during the previous 10
years. The chief exceptions were
said to be rice and peanuts. which
have been planted on greatly in
creased acreages. and some fruits
and vegetables which were damaged
by late frosts last spring.
The department said rapid de-
velopment of late planted corn had
largely eliminated the danger that
it would not mature before frost
The danger Of loss from drought is
still to be considered. though most
parts of the corn belt have adequate
moisture for the present.
The combined production of the
f6dr feed grsins-corn. oa is. rye and
barley-is now expected to total
more than Ill 900 900 tons. a total
which has been exceeded only twice
but which would be below last years
production.
Fruits Below 1912.
The department said present con-
ditions point to total supply of all
fruits. including citrus. for the l943-
a marketing season about IL per
cent smaller than last season, but 7
per cent larger than the l0-year
average.
Commercial truck crops continued
10 make good progress in most sec
tions during the last half of July.
the department said. However. the
estimated production of such crops
in areas from which most of the
fresh market supplies will come dur
ing the next few weeks is per cent
less than last year.
August l indications point to a
total tonnage of truck crops for
processing not greatly different from
that of 1912.
The department said milk produc-
ton has been holding close to pro-
duction at this same time last year
while egg production was said to
be at peak levels in all parts of the