The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-11
Corn Prospects Up US. Forecasters See Record Grain Output

Washington, July 11-tUP)-The Agriculture Department today held out the hope of record grain crop, including a record-shattering corn crop of 3,341 ,646,000 bushels.
 The department said crops, shoot ing up under favorable weather, were in better shape on July 1 than they have been since 1922 If the weather continues good, it said, even that mark will be surpassed.
 Officials said the anticipated yield would assure Americans plenty to eat. They said it also definitely increases" this countrys chances of meeting it's famine relief goals.
 How To Get It Next
 ''There is still the problem of pro- curing the grain even after it's pro- duced," one official pointed out. If Congress fails to revive price con- trols or decontrols meat, poultry and dairy products it's going to be much more difficult"
 He said 3,341 ,646, 900 bushel corn crop would take some of the pres sure off wheat as a feed grain, how ever since it would be 25oO00 900 bushels more than the department expected when 1t drew up its 1946 export program,
 In addition. the total wheat crop was estimated at 1,090 092 ,000 bush els instead of the 1000, 0,0OO, GOO bush els the department originally coun- ted on. The prospective oats yield another feed grain-jumped 80,- 00o 900 bushels to Al ,026 900.
 The wheat yield would be the sec- ond largest in history. Near-record yields of oats, potatoes, and rice also were in prospect. Milk and egg pro- duction was paid to be running far above average.
 More For Animals
 The department said the huge grain crop not only would assure plenty of food and livestock feed, but also would permit producers to feed meat animals to heavier weights something the department has been trying to discourage during the present scarcity.
 Commercial vegetable production for the first nine months of the crop year was estimated to be seven per cent larger than last year and 34 percent above average. This would be a record high for the pe- riod.
 The only plots on the departments optimistic picture was drop in oil- seed production, below average yields of dry bean and sweet pota- toes, a small decline in peanut out put and sharp cuts in flaXseed and rye acreages.
 Oilseed is used for margarine, shortening, cooking and vegetable oils and paints.
 Fruit Output Higher
 The department said the outlook for major deciduous fruits improved in June and that production prob ably would be B percent above last year. A record peach crop of 3D. 838,000 bushels was predicted.
 The anticipated corn crop of B. 341 ,646 GOO bushels would compare with 3,018,41O0 600 bushels last year and the record 1914 output Of B. 228, 100000. The crop may be even larger since the departments first corn report usually is conservative.
 The wheat prediction was an in- crease of about 57,00O,o00 bushels from the June Is report. The Win ter wheat yield was placed at 857,- 163 900 buShels-a new record-and the Spring yield at 232 ,929, 900 bush els
 Production of all tobacco was in- dicated at 2,126,oOO,ooO pounds, the first time it has topped 2,000,O00,000 pounds. Flue-cured tobaccos show ed the most important increases al- though the hikes in fire-cured va rietieS were sharper.