Milford chronicle., 1947-04-25
FARM WEATHER
OUTLOOK AND
WHAT 1T MEANS
by OVID 4. MARTIN
ZIP Npqrsfe1turee

pnetS VINO believe that the climate
undergOes change every seven
years. Favored as the country was
by good weather during the war,
when high food production was
needed. some amateur forecasters
warn that plague Of droughts is
due
Next to crop prices, nothing is
more important to the farmers
business than the weather. II
often has a strong influence on
prices he gets and prices con-
sumers pay. One of the first things
the farmer is likely to do when he
gets up i'll the morning is to scan
the sky, note the direction of the
wind. and plan his days work ac-
cordingly.
Can't Prove or DisprOve 1t
Weather scientists say that facts
known today neither definitely
demonstrate nor disprove the ex-
lstence of any real weather cycle.
There is no evidence that 1947 will
be the first of seven lean, hungry
years.
In fact. the agriculture depart
ment has climbed out on a limb
with forecast of another good
production season.
Farm production this year can
be more than merely guessed at.
even this early in the season, the
department says. 1t explains that
many factors already known will
have a bearing on production this
year. Looking back over the past
seven bOuntiful years, the depart-
ment by no means gives the wea-
ther major credit.
"Unusually favorable weather i'm
the past seven crop years has been
responsible" the agency says, for
only about one-fOurth of the big
gains in yields over the 1899
drought levels"
Listing Favorable Factors
known factors which the de-
partment says indicates favorable
yields this year include:
l. Weather conditions during the
past fall and winter have been ia
vorable. Because last years crops
were harvested early, fields could
be prepared for fall and spring
planting.
! 2. Quality seeds are in ample
supply.
3. More commercial fertilizers
and new farm machinery will be
available.
4. Soil moisture is generally ade-
quate.
D. The supply of irrigation wa
ter Ill the West is promising.
g.. The supply of farm labor is
expected to be much larger than
during the war.
l. Last, but not least. farm pro-
uuctS continue i'll strong demand
to give the farmer an incentive to
produce.
Taking all these factors into ac-
count and assuming average grow
ing conditions, the department saws
1947 crop yields per acre seem
likely to average about 80 per cent
higher than during the 1882 pre-
drought period. This would be the
fourth highest of record. having
been exceeded only in 1912. 1914.
and 1916.
While optimistic with regard to
production this year, the depart
ment adds this qualification:
eff fhn
than usual aggregate yields per
acre could go even higher. On the
other hand, bad breaks in the
weather or severe outbreaks of in
sects and disease could result in
poorer Outturn than now fore
seen.
Counter Factors at Work
But, the agency adds. serious
drawbacks rarely strike all parts
of the nation in any one growing
season."
The farmer has lots of outside
help in his efforts to thwart bad
weather.
The plant breeder who develops
new and better varieties, the ma
chinery manufacturer who designs
more efficient equipment, the chem
ist who finds new uses for farm
products and better fertilizers. the
agricultural engineer who works |
out better ways to make the good
earth produce, and many more. all !
help the farmer to produce more
per acre.
The department has gone as far
as forecasting probable yields per
acre of many individual crops.
Less Corn Expected
The probable yields of corn-the
raw material for the nations meat.
milk and poultry product supplies
is given at "a bushels per acre.
while this is nearly four bushels
less than last year, it nevertheless
was previously exceeded only in
1912.
This forecast makes another
bushel corn crop
seem very likely. Production be-
fore the war averaged less than
200 100000 bushels.
A wheat yield of II bushels per
acre and a record production of
more than 1.20O.OOO.OOO bushels
seems reasonable to expect. the de-
partment says.
Production per bearing acre of
Iruit reached record proportions
last year. The department saws
repetition of this big performances